Paint the walls a complementary color.

IMO the winscoting was overkill in a small space I do not like how it was handled by the sink and for sure no side backsplash is needed at all. IMO the best no would be to remove the vanity continue the wainscoting all across that wall and install a pedestal sink and my guess is the floor will need to be redone. This si what happens with poor planning. If the floor can’t be done then the vanity needs to sit in front of the wainscoting IMO. Then either wallpaper or a diferent colr of wall above the wainscoting and remove that shelf above the toilet and hang a piece of art there . Since this is a PR do disposible towels and they can be in a tray on the counter or on a shlf above the toilet but much loer and under the art work.

These are the two ways to handle this.

Hi. As you have figured out, when designing, have a total plan and ideally, a designer who will create a rendering for you, so you can see the final vision.

For smaller spaces, more patterns make the space look choppy and small. So, here is what I recommend if you really want the room to look fabulous

1) Remove the wainscot

2) Remove the 4" backplash. You really don't need it in a powder room.

3) Remove the shelf

4) Remove the rug on the floor

5) Add art above the toilet

6) Add a soap dispenser

7) Add disposable towels

8) Install small trash can inside the door (can be attached to door).

9) Paint the door white and new hardware.

10) Replace the clear glass window with something a little more private.

I’d paint the cabinet the same color as wainscotting and look feasibility of painting counter also, using a specialized paint, and everything will all tie in nicely. https://www.remodelaholic.com/painted-bathroom-sink-countertop-makeover/

For impact, you could add wallpaper, a Roman blind and a picture vs the shelf

Do Not Remove it! I am not a pro and none of your family/friends who will be using this space are either.

When I first saw your photo, I questioned what could be wrong.

Okay, at closer inspection, the counter could be a lighter color.

I would paint the wall a tan that is similar to the counter, just lighter. Yes, to wall pPet, if you are the type that likes wall paper.

I would look for a bath mat with a pattern in the beige/ tan family.

It’s lovely all in all.

Patricia is probably right -- you've set the course for kind of a big change of character for the room. However, presuming you want to cut your losses for right now, I'd repaint the upper wall (or find a nice wallpaper) and get a new counter top with white/gray tones. The latter may be a bit tricky, given that they have built the wainscotting flush to the attached backsplash, but many standard sizes of sinks come with a back and sidesplash like this, so careful research may see you home. Good luck!

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I will be looking for a lighter countertop without a backsplash, artwork in place of the shelf, and will consider wallpaper. Do you think plantation shutters would work? Or should I stick to a Roman shade? The window opens to my enclosed porch and needs privacy.

I happen to like your wainscot panel - we are installing them alot in bathrooms. The walls need to be painted something a little bolder or they need to exactly match the color of the panels. The countertop color is all wrong. Since you are considering changing the top, why not change the vanity as well? Or paint it? OR paint the wainscot panels?

I don't think I would do plantation shutters - a pretty shade would be great

Good luck!

I think you have the right idea on what you should change. Consider cafe curtains for the window. They will give you all the privacy you need and yet let the light in. If you can find a wallpaper you love, go for it. Otherwise, I would do a bold color on the upper wall.

I think this bathroom would be nicer with a pedestal sink and a wood floor....but that's me. I would love a dark color above the wainscoting - Hale Navy, Caponata....something like that, depending on the other colors on your first floor. I like shutters on the lower half of the window myself.

Unfortunately my flooring expands throughout the kitchen, back hall, and laundry area. I don’t think I can pull up just the bathroom floor without making the rest look even more outdated.

use a tonal damask something similar in wallcovering to pull together all of the light tones
you already have. See photo above. Alternately, I would paint the wall above the wainscoting a color you love which will draw the eye toward it and away from the slight mismatch of whites/beiges. Also see above. You could pull in the lighter colors in your print mats, in your framing or in your artwork to achieve balance.

Your bathroom door and cabinet are dark wood and it appears that your home is traditional or Colonial so I would consider doing wood shutters on the window in a darker stained wood to blend with the door if you have enough trim to do an inside mount. Your trim is beautiful, by the way. Personally, I love half window traditional mini shutters because they add instant charm. They are classic though not on trend like plantation shutters. For a small window Plantations could be a bit large in scale.

Also charming are cafe curtains and perfect for a small bath, as mentioned above in the thread. Your fabric can pull together the light tones and the color in a painted upper wall.