How To Reinvent Your Bathroom With Over The Toilet Shelves

That space in the bathroom just above the toilet is ideal for placing a small storage cabinet or a set of open shelves. Over the toilet storage is practical, space-efficient and super customizable.

Just look at all these great design ideas that we gathered for you today. At least one of them would be perfect for your bathroom so have a look and start planning your next DIY project. We’re super excited to show you everything so let’s get started.

How High Should Shelves Be over Toilet?

The cabinet or shelf that you decide to install above the toilet should be approximately 2 feet above the tank. Keep in mind that the bottom shelf should be sufficiently high to allow for the removal of the tank lid for any purpose.

Can I Hang a Shelf above My Toilet?

Yes. In fact, installing shelves over the toilet can go a long way in filling up a dull empty wall and helping you make the best out of your storage room. For the most part, installing shelves over the toilet requires that you find a piece of wood of suitable length and width, a stud finder, shelf brackets, anchors, paint (stain also works), a level, and a drill. 

What Can I Put Over My Toilet?

You can get pretty creative with the storage space above the toilet that could be put to good use. Here are some ideas as to what that space could be used for:

• You can use that space to hang some artwork. Abstract and nature-themed images could easily fit into a bathroom. 
• You can install a towel rack and have your colorful towels neatly organized above the toilet.
• Cosmetics are also a great thing to have above the toilet, especially if you have colorful perfume or shower gel bottles.
• Plants can really add some color and a pleasant natural vibe to the bathroom, so why not consider placing them on a shelf above the toilet?
• Open shelf cabinets are another great idea, and they can provide space for toilet paper rolls, bathroom deodorizers, and even towel baskets.
• You can also repurpose wooden crates and have them serve as cubbies above the toilet.
• You can use ropes to hang shelves for a more rustic appeal.
• Shelves made from metal wires can be really efficient. Just make sure that the metal is rust-resistant, since it will constantly be exposed to moisture.

How Long Should Shelves Be Above Toilet?

Purchase shelves that will help keep your bathroom organized and efficient. We recommend 14″ deep shelving. By purchasing deeper shelving, your items will not appear to be dangling off the edge, as they will if you buy 12-inches. If you prefer more opulent shelves, select 19- or 24-inches.

Can You Put a Medicine Cabinet Over the Toilet?

You can definitely install a medicine cabinet over the toilet, but designers actually hate this particular storage solution for a variety of reasons. They claim it gives the bathroom a cold look and lacks style, the frames are too chunky, and a good medicine cabinet is very expensive. 

Keep it Simple

If all you want is to make the space above the toilet look less empty, you don’t have to go overboard with the design. One or two floating shelves would be enough. Make them stand out a bit by giving them a solid look but keep the design simple and friendly.

Ladder Shelves

A cute idea coming from ana-white suggests framing the toilet with a ladder shelving system. It’s great if you have the space for such a feature and if you think the ladder would go well with your bathroom’s design style.

Simple and Rustic Shelves

Above the toilet shelves are perfect for small bathrooms. They offer storage and style without taking up valuable floor space and you can use them to display all sorts of nice decorations just to add a bit of color to the room. Check out thesweetestdigs for more inspiration.

Wood and Wrought Iron

There’s more than one way of hang a shelf above the toilet. In fact, open shelves are extremely versatile and there are surprisingly many styles, mounting mechanisms and designs to consider so take your time and do your homework and don’t underestimate your bathroom shelves. We find the ones featured on lollyjane to be particularly good-looking.

Classic Look

A single shelf is enough to change your bathroom forever. That’s not necessarily because of its storage capacity but because it left you fill a void, an emptiness which ultimately prevents the space from reaching its potential. We’re talking about a simple over the toilet shelf like the one featured on myfabulesslife which lets you add color and cheer to the room in a very simple and affordable manner.

Repurposed Shelving

If you’re more focused on how you can use the space above the toilet for storage, then perhaps you’d prefer an open cabinet with two or three shelves and perhaps even a drawer too. It can become your new towel storage cabinet and you can also use it to hold toiletries and other such things. Consider a rustic or farmhouse-style design similar to what we found on houseofturquoise.

Extra Storage

Take things one step further and reinvent your entire toilet space. You could build a custom storage unit which fits around the toilet tank and gives you extra storage in the form of open shelves or closed modules for things like extra towels, toilet paper rolls and other useful items. Check out apartmenttherapy for more inspiration.

Get Clever with Baskets

Add a bit of uniqueness to your bathroom by turning storage baskets into shelves. They’re perfecto for holding extra hand towels close to the sink yet out of the way. You can hang the shelves above the toilet and fill that empty space with something that’s not just useful but also original and very creative. We found this cool idea on spruceyournest.

Deep Chair Rail

You should always look for ways to customize your interior design based on what makes each space unique and to try to take advantage of every little detail. For example, in this bathroom designed by Michael Teuber it was possible to add a bamboo shelf above the tub and toilet and to frame the tile wainscot in a really cool way.

Countertop Shelf

Another example of things that line up perfectly can be seen in this traditional bathroom designed by studio NLT. In here, the vanity counter extends to form a shelf above the toilet tank. It’s simple, practical and original and it’s an idea that suits most bathrooms considering how common this layout is.

Built-in Bathroom Shelving

Built-in shelves fill the entire space between the toilet tank and the ceiling and maximize this bathroom’s storage capacity in a way that doesn’t make it look cluttered or tiny. Add to that the white walls, floor tiles and matching fixtures and you get a super breezy and welcoming decor. You can find more details on younghouselove.

