Bathroom Shelf Decor Ideas

A bathroom shelf is more than just a shelf. It stores towels, your plants, half-finished candles, and somehow it makes the entire room look neat or totally neglected. We all tend to go with whatever we have in the house, then ask ourselves, “Why does it feel flat?” The reality is, whether you’re aiming for a rustic, modern or somewhat Boho bathroom, shelving is one of the most budget-friendly options.

There’s no need to have a renovation budget or a contractor on speed dial. With strategically placing shelves, the right materials and a little creativity about what to put on display, the tone of the room can change. Here are 10 ideas for varying styles, and varying bathroom sizes, so there’s something here for everyone, whether you are in the powder room or the master bath.

Small Bathroom Shelf Storage Ideas

Shelves should be multipurpose in small bathrooms. For one, corner shelves seem like the obvious solution as they utilize dead space and make use of nothing else. A narrow shelf above the toilet tank, shallow shelves lined up alongside the mirror or a slim ladder shelf in an unused corner can provide valuable storage without taking up floor space. With a small bathroom, the key is moderation. When using a small shelf, only put in everyday essentials and maybe one or two decorative items and the room can still get cluttered in no time.

One such project that seems more complex than it really is is a ladder shelf. Two side rails, a few rungs and a piece that leans against the wall that you can use to hang towels without any anchors or damage to the wall. The reclaimed wood lends it a lived in appearance and the sanded and stained pine is cleaner and more up to date. Roll the towels, don’t fold them flat across the rungs as it will look nicer and dry quicker. This is a good weekend project for those who do not have access to a drill and need to rent a tile cutter.

Modern Bathroom Ladder Shelf Storage

The ladder shelf isn’t just a farmhouse thing. When the reclaimed wood is replaced in a modern bathroom, use matte black metal or a sleek walnut finish, and retain the space between the rungs. No need for more decorations, have two or three folded towels and one plant says it for you. The modern spaces are defined by negative space, that is, do not fill all the rungs. The ladder shelving is great, especially next to a stand-alone tub and can be used to hang a robe.

Bathtub Ideas with Wooden Storage Cabinet

If your bathroom features a statement tub, you should have some shelving space around it that complements it, rather than detracts from it. A small wooden storage cabinet positioned next to the bath, provides room for bath oils, folded wash cloths and a candle tray while eliminating the clutter of open shelves in the bathroom next to your bath. Whether you have a matte black acrylic tub or a vintage cast iron tub, opt for a wood tone that matches, or contrasts, with the material of your tub. Place a little stone or wood tray on top for everyday use.

Boho bathrooms are all about texture. Pair open wood shelves with trailing plants such as pothos, or place a small fern on shelves, use a woven basket for additional storage and then finish with a piece of unglazed ceramic or raw crystal for a contrasting touch. It isn’t matching decoration, but variety which still feels cohesive.

The easiest place to do this is in a bathroom, where there is at least some natural light. Most trailing plants require some (but not too much) direct sun to thrive with the humidity fluctuations in the bathroom. Choose a more resilient plant if your bathroom doesn’t have any windows, such as pothos or a snake plant.

Wall-Mounted Towel Shelf with Hooks

A shelf that pairs with hooks underneath can fix one of the most common bathroom issues – where to hang a towel to let it dry. You can hang folded linens or baskets on top of the hanging space on a single shelf with 3 to 4 hangers underneath for hanging your towels each day.

This whole concept works with just about any style and size of bathroom, whether it’s a coastal style with a whitewashed wood floor or an industrial style with black iron hooks and a dark walnut shelf.

Wooden Bathroom Shelf with Towel Hooks

Which is like the previous idea but is a separate one in its own right as the material alters the feel. Pair a solid wood shelf, thicker than your standard floating shelf with brass or matte black hooks and you’ve added a warm element to bathroom decor that may otherwise seem cold and tiled. This is a good choice to use in bathrooms that contain a large amount of stone or concrete, as the wood will soften the more hard surfaces. Space the hooks to hang towels without them interfering with each other and drying more slowly.

All that hard, cool surface is best broken up and enhanced with warm wood in the form of a stone shower, either a full slab or smaller tile. A recessed or surface-mounted walnut shelf in or near the shower provides a place to put shampoo bottles and a bar of soap without the need for plastic caddies. The difference in texture between the stone and the wood is what makes it such a great combination, it’s a little detail but it is a detail that really makes the bathroom look more like a custom designed bathroom than assembled from a catalog.

You don’t have to have a shelf in the bathroom all year round for each and every idea. A few tiny Santa hats on a nursery shelf or on a bed of stuffed animals, when you’re decorating a bathroom that doubles as a kid’s room during the holidays, are a nice holiday accent but not an all-out holiday display! Don’t over stuff it, after all the tree is down and everything else is packed away, it should only be two or three items.

Corbels are one of the easiest ways to add character to an otherwise plain shelf and we often overlook. As an alternative to the common floating shelf with no brackets that hangs in the air, place corbels, small pieces of wood or wrought iron below the shelf to provide weight and support. Even in a weekend project, it sounds like it was done on purpose – like custom millwork.

A bare floating shelf would look slightly unfinished in bathrooms with farmhouse or traditional leanings, which makes this an ideal solution. Apply a matching paint to the corbels or use raw corbels in contrast with a painted wall.

Looking to spruce up your shelves?

One of those minor adjustments that can be more rewarding than the work involved is the addition of a few bathroom shelves. You don’t have to completely redo the room to give it a different atmosphere; simply get some shelves in the room that fit the way that you actually use the space and add some pieces of decor to bring your style into the room. You might begin at one wall or corner, choose a material that will complement the rest of your bathroom, and then add it on from there.

These kinds of small tweaks, whether you’re making your own ladder shelf, opting for a stone and walnut hybrid, or a straightforward design with hooks below, generally make the most significant difference in the atmosphere of a bathroom from day-to-day.