Let's Talk About Shelving... in the Bathroom
How to use shelving and built-in nooks to add valuable storage to your bathroom
Bathrooms are often small and confined spaces that have to be practical and functional… and if they can somehow have a spa-like serene quality about them, then all the better. Yet no matter what the space, organisation is key. There’s a reason why Shaynna Blaze goes on about storage in bathrooms in The Block; it is essential and along with space planning and tile choice, it ranks in my top three things that make or break a good bathroom renovation.
Here, we show you how you can use shelving and built-in nooks to add valuable storage and display options that will ultimately enhance your bathroom experience.
Here, we show you how you can use shelving and built-in nooks to add valuable storage and display options that will ultimately enhance your bathroom experience.
Glass displays
Built-in or inset bath tubs commonly have some wall space at either end. The best use for this, if there is 250-300 millimetres available depth, is to create some inset shelving.
Tip: For a seamless, uncluttered look that lets the feature tiles shine, use glass shelves, as VSP Interiors has done in this bathroom. It gives you extra storage and display options, and you can make them as pretty or practical as you like.
Built-in or inset bath tubs commonly have some wall space at either end. The best use for this, if there is 250-300 millimetres available depth, is to create some inset shelving.
Tip: For a seamless, uncluttered look that lets the feature tiles shine, use glass shelves, as VSP Interiors has done in this bathroom. It gives you extra storage and display options, and you can make them as pretty or practical as you like.
Floating surfaces
D’Cruz Design has added floating granite shelves above this bath to add punch to the dominant wall that you see as you walk into the bathroom, and to tie into the sleek black scheme. The shelves themselves look like the type of custom pieces you’d see in a living room or a study, and feel both sturdy and luxurious. This unexpected element, together with the sculptural bathtub, makes this bathroom look furnished rather than fitted out.
Tip: To get a custom-luxe feel, look for shelves that are 40-50 millimetres thick.
How to design your dream bathroom
D’Cruz Design has added floating granite shelves above this bath to add punch to the dominant wall that you see as you walk into the bathroom, and to tie into the sleek black scheme. The shelves themselves look like the type of custom pieces you’d see in a living room or a study, and feel both sturdy and luxurious. This unexpected element, together with the sculptural bathtub, makes this bathroom look furnished rather than fitted out.
Tip: To get a custom-luxe feel, look for shelves that are 40-50 millimetres thick.
How to design your dream bathroom
Vanity bench
This is an understated, minimal way of creating storage in a bathroom. The slatted timber bench that runs the length of the vanity is ideal for towels and perhaps a hairdryer tucked towards the back.
For this to work in a bathroom that gets used every day, you’d have to have some storage for products elsewhere, perhaps behind the mirror cabinets. But if you’re looking for that hotel experience, an under-vanity shelf definitely says ‘five star’.
This is an understated, minimal way of creating storage in a bathroom. The slatted timber bench that runs the length of the vanity is ideal for towels and perhaps a hairdryer tucked towards the back.
For this to work in a bathroom that gets used every day, you’d have to have some storage for products elsewhere, perhaps behind the mirror cabinets. But if you’re looking for that hotel experience, an under-vanity shelf definitely says ‘five star’.
Bookend cabinets
Another way to stage a bath is to frame it by cabinetry at either end, as Leighton Design Group has done in this serene bathroom. The curved feature wall and crystal chandelier add drama, while the built-in cabinets bookend the bath and balance the room. It’s a clever way to add some hidden storage in the bottom cabinets, as well as display shelving and a couple of additional towel rails.
Another way to stage a bath is to frame it by cabinetry at either end, as Leighton Design Group has done in this serene bathroom. The curved feature wall and crystal chandelier add drama, while the built-in cabinets bookend the bath and balance the room. It’s a clever way to add some hidden storage in the bottom cabinets, as well as display shelving and a couple of additional towel rails.
Pop of colour
In this otherwise conservative, two-toned bathroom, the addition of the wall shelves backed in bright green is a welcome splash of colour. In that bold hue the shelves become a focal point in the room, rather than blending into obscurity in the corner – and by default, anything that gets displayed on them is also on show, so style it pretty and let it stand out.
Tip: You can easily paint the back of a shelving unit to make it stand out, as seen here. Or for standalone shelves that you want made in specific colours, select your paint colour and ask for a two-pack polyurethane satin finish to coat them.
17 smashing shelving suggestions
In this otherwise conservative, two-toned bathroom, the addition of the wall shelves backed in bright green is a welcome splash of colour. In that bold hue the shelves become a focal point in the room, rather than blending into obscurity in the corner – and by default, anything that gets displayed on them is also on show, so style it pretty and let it stand out.
Tip: You can easily paint the back of a shelving unit to make it stand out, as seen here. Or for standalone shelves that you want made in specific colours, select your paint colour and ask for a two-pack polyurethane satin finish to coat them.
