Why You Should Tile The Walls Of Your Powder Room

Powder rooms serve a functional purpose in the home, but that doesn't mean they can't be equally as stylish. These spaces are smaller versions of a full bath, and most come with just a sink and a toilet. Powder rooms are built in easily accessible areas to benefit guests, which also means yours is probably a busy area. Because so many people are coming in and out of this particular space, your decorating scheme is very important.

Some powder rooms do not include a window and, therefore, you have to be strategic about incorporating good lighting. According to Custom Home Group, one of the biggest follies homeowners make is overlooking the amount of illumination in a powder room. Such a popular area needs to be well-lit, especially since this is where the majority of your company will go while over for dinner parties, social events, and the like. Lighting isn't just about the wall fixtures or overhead additions. In fact, sometimes you can get the ideal setup by looking outside the box ... or in this case, outside the bulb.

Tile can be beneficial to a powder room for many reasons, but the main one is that it can help provide better lighting overall. By using lighter-colored tiles, the light from your overhead fixtures or those above the sink will reflect off the surfaces, injecting more brightness into the room. Not only does this savvy trick save you money on installing extra lights, but these types of tiles usually have staying power when it comes to interior design trends. Sticking with lighter tiles on your walls and floors will help your house remain relevant and easy to redecorate should you ever want to change the theme or motif of the powder room.

Look for glossy finishes and glazes when tile hunting, too, in order to make the most out of light reflection. The Tile Club notes that white, high-gloss tiles will bounce shine around more and create more space with an optical illusion that can't be beaten. A lot can be said for having shiny surfaces all around a room that can catch faux light and refract it as well. Not only will the room appear more illuminated, but this also creates a cozy, welcoming ambiance when the bulbs are turned on. 

Powder rooms are usually small, so opting for bigger tiles can help make the area look and feel bigger. Callier & Thompson recommend picking tiles that feature simple patterns or textures, which will blend everything seamlessly and draw less attention to the dimensions of the room. While lighting can make a big difference in the aesthetic of a space, opening it up as much as possible is helpful, too. The fewer grout seams you need, the less noticeable the wall space or narrow build of the powder room, which is why large tiles are ideal.

Picking tiles that are the same for the walls as well as the floors will also open up the entire room. This trick creates more space in the mind's eye, and also makes it seem airier within the four walls. Your powder room doesn't have to be relegated to a space of convenience: you can turn it into a stylish spot that also provides functionality, all with just a few tiles and some TLC.