How To Add Decor To A Bathroom Shelf

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Your bathroom shelf shouldn't exist only to hold toiletries. Like the shelves in other rooms, your bathroom shelf can tell a story — yes, the germiest place in a home can whisper style and character. Artful touches can help you transform a small bathroom on a budget. Adding a handful of small aesthetic pieces, like vases and canvas prints, to your bathroom shelves creates a neat but blended look that meshes well with the aesthetics of the space. So why does decorating a bathroom seem so challenging for so many homeowners? There are a few main reasons: it's a smaller room, it can be a very humid space, and it's one of the most functional spaces in your home. 

One of the biggest hurdles to decorating a bathroom successfully is knowing how to work around space limitations while curating decor you love. An additional consideration is the humidity element — you'll need decorative pieces that won't be ruined by high humidity levels or splashes of water from the sink or tub. Consider the materials they're made of before choosing items for your bathroom. With attention to these details, even the tiniest shelf can make a big design statement in a bathroom with simple tweaks to make your bathroom feel like a relaxing resort.

Deciding on the bathroom's decor theme is an absolute must. This helps you make decisions regarding furniture type, object colors, and materials. Think about how you want to feel when you step inside your bathroom. For some people, the ideal bathroom embraces a warm, cottage-style feel, while others prefer a sleek, modern space with minimalistic elements. Once you narrow down the design style, you can choose decorative elements for your shelves that convey that theme.

For example, if you want a chic or contemporary mood, opt for items like glass vanity trays, acrylic or polished metal containers for toiletry items, or black and white bathroom accents to make your shelving pop. You might even paint the shelves black, or add LED lights beneath the lower ones. Instead of a traditional woven storage basket and trailing plant, opt for a uniquely shaped vase or planter with decorative branches or plants with upright leaves, like a snake plant, inside it.

Prefer a more Victorian-style bathroom? Consider painting your bathroom shelves a bold tone, like aubergine or spiced cranberry, and pair it with white or cream-colored decorative items to balance the shades. Victorian-style candlestick holders or an oval-framed print of old artwork can work well. An antique perfume bottle next to a floral-lined basket can effortlessly turn your bathroom into your own little Victorian spa room. And be sure to throw in some rich textures, like a vase full of dried yellow roses or a tall feather quill, to create visual interest.

The spacing on your bathroom shelves can make or break their appeal. Why? Because you're often working with a smaller area, meaning it's easy to overdo it. An easy way to arrange your shelves is to use the rule of decorating by three, using odd-numbered groupings to create a more appealing display. But you can try various layout approaches if you have longer or deeper shelving.

If you want a clean, minimalist look, make every shelf open and spacious. Stack trays, bins, or books from largest to smallest, and place them either on the end or at the back of the shelf. If you have a few attention-grabbing pieces, like a vase with colored sand, a tall plant, or a wide candle, place them in the front — and always leave breathing room around these items. 

A rustic or homespun vibe may call for a more staggered or layered look with various colors and textures. For example, you can place just three items on one shelf and six on the one beneath it to draw eyes to a shelf. Or, create an organized mess look by blending items with various textures, heights, and depths on each shelf. So let's say you only two shelves — you can fill one with a couple of distressed metal canisters, dried lavender bundles, and a few rolled towels, while the one above it has three amber glass bottles, a woven basket, mini potted succulents, and a wood sign that sits front and center. As you're arranging your items, move things around to see what works.