Joanna Gaines' Design Tip For A Fixer Upper-Inspired Bathroom Full Of Character

The bathroom is probably the last place you'd think to fill with personality, but not for Joanna Gaines. Au contraire, as she tells Elle Decor, "It can be fun to go over the top in spaces that you don't use a ton...I always say that bathrooms and entryways are a great place to go crazy, because they are smaller, high traffic areas, but not as much time is spent in them." 

The design icon tends to use pretty tiles, wall paneling, and luxe fixtures to create a spa-like feel in primary bathrooms. However, her powder rooms are a whole other story. In these small spaces, bathroom neutrals are ditched for a much bolder alternative — patterned wallpaper.

Plus, it's easier (and much more affordable) to take design risks in a petite bathroom than a larger, high-traffic room. You could experiment with styles you wouldn't normally consider. Or, play around with a color palette that might look overwhelming elsewhere. But the best part is, Gaines' tip doesn't require you to make permanent changes, like re-tiling or changing fixtures, to create a big impact. Here's a closer look at how she makes wallpaper the star of an otherwise strictly functional room.

The general line of thinking is to use toned-down paint colors and finishes in tiny spaces to make them feel larger. However, Gaines has no problem ignoring the rulebook when decorating toilet and bath areas. Some wallpaper designs can indeed make small rooms look bigger, but if you're aiming for a characterful bathroom scheme, busy prints are the way to go. Plus, we love how they bring an element of surprise when you open the door.

Take her own powder bath, for example. The walls are lined with thin stripes, which not only adds depth but also give an illusion of a high ceiling since they draw the eye up. Another example? When the "Fixer Upper" designer incorporated rose prints in her client's powder room and buffalo check in the bathroom (peek the photos on her Facebook post). Or that one time when she went for a vintage theme in Season 5, Episode 4 and draped the bathroom walls in a heirloom floral pattern. Guess what all of these spaces have in common? They all feel like a breath of fresh air compared to typical basic white bathrooms.

Now onto choosing the right wallpaper for your space. You can do it the Joanna Gaines way and grab a roll from her Magnolia wallpaper line, such as this cozy $120 Meadow Wallpaper or $140 woodland-themed Colette Wallpaper for a whimsical touch. Note that most of her designs have a soft, understated look, but if you're feeling extra daring, feel free to pick the loudest, quirkiest print there is. Besides, you don't have to make everything match in terms of color and style.

Nine times out of ten, a contrasting wallcovering delivers the biggest "wow" factor. Think a modern, geometric backdrop in a dated bathroom, funky animal prints in a modern setting, a vibrant fruit wallpaper against a dark vanity, and busy botanical motifs beside clean white tiles. And if you can't commit to covering the whole room, you can just paper an accent wall. Behind the toilet, vanity, or bathtub are great places to highlight, so long as the wallpaper is steam- and moisture-resistant.