If a new sink which might cost you $140 isn't in the budget, then wallpaper isn't going to be either. I actually like the green walls, but since you don't you need to figure out a way to change them. How about painting vertical white stripes, about 12" wide on the walls? Or you could get a large scale stencil and create a repeating design on the walls. Something you can do yourself will make a fun project for you and you'll be proud of your creation.

I was on a house tour this weekend and saw a wonderful powder room with blackboard paint on two walls. They actually used black blackboard paint on two walls and regular white paint on the other two. But blackboard paint comes in almost any color from your paint store these days, so you could choose whatever color you want. Once there's a blackboard there, your kids, if you have any, could enjoy helping you write or draw things on the walls.

What about painting the walls a different colour and also painting the sink unit it would lighten the whole feel of the area

That vessel sink is way to tall for such a small cabinet. I would replace it and either repaint or select a wallpaper. $100-144 for these sinks from Overstock, and they might supply some inspiration for the wall color.

love the idea of changing the bowl out! I would say paper, its so small and could just do the wall behind the sink. and than paint the other to 3 cream. i see some sort of silver pattern here.

To me, it's the diameter of the vessel sink that is too large, not so much the height. However, with a smaller sink, the faucet might not overlap the edge,. Be very careful about what you replace the sink with if that's what you choose to do.

So I've dealt with these types of situations before. I would install a tile backsplash (glass tile mosaics or similar) to the approximate height of the top of the faucet but below the mirror. It will give the vessel more balance and look great. Run the splash from the left edge of the counter to the right edge.

This is one of our in progress works. So this pic is a little overkill for your room but you could use this sliced stone look for just the backsplash area behind your vessel. This looks nice if you are into more rustic looking irregular looks. Depends on what you like.

I agree that a sink that is not as tall and that has some color/pattern will entirely change the way you feel about this bathroom. For some reason, I think a rectangular mirror instead of an oval one would look better--check TJ Maxx Homestore or Tuesday morning for well-priced options, maybe with a gold frame. I think the black-framed mirror is less effective in this bathroom. You might be happier with a taupe colored wall, especially if you have crown molding in this bathroom that is painted white/off-white.

Change the vessel sink to a glass one to give the appearance of more space.

I'd paint the walls a neutral color to blend with the rest of your house. Changing your mirror to a frameless mirror will also help lighten up the space.

It seems like changing the bowl out for something smaller would help but it is really the cabinet that I don't like. For such a small powder room it is just too imposing and not in an eclectic way- just out of place. Having always used the sink provided in a new place I never actually shopped for one. I will make this purchase work in the budget. Thank you all for your thoughtful responses.

Paint the whole room chocolate brown. Make everything disappear but the bowl and the mirror.

I don't mind the vanity if your house has a traditional style. But it's a formal piece while the vessel looks very utilitarian, making for a mismatched duo.

i agree that the mirror looks wrong and wonder what the light fixture looks like. Also the faucet looks too contemporary for the vanity style.

If you do that right, it could make a statement. a juxtaposition if you will

to me this looks like a public restroom, an upgrade on the fixture only, but then it looks like a museum with the single piece of art, under a garage light fixture.

very utilitarian fixtures With a chandy and fancy mirror
very utilitarian with what appears to be a farm house sink
Like i said it can work, you just have to be a little contrary in the design.

Certainly if you expand your budget to include wallpaper, it could become the factor that gives a whole new personality to the room, but lighting is also a key element. Can we see a picture that includes the lighting please?

I do believe I will be completely redesigning this little room! I love "Havingfun's" pics and Carolyn, your observations and comments are spot on!

Besides the museum in the bathroom, there is one other that i love

I know this is probably not going to appeal to you, but i would love to see that wonderful antique looking cabinet in a subway or i have another mural that is a spaceship hall. it is just so much fun! It is hard to maintain such a visage in a large room, used daily, but in a half bath you actually can have something that totally does not fit your home, the more unusual, the more fun it is.

i know silly me. Remember always have fun.

@havingfun-Haha, I do love NYC but I don't think I could do the subway!

Since it's a small special space, I think a more expansive mirror might help along with a unique wallpaper.

yeah, i know, but you could do the middle of woods, or on a cliff. I just like that little bit of unexpected sometimes.

I'd like to see an improvement in the lighting. The fixture you have creates a lot of light which is not necessarily what is needed in a powder room, plus it's kind of a ho-hummer.

Having a narrow sconce on each side of a skinny mirror could give some glamour to the room but we need to know the width of the space before we go looking for narrow sconces and skinny mirrors. If the space where the vanity is located measures 30" or less, we probably couldn't find the right items, but if it's 36" or more, I think we can. We need to allow 2" on each side of each sconce, plus the mirror width. Jaynekc, could you please measure for us?

I would go with light colored walls to soften the look of the room. Add a more delicate/shiny mirror and a mini chandelier and you could also shiny glass mosiacs on the back wall. The glam of the room will be noticed vs the sink's size.

I would have a new hole cut in the vanity so that the raised 'foot' of the bowl is nestled into the vanity and you just see the bowl. I think the sink was installed improperly. That would drop it an inch or two and put in better proportion?

Please excuse the fact that this powder room is very contemporary, but the photo does a good job of showing a tall skinny mirror and a sconce on each side of it. That's the sort of arrangement that I'm hoping you can do but with a more traditional mirror and sconces...if you have space!

Hi just read this article, it feels you are dead on with the round mirror and rounded cabinet.

[[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/a-powder-room-craftsman-powder-room-san-francisco-phvw-vp~46338)

[[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/a-powder-room-craftsman-powder-room-san-francisco-phvw-vp~46338)[[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/a-powder-room-craftsman-powder-room-san-francisco-phvw-vp~46338)

Mahoney Architects & Interiors

SavEmail

Rounding It Out

Vanity: Approximately 26 inches wide by 20 inches deep by 32 inches high

Rounded
fixtures and furnishings can make smaller spaces function more smoothly
and give the illusion of a larger space. This 3-foot-wide powder room
could easily be overwhelmed by a large, square cabinet, but this rounded
solution, along with the wainscot, nicely details the space.

We've lost jaynekc...haven't heard from her since day before yesterday I believe.

I went out of town for a day-I'm back! The room is only 31" across (and 5'10" long by the way).

Hi Jaynekc, glad you're back in town. That's a bummer that the powder room is only 31" wide, but not really a surprise. If your brother-in-law or best friend's husband is an electrician, then you could have the electrical moved so that you could place a sconce on the left wall and the right wall, but again that's probably not the case. So we'll deal with the reality.

I suggest wallpaper and a new light fixture. Here's one I like. A new mirror would be good also, tho you might be able to faux the existing one with some silver paint, giving it a mottled black/silver finish.

I would suggest you go ahead and get a drop-in sink and donate the vessel-style sink to the local ReStore shop. At the same time, you might find just the kind of sink you need at ReStore. I have heard that pale pink is a color flattering to most complexions, so I would suggest you paint the walls a very pale pink.