DIY Bathroom Shelving

How about making something for your bathroom yourself? It’s easier than you think. You could make a custom shelf or shelving unit for the space above the toilet and all you’d need would be a few pieces of wood and some basic tools. Display something cute and friendly on the shelves, something that would make the bathroom feel more inviting and comfortable. Check out mccarterfamilyblog for inspiration.

The Rustic Look

Here’s the same idea we mentioned earlier: a vanity which extends above the toilet tank to form a shelf. In this case there are also more shelves above this one and they hold labeled storage boxes. It’s a really great way to take full advantage of a small bathroom. The design was featured on martysmusings so head over there if you need more details or if you’re looking for more inspiring ideas that can make your home more beautiful.

Live Edge Shelf

If you want to make some shelves yourself, one of the easiest methods is to use metal pipes and reclaimed wood. It’s so simple anyone can do it and that makes this the perfect DIY project for beginners. So how about it? Ready to give your bathroom a makeover? This sort of shelves would also look good in spaces like the kitchen, hallway or even the living room. Check out all the details on houseofhawthornes.

Think Outside the Box

Last but not least, a very cool project coming from hello-hayley. It shown how you can take advantage of the empty space above your toilet by making a rustic-industrial shelf that lets you organize items in baskets and boxes or display items on the surface at the top. There are also hooks so you can hang hand towels or other things including decorations.  These ornamental letters seem pretty nice but you can definitely come up with other original ideas that suit your bathroom even better.

Available on the market and ready to use

The Ringgold

In a small bathroom it’s best to keep things simple so consider a storage unit such as this one. The Ringgold is a freestanding over-the-toilet set of shelves with a sleek and thin metal frame that takes up minimal space and is designed to fit over the water tank and leave enough room to access it for maintenance and repairs. It gives you three open shelves on which to store things like towels, extra toilet paper rolls, tissues and various other supplies.

The Carruthers

The Carruthers over the toilet shelf is even simpler and smaller. It’s a single shelf which gives you a small surface to place a few items on, similar to a tall and narrow console. It’s useful for storing various bathroom essentials within reach or for displaying a small planter, a vase or other decorative items. The design is clean and very simple and since this is not a very tall unit you can still add more accessories above it.

The Roberts

The Roberts unit is great if you want to have both open and closed storage options in your bathroom. This freestanding unit includes an open shelf and two large modules inside the top section, behind closed doors. It’s made of manufactured wood with a white finish and has glass panel doors for a bit of traditional charm and classic elegance.

The Ashland Storage Unit

A similar combination of storage compartments is featured by the Ashland storage unit. This one has a fresh and versatile design with beadboard detailing on the doors and an open storage module at the bottom for easy access to various essentials. This can also be a good display shelf for small decorations, a nice way to make the bathroom feel more welcoming without wasting space.

X Frame Design

Simplicity can take many different forms and, on that note, there are lots of over-the-toilet storage units that are simple and practical in their own ways. This one has a stylish X frame design with two big open shelf areas and another flat surface on top. It measures 63.78” H x 25.98” W x 8.46” D and it’s designed to fit on top of a classic toilet and to offer convenient extra storage without being in the way.

The Hostchon

Here’s another similar piece, this time with a leading ladder design that gives it character and makes it look a bit more casual and stylish compared to other models. The Hoschton tiered unit can help you keep the clutter at bay in your bathroom by offering three shelves above the toilet on which to keep towels and toiletries. This frees up the counter and other areas of the bathroom and makes the space more organized.

The Somerset

Like every other unit we mentioned so far, the Somerset is designed to take advantage of a space that’s typically left empty and unused in the bathroom, the space above the toilet. It’s a particularly useful addition to small bathroom where there’s very limited storage space. This unit lets you expand your storage without sacrificing floor space. It’s made of manufactured wood with a white or a gray finish and has a simple and versatile design.

The Ayden

Although white is the best color for small spaces, it’s also great to add some warmth to the décor which brings us to the Ayden storage unit. It’s crafted from solid bamboo which gives it this beautiful natural wood tone. The unit consists of an open bottom section that raises it over the toilet and two slatted doors that open to reveal three shelves.

The Foxborough

The Foxborough storage unit has a slender metal frame with a black finish which gives it a big of an industrial appearance. In combination with the solid wood and glass doors it has a really nice retro look which adds warmth and elegance to the bathroom. The chocolate brown finish is beautiful and easy to pair with a variety of colors and decors.

The Eleanor

The Eleanor storage cabinet is a really great fit for small bathrooms and powder rooms because it’s very compact, has a simple and versatile design and despite its small size it’s packed with lots of hidden storage spaces and features. It has built-in holders for toilet paper rolls, side doors that reveal nooks where you can store toiletries and bathroom essentials and a pull-down shelf at the top.

The Cadell

It’s entirely possible to have very little space around the toilet, even for many of the compact over-the-toilet cabinets mentioned above. Metal units such as the Cadell have an advantage in this case. They can be very thin and slender which allows you to save even more space. This one is made from heavy-duty enamel-coated steel and has two open shelves. It’s rust-resistant, simple and convenient.

The Diane Module

In case you’re looking for an over-the-toilet storage unit with a more traditional design, something better-suited for a retro interior, check out the Diane module. It’s crafted from manufactured wood with an ash gray finish and has an open shelf at the bottom which is divided into two modules and a cabinet with two more shelves and ornate doors right above it. The glass panel doors are what really sells this design.

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