Wrap your bathroom walls in pattern to create a stylish oasis that will have you lingering in the tub.

Powder rooms and bathrooms are typically tiny spaces, but, according to Toronto interior decorator Vanessa Francis, "because it's a room in your home that's contained, you can just go for it and give it much-needed personality."

Shades of grey
 
Smoky Rose wallpaper, $281 per roll, anthropologie.com. Photography by Angus Fergusson

Francis fell in love with a monochromatic floral wallpaper and used it as a starting point for the redesign of her master bath. “It's my husband's bathroom, too. I think the black and white makes it feel more masculine. If it was pink floral, he probably wouldn't have agreed to it," she says. Worried about the effects of moisture? According to Francis, there is no need for special wallpaper, application or seal when using wallpaper in bathrooms, but she suggests a strong venting fan to combat humidity.

Blue hue

Photography by Angus Fergusson

“I love large-scale floral wallpapers. When I found this one, I knew it was perfect for my tiny space," says Francis, who chose a second floral print for her home's guest bathroom. To make it practical in a room prone to water splashes, Francis installed wainscotting. It was originally painted an off-white, but after years of use, the high-maintenance shade was showing its age. “ Painting the wainscotting a teal colour taken from the wallpaper is not only more practical but also dramatic and unexpected. It's a little surprise for guests!" says Francis.

Geometric gem

Photography by Michael Nangreaves

The graphic wallpaper combined with mini hexagonal mosaic tiles and traditional finishes in this powder room (above) provide a nice balance between masculine and feminine. A painted chest of drawers offers chic yet practical storage.

Sophisticated silver

Photography by Stacy Zarin-Goldberg

When designing a family-friendly powder room, interior designer Sandra Meyer wanted the space to relate to the nearby living room. “The wallpaper, while fun, is sophisticated with hues of silver and gold. The penny tile adds an additional punch of colour," says Meyer.

Check out how to update your bathroom without renovating.

This story was originally part of "Bathing Beauties" in the March 2016 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!