Long treated as a utilitarian pit stop in the home, the powder room is undergoing a creative renaissance. Once considered purely functional, a small, tucked-away space reserved for quick visits, the powder room is now being reimagined as one of the most expressive rooms in a house. Homeowners are treating it as an opportunity to experiment with adventurous design choices they may not dare to try elsewhere, from bold colors and luxe finishes to moody lighting and humorous touches. Often the only room a guest will experience alone, it offers the perfect moment for surprise and delight. No longer an afterthought, today’s powder rooms are a statement of taste and luxury. “Powder rooms have always offered an opportunity to throw caution to the wind,” said Josh Evan Goldfarb and Michael Edward Moirano, the creative forces behind Evan Edward, a New York- and Miami-based architecture and interior design firm. “But lately, we’ve seen this attitude heighten even more.”

Whether it’s splurging on a rare marble or opting for an experimental color palette, clients are increasingly embracing the room’s potential as a creative canvas. Vicky Charles, founder of New York-based design firm Charles & Co, agrees. “The powder room has become something of a jewel box in the home,” Ms. Charles said. “It's a space where clients feel free to express a little more of their personality, have some more fun with design or install a more expensive wallpaper or stone," she said. "Since it’s a small space, it will cost less."

This shift has less to do with trends and more with confidence. According to both firms, clients are growing more comfortable taking bold design risks within a contained space. “It’s less about following what’s in and more about creating what feels expressive and exciting,” the Evan Edward team said.

Ms. Charles avoids the word “trend” entirely. “I prefer to design in a way that feels timeless,” she said. “The powder room often becomes the place where a client who may shy away from color in the living room will say yes to a saturated tone or whimsical print.” Materials play a starring role. Evan Edward has designed powder rooms with everything from black marble to 1970s Italian-crystal vanities. “You want your wash basin to resemble your favorite aged bleu cheese?” the duo said. “Let’s go for it.”

Ms. Charles leans toward soulful finishes, such as honed stone, aged brass and imperfect timber, believing that the palette should always be personal to the individual. “It’s the one space where there are no color rules,” Ms. Charles said. “Let it be the room where you turn up the color volume.”

Designing a powder room is also fundamentally different from designing a full bath. Without the day-to-day demands of a primary bathroom, designers are free to play with scale and mood. “A powder room is a liminal space,” the Evan Edward team said. “You pop in to freshen up, text a friend or take a moment to yourself. It becomes a canvas for expressive design.” That freedom doesn’t mean functionality goes out the window. “Functionality always comes first,” Ms. Charles said. “If it doesn’t work, it will frustrate you. But sometimes the smaller the space, the more impactful it can be.” Clever touches, such as wall-mounted taps or built-in niches, can keep the space efficient while maximizing aesthetic appeal.

Atmosphere is everything and details matter. Both designers cited unexpected lighting, art and even scent as transformative elements. At Charles & Co, powder rooms have featured custom wallpaper inspired by donkeys, vintage cocktail napkins framed as artwork and pet portraits styled like French royalty. “Really lean into your crazy and we will make it happen,” Ms. Charles said. Evan Edward also emphasizes the role of mood. They said, “Lighting also plays a critical role — swapping out harsh bulbs for dimmers, adding sconces or even relying on candlelight can transform the mood entirely.”

At the end of the day, both firms believe a powder room should be memorable, especially since guests are almost guaranteed to use it. “We urge our clients to dream big,” Evan Edward said. “Everyone who visits your home will likely use the powder room, so why not give them a little show?” As Ms. Charles said, “Why not smile while washing your hands?” Lead image by Tim Williams, courtesy of Evan Edward