(ARA) -- It’s a room with a toilet and a sink. Maybe a window, if you’re lucky. The average size is a tiny four feet by five feet. And if it can’t get any worse, it’s probably the most frequently used room in your house -- especially for guests and visitors.

Yes, it’s the powder room . . . also known as the half-bath or guest bath. While for years this has been a miniscule room, often forgotten when decorating, today’s builders are actually allocating more space to the powder room. In addition, powder rooms in many newer homes offer such upscale features as high-end cabinetry, pedestal sinks, ornate accessories and sophisticated lighting.

Whether your powder room is big or small, this is a space where you can let your expression show. Because its size is typically smaller than other rooms in your home, it allows you the opportunity to be a bit more creative and daring. Plus, you can make a significant decorating impact with little time and expense, and change the look often to keep it fresh.

A Little Room That Makes a Big Impact

The name "powder room" actually descends from Victorian times. Bathrooms were often called powder rooms because it was the place where ladies retired to powder their noses. These spaces were tastefully decorated and full of charm.

Today, the powder room is equally as significant to a home’s décor, if not more so. In fact, its design has become so important that the National Kitchen & Bath Association has added a powder room category to its annual design competition which provides a barometer for what’s hot in the design industry.

But, sprucing up the powder room with a stylish flair isn’t a challenge left only to interior designers. Thanks to the popularity of numerous do-it-yourself decorating television shows, more Americans than ever before are trying their hand at stylish decorating themselves. In fact, a recent survey conducted by Creative Specialties International, a division of Moen Incorporated; and Rooms of America, a consumer research organization, found that more than 75 percent of respondents said that decorating themes are "important" in the powder room.

What does that mean to manufacturers of bath-related products? According to Mark Savan, vice president and general manager of Creative Specialties International, "Consumer style preferences are our number one consideration when designing new bath accessory collections. We take these survey results seriously and even conduct our own focus groups to further substantiate consumer preferences."

Relying on this extensive research, Creative Specialties International recently introduced four new bath accessory collections designed to reflect the styles used in today’s bath. Sold under the Inspirations brand, the Stockton, Danbury, Sage and Avery collections each fall into one of three design categories -- traditional, contemporary/casual or country. The Stockton, Sage and Avery collections are available in chrome and brushed nickel; while the Danbury collection is available in chrome and popular oil rubbed bronze. Each product creates a stunning look for a guest bathroom.

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