15 Genius Bathroom Shelf Ideas for Extra Storage Space

Your vanity isn’t the only way to stay organized.

Bathrooms can be hard rooms to make functional. They’re often short on space, which always makes for a more cluttered (and chaotic) environment. While the storage that a great vanity can provide is helpful, it’s not always enough—especially if you’re sharing the space with a spouse or expect a pair of preteens to battle it out for countertop real estate. The fix? Bringing in extra organizational solutions, of course.

When it comes to making the most of your bathroom—and ensuring it still feels like a tranquil, restorative escape—clever shelving can’t be beat. Unlike traditional case goods, which can add bulk to a space, shelves come in all shapes, styles, and sizes, making finding the perfect fit for your room a cinch. Even better, there are shelf options for storing whatever you want to keep out of sight (or on display), from extra toilet paper and washcloths to your favorite relaxing candle and humidity-loving plants.

Below, we’ve rounded up a variety of designer-worthy solutions, ranging from hidden doors and tiny niches to clever built-ins and curvy shapes. So, whether you want to highlight your enviable skincare collection, display a favorite print, or just want your cotton swabs to look a bit more aesthetic, these bathroom shelf ideas are up to the task.

Related: 17 Bathroom Storage Ideas to Keep Your Space Organized

Mimic a Mudroom

If square footage isn’t an issue in your bathroom, your opportunities for shelving and storage are pretty much endless. Instead of just choosing a generic shelf and calling it a day, take inspiration from other rooms in your house to inform a custom storage solution. In this expansive bathroom, designer Bria Hammel dreamed up a built-in that would look right at home in a mudroom, with shelves, a bench, and closed cabinet perfect for housing extra linens.

Add a Tile Accent

The best bathroom shelf ideas are functional and beautiful, with thoughtful design accents that allow them to stand alone as stylish additions to your space. One great way to make your storage pop? Give it a gorgeous backdrop. In this project by Pure Salt Interiors, a decorative tile backdrop adds depth and interest to a pair of floating shelves.

Hide In Plain Sight

Not everyone loves the visual clutter shelves can add, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need the storage. If you’d rather keep your space minimalistic and serene, rig up a jib door—aka a door that is flush-mounted right into the wall—to make your shelves “invisible.” In this project by A Glass of Bovino creator Alisa Bovino, a clever cabinet front opens to reveal a trio of shallow shelves where essential toiletries can remain tucked out of sight.

Try An Untraditional Shape

Built-in niches are a common bathroom storage solution that is especially great for small spaces. Because they’re technically flush with the wall, they don’t take up any extra square footage by jutting out into a snug room. In this project by Laura Chappetto of Element Design Network, the traditional accent is seen in an unexpected arch shape, adding glamour and personality.

Tie-in Your Tile

Bathroom shelves can be found in a myriad of styles and materials, and while they’re a great way to bring a new texture or finish into your space, they can also allow you to reinforce a design theme. In this funky bath, designer Laura Hur of Lorla Studio chose to echo the terrazzo tile flooring by using the same finish for the trio of floating shelves above the toilet.

Copy the Look of Built-Ins

Built-in finishes have a way of feeling more thoughtful and intentional than some store-bought shelving solutions, mainly because they give a space structure and a sense of permanence. Love the idea of working a custom piece into your bathroom? Take inspiration from this project by TKS Design Group, where designer Susan Klimala commissioned a bookcase-inspired unit to house extra towels, toiletries, and a few decorative touches.

Make It Mini

Bigger is not always better! A pair of oversized bathroom shelves can feel totally out of place in a petite space, so make sure to contextualize your shelving solution within the parameters of your bathroom. Here, designer Alice Chiu of Miss Alice Designs opted for a duo of mini oak shelves with just enough surface area to hold a few essentials (and look good while doing it).

Style a Standalone Piece

The process of hanging shelves is not without its fair share of labor—or the risk of damage. If you’re a renter (or just someone who can’t bear to put another hole in their wall), standalone shelving can be a great option. Even better, it allows you to seek out an antique piece—like the gorgeous linen cabinet seen here in a project by W Design Collective—which can add some much-needed patina to your bathroom.

Related: Home Decor You Should Thrift Instead of Buy New, According to Experts

Carve Out a Niche

Between mirrors, towel hooks, artwork, and other essentials, hanging one more thing on your bathroom walls doesn’t always feel like the right solution. If you’re looking for a quieter approach, consider a carved-out niche, as seen here in a project by designer Libby Rawes of Sharp and Grey Interiors. It lives subtly next to the vanity and, when painted in all-white, fades quietly into the background while still increasing the function of the room.

Incorporate It Into Your Vanity

Bathroom shelving isn’t just a functional choice, it can be an aesthetic one too. By adding open shelving to your vanity, your room will take on a more modern, edgy vibe. Need proof? Take this bathroom from designer Susan Yeley for example. In it, graphic tile and streamlined finishes pair with a floating open-shelf vanity for a space that feels very now.

Try a Ledge

The bathroom shelf in this space is right under your nose—and you may not even notice it. That’s the beauty of incorporating a simple ledge beneath your mirror, which is a natural spot to stash everything from decorative vases to toothbrushes. Here, designer Caroline Kopp chose to eschew traditional shelving, instead relying on a sleek and modern black ledge to add a storage surface to this powder room.

Add Glamour With a Gallery Rail

If your skincare collection rivals that of a high-end spa, why not give it a museum-worthy spot to land each evening? By adding an elegant touch to your bathroom shelving—like the brass gallery rails creator Alisa Bovino added to her display—you can instantly transform the accent from a functional storage solution to something worth obsessing over.

Consider Your Needs

At the end of the day, your bathroom shelving is only as useful as its location. If you’re planning to use your shelf to house washcloths but store it miles away from your vanity (figuratively, of course), that doesn’t do anyone much good. Here’s a perfect example: In this primary bathroom by designer Jessie Tobias, a reclaimed wood shelf floats snuggly alongside the tub for an easy spot to stash bathtime essentials.

Make It (Almost) Invisible

When your design already has a stunning focal point—like the epic Rifle Paper Co. peacock wallpaper the team at TKS Design Group chose for this bathroom—you don’t want to bring in any elements that will detract from that. The solution? A pair of airy floating glass shelves, which disappear into the wild pattern while still providing some much-needed storage.

Put Your Molding to Work

Traditional wainscoting is a great way to bring dimension and layers to your bathroom—but have you also considered it can act as shelving? Designer Nels Crosthwaite Eyre makes a case for it in this charming British bath, where an extra-deep ledge around the perimeter of the room acts as a spot to highlight decorative trinkets and keep toiletries handy.

Related: 9 Wainscoting Ideas That Will Upgrade Your Walls Instantly

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