How To Decorate Bathroom Shelves

Decorating bathroom shelves that are stylish as well as functional can be quite a challenge. Here are several simple ideas to achieve that perfect balance.

Adequate storage and stylish decor are very important in a bathroom. Finding the perfect balance can be a bit tricky. This is where shelves can be the best solution.

When we first moved into our new home, I knew that floating shelves over the toilet in our powder room were the best solution. Both for decor and function.

This wall is the first thing you see as you enter from the hallway. I wanted the powder room to be welcoming. Bare walls do not give a cozy feeling. Especially in a bathroom which is normally full of hard and cold surfaces.

This is where we started, a very bare and empty wall. Bathrooms are already cold and this bare wall echoed that sentiment. Let’s warm this space.

To begin, I needed to start with the basics.

Choosing Shelving

Types Of Shelving

There are basically two types of shelving for over the toilet.

• Floating shelving
  • This type of shelving uses hidden brackets inside the shelf for support and to attach it to the wall.
• Bracket shelving
  • This type of shelving uses a decorative bracket to support the shelf and attach it to the wall.

I debated between floating shelves and shelves that had metal accent brackets. Floating shelves were my choice since I like the seamless way they hang on the wall.

Decide On Color

Once the style of shelving was chosen, then I needed to decide on color. I found shelves in dark brown, white, blonde wood and gray. We have a lot of gray in our home which is why I went with the gray shelves.

Select Shelving Size

Next select the correct size shelving for over the toilet. You don’t want the shelves to be too wide or too long for the space. If they are too wide, people would be hitting their heads on those shelves. Length was also a consideration since I had limited space in the powder room.

For this bathroom, the shelves are 6 inches deep and 22 inches wide. This doesn’t give a lot of room for decor or storage but for a powder room, I believe this is just the right amount.

How Many Shelves

This is where it gets tricky. Most design tips will tell you to only group things in odd numbers. This applies to shelves as well.

Two shelves are all that could be put above a toilet, in my opinion. You have to give ample room for the tank lid to be lifted should something need to be repaired.

To give the illusion of a group of three, I placed a small sign underneath the bottom shelf. To the eye, now there is balance.

Begin With A Strategy

You’ve got your bathroom shelves up and they look beautiful. Now what? How do you even begin to turn them into a warm and decorative not to mention stylish addition to your powder room? That was my dilemma until I decided I needed a strategy.

You need a strategy, too.

1. First, determine your theme.
   • Do you like farmhouse?
   • Rustic or traditional?
   • An eclectic mix?

2. Next, choose a color palette you like.
   • Neutral tones
   • Natural
   • Greens
   • Blues
   • White

Now that you have your theme and color palette, it’s time to go shopping. As I have said many times in past decor articles, shop your home first. If you are like me, you have many decor pieces that you aren’t currently using. Pull out those pieces that fit with your chosen style and color theme. Put them to use in your bathroom.

What Stores To Shop At

My favorite stores for inexpensive decor are Hobby Lobby, Kirklands and Home Goods. I can usually find just the right accent pieces. Most of these stores have a good variety. If you are looking for seasonal decor, I would highly recommend shopping early in the season for the best selection.

Ideas For Decorative Bathroom Shelves

Look for pieces that fit with your chosen theme and color scheme.

For function, fill the vases, baskets and canisters so they look full. Don’t leave containers empty. Full containers will look better with functional items such as the canisters filled with cotton balls and cotton swabs.

Place faux greenery into vases. The greenery adds color and an organic feel to your shelving which gives warmth to the powder room. Adding faux greenery made a big difference when I was decorating my bathroom to look like a spa. This is an inexpensive addition.

I love the look of the washcloths being rolled and placed into the antiqued wire basket.

Don’t forget to decorate the toilet tank. I placed a wicker basket filled with toilet paper. This makes it very convenient for guests as well as a decorative accent at the same time.

Arrange Decor On Your Shelves

Using the rule of odds, place your decor on your shelves in groupings of three. I chose three since the bathroom shelves are rather small. Be sure to incorporate height and scale into these small groupings. All these factors will make your display pleasing to the eye.

I use these design principles whenever I decorate my coffee table.

Once you have your groupings complete, step back. Is there anything that is throwing the display off? This is the time to edit.

Leaning a picture against the wall makes it a good way to layer decor pieces. Place another object in front of the picture for depth. I did this by placing the jar candle slightly in front it.

In this case, I wasn’t crazy about the size of the picture.

I had placed a small picture on the top shelf but felt the height was off. So, I replaced it with a larger picture. That was much better.

Conclusion

By choosing the best type of shelving for your decor aesthetic and the right accessories, you are well on your way to a well decorated bathroom.

Decor makes a big difference in any room in your home. Sometimes the powder room can be a neglected room. It doesn’t have to be. With these tips, your powder room will be a welcoming space for your guests.