17 smashing shelving suggestions
Built-in closet
If your bathroom has a ‘dead zone’ nook or cranny, don’t let it go to waste; remember in a wet area every centimetre of real estate is valuable.
In the under-utilised space at the end of this walk-in ensuite, the owners made the most of the available space by putting in some French provincial-inspired shelves in the same finish as the mirror and side of the vanity. It looks like an open closet where they can store towels and keep everything neat and tidy. C’est magnifique!
If your bathroom has a ‘dead zone’ nook or cranny, don’t let it go to waste; remember in a wet area every centimetre of real estate is valuable.
In the under-utilised space at the end of this walk-in ensuite, the owners made the most of the available space by putting in some French provincial-inspired shelves in the same finish as the mirror and side of the vanity. It looks like an open closet where they can store towels and keep everything neat and tidy. C’est magnifique!
Wrap around
Do you like collecting small knick-knacks but have run out of space to display them? Well, you can always consider the bathroom as your next showcase, with these floor-to-ceiling wraparound shelves. The owners of this house have their shell collection sitting proudly around two walls of their bathroom, each piece a reminder of an adventure, a moment in time or a person dear to them.
Tip: The key to getting this look right is making sure the objects are fairly small and fit well on a shelf no deeper than 50-60 millimetres.
Do you like collecting small knick-knacks but have run out of space to display them? Well, you can always consider the bathroom as your next showcase, with these floor-to-ceiling wraparound shelves. The owners of this house have their shell collection sitting proudly around two walls of their bathroom, each piece a reminder of an adventure, a moment in time or a person dear to them.
Tip: The key to getting this look right is making sure the objects are fairly small and fit well on a shelf no deeper than 50-60 millimetres.
Pull-out divider
This clever idea to store, separate and display has my vote hands down. In the space that is most likely the walk-in closet, which connects the bedroom to the ensuite, Susanna Cots has devised a pull-out divider much like a pantry cabinet. Multiple racks create endless possibilities to store everything from bathroom essentials to perfume bottles, candles or infusers. And you can either leave it out on show or tidily tucked inside the wall.
Read more stories about storage
This clever idea to store, separate and display has my vote hands down. In the space that is most likely the walk-in closet, which connects the bedroom to the ensuite, Susanna Cots has devised a pull-out divider much like a pantry cabinet. Multiple racks create endless possibilities to store everything from bathroom essentials to perfume bottles, candles or infusers. And you can either leave it out on show or tidily tucked inside the wall.
Read more stories about storage
Stuck in the corner
In this perfectly balanced his and hers bathroom, everything is done in twos – two sinks, two mirrors, two lots of corner shelves on either side of the bath, and even two storage nooks within the built-in bath. Since most of the space in the room is taken up by the large vanities and tub, the glass corner shelving is a clever way to bring in some additional display storage and draw the eye outwards and upwards, thus creating depth and height.
In this perfectly balanced his and hers bathroom, everything is done in twos – two sinks, two mirrors, two lots of corner shelves on either side of the bath, and even two storage nooks within the built-in bath. Since most of the space in the room is taken up by the large vanities and tub, the glass corner shelving is a clever way to bring in some additional display storage and draw the eye outwards and upwards, thus creating depth and height.
Lit-up showcase
We are all familiar with lit-up cabinets and bookshelves, but perhaps not so familiar with lit-up encased displays in bathrooms. These are a little opulent, but they certainly add some pizzazz and wow factor. This bathroom looks more like a luxurious spa, in part because of them. Imagine sitting in that tub with a glass of wine by your side, soft music piping through the stereo and no other lights on except the twinkly glare inside the shelves.
Tip: This is another one of those ideas that you have to plan for early on in a build or renovation, since it includes electrical wiring.
Tell us
Do you have shelves or are you planning to build some shelving in your bathroom? Upload photos and show us how you use them in the Comments section.
More
Browse more beautiful bathrooms
We are all familiar with lit-up cabinets and bookshelves, but perhaps not so familiar with lit-up encased displays in bathrooms. These are a little opulent, but they certainly add some pizzazz and wow factor. This bathroom looks more like a luxurious spa, in part because of them. Imagine sitting in that tub with a glass of wine by your side, soft music piping through the stereo and no other lights on except the twinkly glare inside the shelves.
Tip: This is another one of those ideas that you have to plan for early on in a build or renovation, since it includes electrical wiring.
Tell us
Do you have shelves or are you planning to build some shelving in your bathroom? Upload photos and show us how you use them in the Comments section.
More
Browse more beautiful bathrooms
The most common type of shelving in the bathroom nowadays is the recessed shower nook or product ledge. This is a favourite with designers and architects as it’s visually the tidiest, most elegant and practical way of keeping your favourite shower products within easy reach.
The triple-head shower in this image is large and luxurious and has the added bonus of some additional demi shelves in the corners at sitting height.
Tip: A typical recessed shower shelf should be a minimum of 350 millimetres in height and approximately 90-100 millimetres deep to allow for the taller, bigger bottles of shampoo.