The Chic Behind-The-Toilet Wall Design That Will Totally Transform Your Bathroom

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Tired of how plain and unappealing your bathroom or toilet closet wall looks? Installing box molding might be an effective solution to this problem. This kind of fixture, which is sometimes referred to as picture frame molding, adds a distinct square or rectangle-shaped trim pattern to the wall. It can easily elevate just about any interior and make it look more visually distinct. In the bathroom in particular, it can complement your cabinets and hardware, or completely transform the empty area that's right behind your toilet. Overall, it's a relatively cost-effective way to upgrade the space. Plus, box molding is one of many unique bathroom design ideas you shouldn't overlook when you're planning a remodeling project.

Box molding suits a variety of interior arrangement styles, including everything from contemporary designs to more traditional, elegant aesthetics. It looks great alongside wall-mounted sconce lighting, or bright metallic taps and cabinet pulls. It also does a solid job of boxing in other wall decor, such as framed art pieces or mirrors. If you're planning to add box molding behind your toilet, make sure to keep an eye out for luxe color schemes that'll make your home look more high-end. If you paint the fixtures with these hues, you'll allow them to have an even greater decorative impact.

Although box molding looks luxurious, it's actually fairly easy to install. First, measure your wall and decide where you want to put your boxes, and how large they should be. Generally speaking, you should leave a gap between the baseboards and your molding that's equal to the gaps between your boxes. Once you've made your plan, place painter's tape in the positions where the molding will go. See how it looks, and check that the lines are level.

Once that's done, cut your molding to match the dimensions of your boxes. For the corners, miter each adjoining piece at a 45-degree angle, so your pieces form a right angle when pushed together. Home goods retailers might also have molding kits with pre-cut corners, which could make things easier. You can also find these available via online retailers, like Amazon.

Now it's time to put your molding up on the wall in place of your painter's tape. The simplest way to do this is with a brad nailer. Check every piece as it goes up to make sure it's level. If you have a spare wood block, you could cut it down to match the desired gap between the molding and the wall, and use it as a spacer to make installation easier. Next, apply a bead of caulk around the outside edges of your molding, and let it dry. Then, use wood filler to fill in the spaces around the nails. Finally, paint your molding with your preferred color.

There are several different patterns and visual styles to choose from when deciding how you're going to lay out your box molding in your bathroom. The first and arguably simplest option is to create a series of squares or rectangles that cover the entire height of your wall, from floor to ceiling. Another viable option is to use the box moldings only on a lower section of the wall, and then separate that lower section from the upper part with the help of some chair rail molding. This mimics the look of wainscotting, provided that you put some wood panels between all of your moldings. The wainscotting should cover the lower third of the wall, but you can adjust its height based on the placement of your sink and your toilet.

If you're planning to divide your wall into different sections, you could consider giving the upper part a completely different color of paint to add a bit more visual flair to the space. If you don't want to paint the upper section of the wall, you could simply cover it with some peel-and-stick wallpaper. This could be a great way to bring in a more elegant, eye-catching pattern and give your bathroom a bit more character. For a truly opulent look, you could even try putting this type of wallpaper between your box moldings, so that it has the appearance of framed artwork.