The rooms we mean
Downstairs powder rooms. A toilet and small basin near the entry or the family room, common in 1980s and 90s double-storey homes in Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills and Cherrybrook.
Guest toilets off the laundry. The one the kids use when they come in from the backyard or the pool.
Compact second bathrooms. A small shower, toilet and basin, often downstairs next to a study or a fifth bedroom that has become a guest room.
Granny flat bathrooms. Tight bathrooms in secondary dwellings on larger Glenhaven, Dural and West Pennant Hills blocks.
What makes a small room feel larger
Wall-hung everything. A floating vanity and a wall-hung toilet show more floor, which reads as more space.
One tile, floor to ceiling. Carrying the same porcelain tile across floor and walls removes visual breaks.
A mirror that goes wide. A mirror running the full width of the vanity bounces light around the room.
Pocket or outward-opening doors. A door that swings into a small room steals most of it. A cavity sliding door can free up the whole wall.
Concealed cisterns. Tucked in a framed wall with a ledge on top for a candle or spare roll.
Built for traffic
A powder room in a busy house gets more use per square metre than any other room. We favour durable choices over delicate ones:
- Porcelain rather than natural stone on the floor.
- Mixer tapware with a simple, robust lever.
- A basin with an overflow if young children use it.
- A good exhaust fan on a timer, because this is the room without a window.
- Hand towel hooks at a height kids can reach.
Adding a shower downstairs
Converting a downstairs toilet into a small bathroom is a popular upgrade where elderly parents visit, where there is a ground-floor bedroom, or before selling. On a concrete slab it involves cutting a trench for the shower waste, a step-down or ramped screed, and full waterproofing. It is very achievable, but it moves the job from the powder room band into the small bathroom band.
For accessibility-focused conversions, see accessible bathrooms.
Timing
A powder room is typically eight to twelve working days on site. A small bathroom with a shower is closer to the three-week mark because of the membrane cure. See the cost guide for bands.
Call 02 4404 2242 or send us the room details.
Related upgrades
| Bathroom Renovations | The upstairs family bathroom stripped to the frame and rebuilt — new set-out, membrane, tiles and fittings, priced as one job. |
|---|---|
| Ensuite Renovations | Master ensuites from the 1980s and 90s reworked for two adults on the same morning timetable. |
| Accessible Bathrooms | Level-entry showers, reinforced walls for rails and safer floors, so a two-storey family home still works for the long term. |
| Laundry Renovations | Laundries with real bench space, hidden hampers and a proper place for sports gear, done with the bathroom or on their own. |
| Waterproofing & Tiling | Membranes laid and certified to the Australian Standard, then tiles set with correct falls — the work that protects the ceiling below. |
Questions people ask before they commit
How much does a powder room renovation cost?
As a 2026 guide, a powder room with a toilet and basin generally runs $9,000 to $16,000. Adding a shower turns it into a small bathroom, which usually lands between $17,000 and $26,000 because full waterproofing and more tiling are needed.
Can we add a shower to the downstairs toilet?
Sometimes, if the room is at least around 1.5 by 1.8 metres and a shower waste can be run on the ground floor. On a concrete slab that means cutting and re-pouring a trench, so it is checked carefully at the measure.
What finishes survive kids and sports teams?
Porcelain floor tiles with a slip-resistant surface, a wall-hung toilet or a toilet with a concealed cistern that is easy to clean around, a solid-surface or porcelain basin, and a semi-gloss or tiled wall behind the basin.
Does a powder room need waterproofing?
Wet-area rules apply to the floor around toilets and basins, and fully to any shower. The requirements are set by the building code and Australian Standard, and are confirmed for the specific room.