6 Tips For Styling The Shelves Above Your Toilet

Bathrooms can be so much fun to style, and thanks to everything from expert designer tips to internet ideas that can transform the space from functional to fashionable, it's easy to elevate your space. However, your bathroom still needs to provide practical storage, which is why adding shelves is such a great option. Although these additions are certainly helpful, styling them will help them make the most difference. Instead of just throwing items on top of your shelves, it's important to consider each piece and how it aids the flow of the room while also making the space convenient. From artwork and prints to plants and even candles or toiletries, decorating your bathroom shelves is an art form in itself — especially those that reside above your toilet, as this is a huge focal point.

When it comes to finding the best spot for functional storage over the toilet, your shelves should measure 24" from underneath the bottom shelf to your toilet tank. This should give you enough room for a stylish design that doesn't cause any discomfort or awkwardness when using the toilet. The space between any additional shelves will vary depending on how high your ceiling is, the width of your shelves, and how many you intend to install. However, if you're aiming for two, try to leave around 18" between each shelf. Cut this down by an inch or two when adding more shelves or thicker designs. Try to plan out what you want to add to each shelf as well, because taller items will need more space, and you don't want the decor to seem cramped.

The length of your shelves also makes a difference, and if you have less height to work with but more width across, why not consider installing wall to wall shelves? These help you make the most of the space above your toilet, as they give you a lot more surface area to work with and allow you to store more items. A great way to incorporate wall to wall shelves above your toilet is to lay wallpaper down first as an accent wall, then add two to three long shelves. This really works best with a space that only features the toilet in a small section of wall.

To decorate these longer shelves, make sure to leave a decent amount of negative space, as it can be easy to overfill the long surfaces. Try adding linens as well as square or rectangular objects like books or prints, then include a few vases and jars to soften the finish. Because you have more space, this type of shelving is ideal for all those little trinkets or knickknacks you may want to display — just don't overdo it with those, either.

For thicker floating shelves or those that have a decent amount of width, why not layer a few different pieces? Start with either a tray or a coffee table book as a base. From here, add a plant or vase or candle, something with curves to balance the sharp edges of the book or tray. Think outside the box with a decorative tile or a framed piece of wallpaper from your bathroom instead of a big box print. Avoid personal pictures and instead opt for nature-inspired scenes or vintage pieces.

If you want to keep toiletry supplies on top of your shelves, then using shelves that hang over the toilet is a great way to add accessible storage to your bathroom. The key here is to avoid putting too many items on your shelves that aren't decorative or stylish. If you just store toilet paper and cleaning supplies here, your bathroom will not offer an inviting, aesthetic layout. You want to build a useful space where your guests or anyone who uses this room can utilize the shelves and get what they need. 

One roll of unwrapped toilet paper — or even one kept in a canvas bag — can make these shelves stylish for anyone using the bathroom, while also leaving room for other decor. Stack two or three books and place your toilet paper roll on top so that it elevates your shelf. Add a room spray in a nice bottle, and maybe a few other jars on a separate shelf with useful toiletries. Between these, add signs or plants to elevate your surfaces so they aren't too utilitarian.

Baskets are another great option to add to your shelves above the toilet, as they can hold a lot of items you may not want on display and still offer a stylish aesthetic. Wire baskets can provide a place to keep your toilet paper in a neat and tidy fashion while still keeping it convenient for people to grab. Because you can still see through the wire, it's ideal to keep larger items inside rather than a bunch of small pieces, as this can create a cluttered effect. 

Toilet paper, towels, and even some soap products will work within wire baskets. If you need a place to keep a variety of toiletries and accessories, this is where wicker baskets come in. Elevated storage options like these give you a way to hide useful items without a messy accumulation on the shelves above your toilet. Use one basket per shelf so as not to overdo it, and decorate around them with smaller items like candles, small plants, and even decanted items like Q-Tips and cotton balls in glass jars.

Decanting toiletries and creating a uniform aesthetic with glass or opaque jars is a clever way to both decorate and build a functional storage station. It can also help bring a more organized vibe to the space. Purchase matching jars, or reuse old mason jars and fill them with everything from single use toiletries to soaps, salts, and accessories for guests or anyone who uses that bathroom. For more aesthetic items, you can use clear glass, and for busier collections, choose an opaque or solid-colored jar. 

You can mix and match these, or just buy a matching set to help your theme flow throughout the bathroom. Use labels to add a level of luxury to each jar. Since these are curved or rounded, use small framed artwork or decorative signs to add some edges to the setup, maybe placing two or three jars on each shelf depending on how big they are. Play around with various sizes too, as using all of the same size will come off as boring and flat. Small, medium, and large containers can be combined and mixed or matched for a dramatic effect. Repurposed decanters can create storage for bathroom essentials in a sustainable way, so consider thrifting or saving old glassware for this.

If you have larger shelves with more space, or if you add shelves with a towel rack, you can use portions of these for linens and towels. Choose the most stylish of your collection, then fold them nicely and layer them largest to smallest. Surrounding your linens, decorate with small vases, jars, baskets, or even a print propped up against the wall with a few smaller trinkets around it. Try to add various levels and heights to each shelf since the linens are flatter, which will help make the layout seem more intentional. Tall, slim vases with just a few stems of eucalyptus or other plants will bring a subtle yet luxurious vibe — since towels are thick, you want smaller elements to balance them. You can also use decorative decanters for soap or diffusers around your folded pieces, creating a hotel-inspired station for all things bath and shower related.

If your shelves offer less space, use them to display artwork, prints, or even a vinyl record that suits the theme of your bathroom. Consider a tapered candle and candlestick holder for a vintage vibe, and then try a simple DIY thrift flip that turns a decorative vessel into a matchstick holder. Purchase the large matches and add a match striker to the bottom. Keep shelves like this above the toilet simple and subtle, and avoid overloading them, as this can create a chaotic design.

Does your bathroom lack a lot of natural light — or maybe you just want to bring more of it in? While most standard bathroom shelves are made of solid materials, glass or acrylic is a really clever way to add more light and flow to a room, especially if the shelves are small. These clear surfaces open up a space to make it seem bigger overall. Combined with mirrors, this will help make your bathroom seem airy. Keep in mind that since you can view whatever is on top of the shelves from underneath too, you want to keep your decorations simple. Solid jars, baskets, and storage will give off a tidier finish, as clear vessels may come off cluttered. Think blue or amber glass instead of regular clear options if you do want to use this material on top of shelves as well.

Another simple and creative idea is to stagger them rather than stack them one above the other. Consider varying the sizes of each shelf, using either a medium or longer length on the top, a shorter middle piece, and a medium or long shelf on the bottom. As for decoration, add larger pieces like signs, linens, or framed prints to these. For short shelves, try adding a decorative candle and a matchstick holder. An accent wall would do well here, too, as it will be more visible between the shelves.