Spruce Up Your Small Bathroom

Looking to spruce up your powder room? Add shelves above the toilet!

Like many modest homes, I have a small bathroom on the first floor. It is the most used bathroom in our home, and even though it’s just a tiny space, I can’t help but want to decorate it. Enter a decorative shelf! It adds so much character to a bare wall.

As far as decorating walls goes, the wall above the toilet is the obvious choice for a shelf of some kind. Ask yourself these questions:

What type of shelves do I want?
How many shelves do I want?
What length of shelves do I want? Do I want the shelves to be directly on top of each other? (This will affect the length.)
How far apart do I want the shelves to be?

To help you visualize, use painters tape to map out where you want the shelves. Play with different lengths, the thickness of the boards, and how much space is between the shelves. The type of shelf is completely dependent on your style! Two popular kinds are pipe shelving units and floating shelves.

#1 Pipe Shelving Unit

I decided on a shelf that was already put together. For me, it was the right choice at the time. I was trying to complete this project myself, and it seemed easier to hang than floating shelves. I also loved the rustic pipe look! I got my unit years ago, but I found some look-alikes on Amazon: You can choose between 2, 3, or 4 shelves with this Amazon shelf: https://amzn.to/3QThAq0. I like the look of 2 (maybe 3 depending on the size of your bathroom), but you do you!!There are also several different lengths to choose from.

After hanging the unit, I couldn't help but notice that the silver color of the screws really stuck out. I had some matte black paint in my basement, so I used a tiny children's watercolor paintbrush to paint over the screws. It took 10 seconds - Problem solved!

#2 Floating Shelves

There isn’t a floating shelf I’ve met that I don’t like. I know I could do it now, but at the time, I wasn’t confident enough with hanging the shelves myself. There are so many different styles out there. Here are some I found that are beautiful!

I love these floating shelves: https://amzn.to/3FVKIa8! They come in four different colors and different lengths and widths.

Once you pick the shelves and hang them, then the fun begins: Decorating! There are SO many different ways to decorate something like this. I just took myself to Hobby Lobby and went at it.

Some decorating ideas include:

hand towels
jars with q tips, cotton balls, or Band-Aids
toilet paper,
lamps candles/potpourri
plants or greenery of some kind
soap
Any other knick knacks you like
Don’t forget a nice wicker or metal basket. They are functional and beautiful!

No Outlet? No Problem!

My newest obsession is the small lamp. I had it up there for a while before discovering these amazing light bulbs: https://amzn.to/3QpU57J! I don’t know how I ever went without lighting it! These rechargeable bulbs can screw into a lamp or can stick to a metal surface. (Yes, they are magnetic!) So versatile! There are several different lighting setting, a remote, and a timer. Amazing!

I made several attempts to hide the cord behind decor and failed each time. My solution: I went super high tech and tied it up with my daughter’s ponytail holder and a 3m hook. Worked like a charm!