The downstairs loo feels like Narnia's wardrobe to me. Endless possibilities with excitement at every turn. Not the clinical white loo for me. Let's get stuck in.
The downstairs loo is perhaps the most overlooked room in the house. But in the modern English home, it's become a laboratory for experimentation. It's small enough that bold choices won't overwhelm, yet visible enough to make a statement. Let's talk about how to make this tiny room sing.
Historically, the downstairs WC (or "cloakroom") was a utilitarian afterthought, tucked under the stairs with basic white tiles and a single bulb. But Nancy Lancaster and John Fowler understood that even the smallest rooms deserved attention. They proved that a jewel box can be just as impressive as a ballroom.
Today, the downstairs loo has become the room where we can be brave. It's where the William Morris wallpaper that would be too much in a living room becomes perfect. It's where that moody paint colour you've been eyeing finally gets its moment.
1. The Scale Principle: Go Big or Go Intimate
The mistake most people make is treating a small room as if it needs small patterns and light colours to "open it up." This creates a timid, forgettable space.
Instead, embrace one of two approaches:
(A) The Enveloping Cocoon
Use a single, saturated colour on every surface including the ceiling. This creates what the Georgians called "the jewel box effect."
- Walls, ceiling, and woodwork: Farrow & Ball Mahogany or Porter's Paints Deep Brunswick Green
- The darkness creates intimacy rather than claustrophobia
- Add Aged Brass fixtures that glow against the deep walls
- A small gilt-framed mirror catches candlelight and creates depth
Bathroom by Beata Heuman
(B) The Chinoiserie Statement
Cover every wall in a large-scale pattern. The Victorians knew that pattern creates its own logic in a small space.
- Hand-painted Chinoiserie panels or de Gournay-style wallpaper
- Keep the ceiling white or cream to maintain some breathing room
- A pedestal sink in marble or a simple wall-hung basin
- Blue and white floor tiles in a geometric pattern
2. The Three-Layer Lighting Strategy
A downstairs loo without proper lighting is a missed opportunity. You need atmosphere, not harsh overhead glare.
Layer One: The Statement Pendant
Forget the ceiling spotlight. Hang a small vintage Italian Murano pendant or a brass Moroccan lantern. Position it at eye level when standing, not centered on the ceiling.
Layer Two: The Mirror Light
Frame the mirror with two small Aged Brass sconces. This creates flattering light for guests checking their appearance and adds a hotel-like glamour.
Layer Three: The Ambient Glow
If you have a window, add a small lamp on the windowsill. A ceramic mushroom lamp or a vintage Italian table lamp with a gathered shade creates a warm glow at dusk.
3. The Sink and Fixtures: Choose Your Character
| Style | Sink Choice | Tap Selection | The Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgian Formal | Marble pedestal or console | Traditional crosshead in Unlacquered Brass | Dignified, architectural |
| Victorian Eccentric | Painted ceramic with blue transfer pattern | Vintage mixer tap with ceramic indices | Collected, storied |
| Mid-century Modern | Wall-hung ceramic with clean lines | Lever tap in Brushed Bronze | Understated, sophisticated |
Don't be afraid to mix Victorian taps with a modern sink, the contrast will feel curated.
4. The Art of the Unexpected Detail
This is where you add the elements that make guests smile.
- A vintage framed botanical print or a small oil painting of a dog
- A single stem in a narrow glass vase (I love eucalyptus or a hellebore)
- A small collection of hand soap in antique glass bottles on a brass tray
- A linen hand towel with a grosgrain ribbon loop, refreshed daily
- Vintage Staffordshire or Italian ceramic pieces on a small wall shelf
The rule is to make the room feel considered but not precious. You want people to feel they've discovered something, not entered a museum.
5. The Practical Poetry
Don't forget this room has to function.
The Floor
Victorian encaustic tiles are ideal if you can source them. Otherwise, black and white or blue and white checkerboard in small format tiles never fails. Try large format contemporary tiles to look out of scale.
The Storage
A narrow floating shelf in dark wood or a small wall-mounted cabinet with glass doors. Keep it minimal, this isn't the room for clutter.
The Ventilation
Install a quiet extractor fan, nothing ruins atmosphere like a loud mechanical whirr. Or better yet, if you have a window, fit it with a beautiful brass stay and let the room breathe naturally.
The Scent
A small reed diffuser in Cedarwood or a Diptyque candle in Figuier. Avoid anything too floral or synthetic.
6. Project Summary (The Decorator's Brief)
Project: The Jewel Box Cloakroom (Powder Room with Presence)
Aesthetic: "Collected Opulence"—Bold, intimate, and unapologetically decorative.
Key Directives:
- Walls: Either saturated single colour or large-scale pattern, no middle ground
- Floor: Traditional patterned tiles, preferably reclaimed Victorian or high-quality reproduction
- Sink: Pedestal or console in marble or painted ceramic
- Fixtures: All hardware in Unlacquered Brass or Aged Bronze
- Lighting: Multiple sources, no overhead spot
- Mirror: Ornate vintage frame in gilt or aged wood, minimum 60cm tall
- The Detail: One unexpected element that makes people pause, a small painting, a vintage object, an interesting tap
I write about modern English interiors and Italian antiques, I'm an Anglo-Italian-Aussie living in Melbourne so I feel I can. All views are my own, happy to discuss - louise@buson.com.au