10 Nifty Ways to Fit a Shelf in Your Shower
Pop in a perch for your washing essentials with these smart ideas for shower shelving
Amanda Pollard
7 September 2017
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Avoid a floor full of toiletries in your shower enclosure, by planning some all-important shelf storage. Check out these ideas to find out how you can fit a useful surface in your shower space.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Cut out a recess
If you’re installing a new shower enclosure it’s a good idea to think about storage before you begin tiling. If one of the vertical surfaces in your shower is a stud wall, a professional trades person should be able to cut out a neat recess for a shelf. This one is perfectly placed to easily grab toiletries when you’re in the shower.
The construction of your wall will dictate how big your recessed shelf can be, as you’ll only be able to knock into the areas between the timber framework.
Make a feature of your shelf by using different tiles in the recess, as they’ve done here. The patterned tile might have been too busy for a larger surface, but is perfect to highlight this small niche.
If you’re installing a new shower enclosure it’s a good idea to think about storage before you begin tiling. If one of the vertical surfaces in your shower is a stud wall, a professional trades person should be able to cut out a neat recess for a shelf. This one is perfectly placed to easily grab toiletries when you’re in the shower.
The construction of your wall will dictate how big your recessed shelf can be, as you’ll only be able to knock into the areas between the timber framework.
Make a feature of your shelf by using different tiles in the recess, as they’ve done here. The patterned tile might have been too busy for a larger surface, but is perfect to highlight this small niche.
Build out a wall
If you don’t have the option of recessed shelves, or if you fancy a larger shelf, you could get your installer to construct a low false wall instead, with the top surface acting as a ledge. The one here is at the perfect height for easy access, and the white tiles allow it to blend into the wall behind.
Need help with your bathroom? Find designers and fitters in your area in the Houzz Professionals Directory
If you don’t have the option of recessed shelves, or if you fancy a larger shelf, you could get your installer to construct a low false wall instead, with the top surface acting as a ledge. The one here is at the perfect height for easy access, and the white tiles allow it to blend into the wall behind.
Need help with your bathroom? Find designers and fitters in your area in the Houzz Professionals Directory
Provide a hood
Want to avoid too much water splashing on your ledge surface? Build another wall above your low shelf to act as a buffer. It won’t prevent water spraying down completely, but it will certainly help.
Here, the walls above and below have created a wall-to-wall recessed shelf, and the contrasting tile detail has turned it into a feature.
Want to avoid too much water splashing on your ledge surface? Build another wall above your low shelf to act as a buffer. It won’t prevent water spraying down completely, but it will certainly help.
Here, the walls above and below have created a wall-to-wall recessed shelf, and the contrasting tile detail has turned it into a feature.
Install a ledge
For something altogether more simple, but just as streamlined, try a neat ledge like this one. The two solid walls have allowed the shelf to be tucked neatly between them, to form a wall-to-wall surface. This one appears to have been covered with the same tiles as the rest of the shower area, to help it blend in. A contrasting finish could work just as well, but for durability make sure you choose a water resistant material.
For something altogether more simple, but just as streamlined, try a neat ledge like this one. The two solid walls have allowed the shelf to be tucked neatly between them, to form a wall-to-wall surface. This one appears to have been covered with the same tiles as the rest of the shower area, to help it blend in. A contrasting finish could work just as well, but for durability make sure you choose a water resistant material.
Pop in a freestanding surface
Of course, you don’t have to go for a standard type of shelf. If you’re not able to install a ledge in your shower enclosure, try bringing in an alternative surface to act as a shelf instead. This wooden drum fits snugly in the corner and provides a little shelf for shampoo and shower gel. Look out for items around your home that you could repurpose as a quirky shower ledge, but do be aware that there will be a lot of water landing on it!
Discover experts tips on choosing a shower enclosure
Of course, you don’t have to go for a standard type of shelf. If you’re not able to install a ledge in your shower enclosure, try bringing in an alternative surface to act as a shelf instead. This wooden drum fits snugly in the corner and provides a little shelf for shampoo and shower gel. Look out for items around your home that you could repurpose as a quirky shower ledge, but do be aware that there will be a lot of water landing on it!
