A bathroom shelf not only serves as an interior decoration item, but also performs useful functions of placing and storing personal hygiene items, cosmetics, and household chemicals.
The range of shelves presented in stores does not always allow you to choose the appropriate option. It’s easy to make beautiful bathroom shelves with your own hands from various materials.
The advantage of a homemade bathroom shelf is its maximum convenience and originality. A creative approach to work will allow you to create a unique product that not only fits in size, but also meets all the requirements of family members.
It’s easy to develop bathroom shelf ideas yourself or use ready-made store models as a basis. Making a shelf with your own hands will significantly save your family budget.
Brief overview of the article
Types of bathroom shelves
There are a large number of different models of bathroom shelves. There are no restrictions, but the product must meet a number of specific requirements:
- the shelf must be strong and securely fastened;
- the design should be roomy, comfortable and consistent with the overall decor of the room.
Conventionally, bathroom shelves are divided into several types:
- hanging shelves are securely attached to the wall using fasteners;
- removable options are temporary structures and are secured with suction cups;
- the corner model is designed for tight spaces and saves space;
- the floor design is similar to a small shelving unit and requires enough space to accommodate it;
- hanging models look original, but are intended for large areas;
- the built-in option is an equipped niche in the wall and requires certain skills to manufacture.
When planning to make your own bathroom shelf, the first thing you need to do is decide on the design and dimensions of the product.
How to store towels in the kitchen
Drawer
Most often, housewives store kitchen textiles in drawers.
Photo: Instagram dandl_organizing
Take a look at the idea for organizing such storage: isn’t it convenient and compact?
- Storage systems
How to fold towels in a closet beautifully and compactly: 5 ways and useful tips
Clothespins
Can your towels serve as a real decoration for your kitchen? Why not hang them in plain sight: for example, by securing them with clothespins on a string.
Photo: Instagram favors_chic
You definitely won’t find similar decor among your friends and acquaintances.
A more “brutal” move is to hang textiles on a chain.
HomeQueen household clothespins
Photo: Instagram stitchandsaga
Suitable for loft style kitchens.
Hanger ladder
Another way to display your towels is with a ladder rack.
Photo: Instagram tossdesigns
Of course, textiles must be selected in the same style and be in harmony with the interior of the kitchen.
By the way, such storage is quite compact.
Photo: Instagram lulaspantry
Well, if you wish, you can make a similar staircase with your own hands.
Stylish basket
Baskets are a stylish accessory that makes it easy and inexpensive to organize neat additional storage.
Photo: Instagram favors_chic
They are also suitable for placing kitchen textiles.
Materials
When considering what you can use to make a shelf in the bathroom, you need to take into account the high humidity in the room.
This fact influences the choice of materials in a certain way.
- Wood and its derivatives will require additional processing to extend the life of the product.
- Plastic is resistant to moisture, lightweight and has the necessary strength margin.
- Glass of sufficient thickness will serve as an excellent material for a bathroom shelf. It is important to correctly calculate the load on the glass structure.
- Metal is a good option, but, like wood, it needs protection from moisture.
- Drywall enjoys well-deserved popularity due to its durability and ease of use.
The material for the shelf should be selected depending on the design of the product, your professional skills and personal preferences.
Advantages of metal structures
Metals can withstand difficult bathroom conditions without loss. Structures can be made of steel alloys, which are coated with a protective chrome coating or polymer powder dyes. This prevents the appearance of rust and allows the furniture to maintain its original appearance for many years.
An excellent option are stainless steel bathroom shelves. This material:
- does not corrode,
- has excellent aesthetic characteristics,
- fits perfectly with sanitary equipment,
- fits well with modern styles.
A metal shelf fits well into a modern style
Metals can be combined with any materials: wood, glass, plastic.
Choosing a place to place the shelf
The determining factor for where to attach the shelf in the bathroom is the size of the room and the configuration features of the product.
