There’s something so satisfying about giving the smallest room in the house a glow-up.
You know the one — the downstairs loo that slowly becomes a “pop it in there for now” storage cupboard… until one day you open the door and think, right, we’re sorting this.
So when Esselle Home kindly offered to send me two rolls of the RHS Orchid Botanical wallpaper in purple, it felt like the perfect excuse to finally tackle this space. It’s gone from “bit of a dumping ground” to my favourite room in the house.
The wallpaper: RHS Orchid Botanical (Purple)
The design I used is the RHS Orchid Botanical wallpaper in purple — a gorgeous botanical print that feels classic and a little bit dramatic (in the best way). It has that heritage, cosy vibe I love, but still makes a statement.
A few things I really appreciated while using it:
• Paste-the-wall (which makes the whole job feel so much less faffy)
• Patterns match perfectly (no stress, no “is this slightly off?” panic)
• Minimum waste because the repeat is easy to work with and the matching is straightforward
• Designed and manufactured in the UK — always a big plus for me
If you’re curious, this is the exact wallpaper:
Why the downstairs loo was the perfect place to start
I think we sometimes save the “nice” things for the bigger rooms — the living room, the kitchen, the hallway — and the little spaces get ignored. But the truth is: small rooms are where you can go bold without it feeling overwhelming.
This makeover is the perfect example of that: smallest room in the house, maximum impact.
Before: the storage zone
Before this, our downstairs toilet was… functional. But it had definitely become a bit of a storage area. You know the vibe: spare bits, random items that don’t have a home, the kind of room you don’t really want guests lingering in.
It wasn’t awful — it just wasn’t loved.
The makeover: quick, satisfying, and so worth it
Once I cleared the space and prepped the walls, the wallpapering itself was genuinely enjoyable. Because it’s paste-the-wall, it felt quicker and cleaner than traditional wallpapering, and the pattern matching was spot on. I didn’t have to wrestle it into place or waste loads trying to line things up.
And the moment the first few drops went up? I could already see the transformation happening.
After: the best room in the houseI’m not even exaggerating when I say this is now the best room in the house. It feels intentional, cosy, and properly finished — like a little jewel box of a space.
The purple orchid print brings in so much character and warmth, and it’s one of those designs that makes you smile every time you walk past the door.
If you’re thinking of wallpapering a small space… do it
If you’ve got a downstairs loo, a tiny hallway, a pantry, or even an awkward little nook that’s been ignored, consider this your sign. A bold wallpaper can completely change how a space feels — and because it’s small, you can get a high-end look without needing loads of rolls.
My quick tips before you start
• Clear everything out first (it makes the job feel 10x easier)
• Take your time with the first drop — once that’s straight, the rest is a dream
• Don’t be afraid of pattern in small rooms — it’s where it shines
Thank you, Esselle Home
A big thank you to Esselle Home for gifting me the wallpaper for this collaboration. I’m genuinely so impressed with the quality, how easy it was to hang, and the finished look.
This makeover has been on my list for ages, and I’m so glad I finally did it.
If you’d like to see the wallpaper I used, you can find it here:
As always, all thoughts are my own — and I only share products I truly love and would use in my own home.
