The powder room can be a tricky one to decorate. On one hand, it's a small space, so you may consider features that make the room feel a bit larger, like a floating vanity. On the other, the "small" factor can be your greatest ally, allowing you to take a theme and run with it, or using dramatic design features that may not work in a larger bathroom, or that would cost too much on a larger scale.

Chicago Bathroom Design Ideas For the Powder Room

One idea is to use an accent wall. The powder room can be an excellent place for a wall that makes a statement. It can be simple, bold, or completely out of the ordinary - and almost anything goes because it's only the powder room, after all.

Here are Chicago bath design ideas for your powder room accent wall.

Glass tile walls. This is a great place to use glass tiles. First, they come in a wide range of colors so you have plenty of options in terms of design - whether you go monochromatic or work with tiles in complementary or analogous shades. Secondly, glass tiles have a reflective quality, which add depth in a small space. Finally, glass tiles have a luminosity of their own, which further enhances their effect.

Keep it simple. We talk about creating a spa-like atmosphere in the master bathroom, and you can do the same type of thing in a powder room. Imagine a white powder room with beautiful fixtures, maybe a glass or porcelain vessel sink and an oval mirror on the wall. The wall behind the mirror is painted with a subtle, soothing color and a vase with a single flower sits on the corner of the vanity. In this case, the accent wall invites you to breathe deep and makes the powder room a mini-sanctuary.

Paint a mural. A small wall makes a perfect canvas for a mural or artistic rendering, whether it be a seaside view, a tangle of vines, a pastoral view or a flowering branch that extends to the next wall. A mural can transform a simple powder room into a magical portal.

Add texture. There are plenty of ways to add texture to a powder room wall. You can use metal tiles, which provide a different type of reflection and luminosity. For example, metallic copper wall tiles in this bathroom bathe the entire room in a warm, fiery glow. You can apply river stones (which come in easy-to-install sheets) or install reclaimed lumber for a rustic, textured wainscoting.

Think in temporary terms. If you aren't interested in investing in a permanent wall design, keep your eye out for stylized mirrors. In a small, narrow powder room, a unique mirror frame can create the same effect as an accent wall, but you can take it with you when you leave or change it out on a whim.

Stop by Kitchens & Baths Unlimited for more Chicago bath design ideas for your powder room remodel.