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The traditional place for placing a shelf is a wall. In conditions of limited space, shelves can be hung on the door leaf. In this case, the decor of the product is selected to match the design of the door.
Built-in shelves look original, but their installation requires professional skills and serious financial investments. For this reason, the manufacture of such structures does not always make sense.
Metal fasteners are used for fastening.
Sometimes small shelves are fixed using suction cups, but such fastening is not very reliable.
Shapes and sizes
The choice of design depends on the space allocated for it: in small bathrooms, corners are usually left free, so a single or double corner shelf will fit into any space. It can be either round (softening the situation) or triangular in shape.
Based on capacity, shelves are divided into two-tier and multi-tier. The former take up little space in the room, can be suspended and are attached to self-tapping screws or suction cups. Cannot withstand high loads.
Multi-tiered ones, on the contrary, require more free space in the bathroom, but they are reliable, functional designs: they can easily accommodate not only bottles and shampoos, but also towels.
The photo shows a bathroom with a low but spacious openwork shelf on the side of the washbasin.
Glass shelf
The advantage of glass models is ease of installation. Often special holders are used to secure elements.
To work you will need:
- glass with a thickness of at least 4-5 mm;
- fastening elements;
- dowels
Operating procedure.
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- Cut out the parts according to the drawing.
- Carefully process the cuts.
- Mark the mounting location on the wall.
- Attach fastenings.
- Secure the shelf.
It is recommended to hang the glass shelf out of the reach of children. The structure should be placed strictly horizontally to avoid accidents.
Plasterboard shelf
The use of plasterboard allows us to produce structures of any configuration.
The advantages of drywall are that it:
- strong enough to withstand significant loads if installed correctly;
- flexible and low cost.
In addition, if it is necessary to change the design of the room, the plasterboard structure can be easily repainted in any other color.
Instructions on how to make a shelf with your own hands
To work you need to prepare:
- guides and supporting profiles;
- dowels;
- slats;
- self-tapping screws;
- sheet of drywall.
Operating procedure.
- Mark holes for dowels on the wall.
- Using dowels, attach the guide profile to the wall.
- The supporting profile is sequentially attached to the guide profile. This will be the basis of the entire structure.
- The multi-level structure must be reinforced with slats. Fix the slats with self-tapping screws.
- It is important to follow the order of installation of the frame so that the shelf can withstand heavy loads.
- After completing the work on arranging the frame from moisture-resistant plasterboard, it is necessary to cut sheets of the required size.
- The parts are fixed, the supporting profile is also sheathed with plasterboard.
- The seams are sealed with putty.
- After the putty has dried, it is necessary to coat the product with a primer in several layers.
- For structural reliability, perforated fastening elements can be attached to the corners. They are carefully hidden under a layer of putty.
- After drying, the surface of the product is smoothed with emery cloth and covered with decorative plaster.
In a similar way, it is easy to make a shelf of any configuration from plasterboard. Installing shelves in the bathroom with your own hands from plasterboard will allow you to bring any design idea to life.
Tabletop in vintage style
Such a shelf will be a godsend for the owner of a small bathroom. It can accommodate all the items that are necessary for daily personal hygiene. It does not take up much space, looks stylish and is very easy to use.
What will you need?
Tools you should prepare:
- grinding machine;
- electric jigsaw;
- knife saw;
- scraper;
- compass and pencil;
- router (if you want to make the edges of the shelves rounded).
You will also need:
- solid wood boards 1.5-2 cm thick;
- carved legs or any other parts from old furniture;
- wood glue;
- white acrylic paint;
- candle (uncolored).
Size and number of components
The photo shows a shelf consisting of three tiers, but their number can be increased or decreased by one, focusing on your needs and the availability of consumables.
The recommended diameter of each subsequent circle should be 3 cm smaller than the previous one. This will ensure the stability and functionality of the structure.
Step-by-step production
There should not be any difficulties during the work process. It will take even an inexperienced craftsman no more than an hour to make a bookcase:
- Using a compass, mark the contours of the shelf circles on the board.
