Yes — Florida's mechanical code requires exhaust ventilation for bathrooms and toilet rooms as a category, and that includes a half bath with just a toilet and sink. It's a common misconception that no shower means no ventilation requirement.

There's no single stated minimum square footage, but the practical floor is set by fixture clearances — 15 inches from the toilet's center to a side wall, 21 inches of clearance in front of it — which together require a certain minimum footprint to satisfy legally.

Pedestal sinks maximize visual and physical floor space but offer no storage; a compact wall-hung vanity keeps a little storage while still saving space compared to a full floor-standing cabinet. It comes down to whether you need any storage in this specific room at all.

Yes, commonly by converting a closet or under-stair space, but it requires tying into an existing drain/vent stack or running new plumbing lines — a bigger project than updating an existing powder room's finishes.

Yes, with the right product — a vinyl-coated or otherwise moisture-tolerant wallpaper handles the ambient humidity of a toilet/sink room well, even without direct shower exposure, which is why it's such a common powder room choice.

Because the footprint is small, a powder room refresh often costs less in total than a full bathroom, but the cost per square foot can run high due to the same fixed costs (fixtures, any plumbing work, ventilation) that apply to any bathroom regardless of size.

If fixtures stay in their exact existing locations and no electrical work is involved, the scope can be largely cosmetic; if the sink or toilet moves even a few inches, or lighting/electrical changes, a permit is required.

A bold tile floor (even carried partway up the wall), a saturated accent wall in wallpaper or paint, and a single striking light fixture or mirror all read well precisely because the room is small enough to take in at a glance.