Discover experts tips on choosing a shower enclosure
Wall hang a vanity
For extra storage in your shower, consider installing a wall-hung vanity unit like this one. The tall piece of furniture provides bags of room for toiletries, and works well in this larger shower enclosure. This is a good solution for finding storage space when you want to install a large shower in a small bathroom.
For extra storage in your shower, consider installing a wall-hung vanity unit like this one. The tall piece of furniture provides bags of room for toiletries, and works well in this larger shower enclosure. This is a good solution for finding storage space when you want to install a large shower in a small bathroom.
Save space with corner shelving
Make sure the space in your shower enclosure is ergonomic by avoiding any sharp edges. These corner shelves are ideal in this space, and by installing three of them the owners have provided enough surface space for all their shower essentials. The diagonal lines of the shelves work particularly well in this bathroom, as they tie in with the geometric floor design.
Make sure the space in your shower enclosure is ergonomic by avoiding any sharp edges. These corner shelves are ideal in this space, and by installing three of them the owners have provided enough surface space for all their shower essentials. The diagonal lines of the shelves work particularly well in this bathroom, as they tie in with the geometric floor design.
Opt for a simple metal shelf
If you want a shower surface that’s easy to fit, a wire rack is a great solution. This corner-mounted one requires one or two hooks to hang it and fits neatly in the space. There’s enough room for toiletries on the two tiers, but the design is unobtrusive.
If you want a shower surface that’s easy to fit, a wire rack is a great solution. This corner-mounted one requires one or two hooks to hang it and fits neatly in the space. There’s enough room for toiletries on the two tiers, but the design is unobtrusive.
Go high
To keep your walls clean and minimal, position your shelf out of the way. The glass ledge here is high enough to avoid head bumps and doesn’t impinge on the space. The frameless doors and white tiles give this room a spacious feel, and the high, glass shelf helps to keep it that way.
To keep your walls clean and minimal, position your shelf out of the way. The glass ledge here is high enough to avoid head bumps and doesn’t impinge on the space. The frameless doors and white tiles give this room a spacious feel, and the high, glass shelf helps to keep it that way.
Continue a run
In this practical wash space, the designers have used the area wisely by building a wall below the window. The construction helps to cover the pipework and cistern, while doubling up as a handy storage ledge. It runs the whole width of the window into the wet room area, so it acts as a very useful shower shelf as well.
What do you think of these ideas for shower shelves? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
In this practical wash space, the designers have used the area wisely by building a wall below the window. The construction helps to cover the pipework and cistern, while doubling up as a handy storage ledge. It runs the whole width of the window into the wet room area, so it acts as a very useful shower shelf as well.
What do you think of these ideas for shower shelves? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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I had niches installed in a previous house and loved them. Can’t find a picture of the shower but here is a similar niche I had put at either end of the bath (they were taller in the shower). Making sure the shelf is in one piece and with a slight gradient for drainage mitigates any pooling problems. I’m in a new build at the moment so can’t justify replacing the bathrooms yet but I will have them again if I can. I like the idea of stealing the space from a stud wall!
In my previous house (built 1969) I had a niche in the walk in shower (I had an American architect) the niche had one large tile as the base of the niche and the tile was slightly leaning forward so any water splashes ran away. The bathroom with the walk in shower was retiled in 2001. I am not sure what type of grout was used but it never became grubby looking. In my present house, which I planned myself, I have a niche with tiny spotlights and it looks and works great. I have three tiled solid walls, no glass door or shower curtain. It is a deep shower with the long drainage grid at the far back. I am very pleased with it.
I’d love to know what I can paint on top of chrome to stop it rusting. Polyurethane? Metal paint? I have a corner caddy in my wet room which is replaced every few years when it gets too rusty. It hangs on picture hooks which have been inserted into the grout so no drilling and is easily removed for cleaning. It’s tidy and works well apart from the rusting problem.
(The old corner units have been repurposed in the kitchen, two in corners around a carousel in a corner base unit and another on the worktop holding spice jars.)
I did try the sucker option but even sitting on the corner of a bath they failed and the caddy crashed down into the bath. 😢