- The blanks are cut out with a jigsaw.
- The cuts on the resulting parts are processed using a grinding machine. If there were splinters on the surface of the board, they should be removed. It is not necessary to achieve ideal smoothness of the circles so that the texture of the wood is visible.
- A saw is used to separate the carved elements into several parts, if necessary. The length of each determines the height of the tiers.
- If the carved parts were varnished, remove it with a grinding machine or fine-grained sandpaper.
- Using glue, connect all the component parts, making sure that the axis of the shelf runs exactly in the center.
- When everything is ready, start painting. To make it look vintage, you need to create the appearance of wear. To do this, the wood is chaotically rubbed with a candle - acrylic will not stick to areas covered with wax or paraffin. Then a little dye is poured onto the part and distributed with a scraper so that a thin layer is obtained. Excess is blotted with a rag. Very thick paint is pre-diluted with a special solvent. It is more convenient to handle carved parts with a brush.
- After the paint has dried, the product is used for its intended purpose.
Corner shelf made of MDF
A compact corner shelf for the bathroom can be made from MDF or wood. Wooden parts must be dried and impregnated with a protective composition against moisture. Paint or varnish will help extend the life of a wooden product.
To work you need to prepare:
- MDF sheet;
- fasteners;
- jigsaw;
- screwdriver;
- compass;
- pencil.
Operating procedure.
- To make a corner shelf, you need to draw templates for cutting out parts. Using a compass, mark a circle of the required diameter and divide it into four equal sectors.
- Parts of the product are cut out exactly along the contours, the edges are treated with sandpaper.
- The parts must be connected so as to form a structure with a right angle from vertical walls.
- The shelf can be covered with waterproof varnish, paint or covered with film.
The product is ready, it must be securely fixed in the chosen location.
Pallet shelf
Transport pallets serve as high-quality and often free material for the manufacture of furniture.
A creative approach will allow you to make an interesting design in the form of open small shelves located at different levels.
- The selected pallet should be cleaned of dust and dismantled.
- Sand the necessary workpieces with sandpaper, impregnate them with primer and stain.
- The product is installed in accordance with the drawing.
- It is recommended to varnish the wood.
In a similar way, it is not difficult to make original shelves from wooden boxes.
Necessary tools for the job
To make a shelf for storing necessary items in the restroom, you need to have the following list of available materials on hand:
- building level;
- screws and fastenings;
- hammer;
- saw - for making a wooden or metal shelf;
- ready-made forms from available raw materials;
- hooks;
- slats and holders;
- primer and varnish - required when making a wooden shelf.
It is worth adding that this list is not final. During the work, you may need additional tools, since the shelves have different shapes.
Hanging shelf
An unusual hanging shelf can be easily assembled from wooden parts, connecting them with a strong cord.
- It is necessary to cut blanks of the required size from wood and treat their surface.
- In wood blanks you need to drill holes whose diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the cord.
- The elements are impregnated with a primer and painted.
- The cord is passed through the holes and secured with knots.
Shelf decor
Making a bathroom shelf with your own hands involves decorating it. When thinking about the design of a product, you should adhere to several rules.
The product should not be overloaded with fancy carvings or openwork details. In a typical room, such details look out of place.
When designing a product, you should take into account the design features and purpose of the room. If you want to create an original interior item, it is recommended to use several materials to make the product. For example, combine metal elements with wood or glass parts.
An interesting option would be a shelf combined with a towel rack.
You can get original ideas for work online by looking at photos of DIY bathroom shelves.
Useful tips
Spacious drawers with a large number of shelves for storing household products and other small items will help you properly use the area under the bathroom.
It’s even convenient to put various accessories in this place. Such containers are also made on wheels for easy movement.
DIY shelves under the bathroom are very easy to use.
A sliding bath screen is often equipped with shelves for storing brushes, sponges or bath accessories.
