A miniature chandelier by Dorian Webb that measures 16" x 9" is embellished with Venetian glass and freshwater pearls.

LIGHTING

From bejeweled chandeliers and table lamps to sconces and pendants, our experts agree that lighting options for a powder room are seemingly endless. Here are some choices to consider:

• Mini chandeliers. Anderson calls miniature chandeliers the “cherry on top of a powder room’s design.” Their small scale complements the petite size of powder rooms, and they can be used in conjunction with sconces to add flattering, diffused light.

• Lamps and lanterns. Illuminating a powder room can present a design challenge if space is limited, notes Van Lith. She suggests wiring a pair of candlestick table lamps through the top of the vanity to light an area that doesn’t have room for sconces; or, in the corner of the room, hanging a grouping of lanterns at varying heights to create visual interest and add ambient light.
 
• Ambient light. “Lighting transforms your space,” notes Anderson. She says that
oftentimes the illumination from decorative light fixtures lends mood, while recessed can lights in the ceiling establish a brighter setting.

Photo by Werner Segarra An Indian dowry chest was converted to a vanity in this powder room. Glazed Mexican tiles create colorful wainscoting.

MIRRORS

“We usually go wild in our powder baths,” says Himes of the design possibilities. Long gone are the sterile and plain-looking mirrors of the past; today’s options offer another way to bring decorative oomph to the space.

• Unique applications.  Anderson observes that manufacturers are getting creative with mirror designs. She cites companies such as Séura Inc., which incorporates TVs
into mirrors, and Kohler, which produces a mirror-and-faucet-in-one design.

• Decorative touches. Artist-made mirrors are becoming increasingly popular, notes Himes. She describes examples that feature embedded tile or art-glass frames. Or, to lend a decorative touch, Van Lith recommends adding a painted finish to a mirror’s frame that will highlight the room’s wall treatment.