12 Bathroom Shelf Decor Ideas For Beautiful Styling

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost. I appreciate your support! – Martina

This post is all about selecting the best bathroom shelf decor!

Source: @interiors71

Bathrooms are often designed as purely functional areas, leaving little to no space for additional decor. However, no matter whether you’re working with a small bathroom or a large space, good shelf styling is not something you should compromise on.

Treating your bathroom shelves not only as storage space but as a display surface for your interior decor style will help you take your bathroom design from basic to amazing. Think of it as the finishing touch your bathroom needs to deliver a curated and cohesive look.

Whether you’re just starting the process of filling a new bathroom with decorative items or are simply looking for ways to refresh one of your smaller spaces, bathroom shelf decor is a fun and affordable way to upgrade your home. From aesthetic storage options to gorgeous scents, the 12 ideas in this post will help you create the bathroom shelves of your dreams!

12 Ideas For Gorgeous Bathroom Shelf Decor

1. Invest in Wicker Baskets

Wicker or woven baskets are one of the easiest ways to combine practicality with style. These pieces are perfect to sore backup bathroom necessities, hide additional toilet paper rolls, and keep extra hand towels ready available.

Their inherently neutral and timeless look makes them a great match to most interior styles. This is something I love as it means you’ll be able to use them for a long time to come, even as your taste and bathroom decor continue to evolve.

Depending on how deep and tall your bathroom shelves are you could even consider stacking a few baskets on top of each other. By doing so, you’ll be able to play with varying heights, creating an element of visual interest in your decor.

2. Include Plants & Flowers

Adding greenery is a great way to introduce some natural elements into your decor. I especially recommend this if you’re trying to counterbalance a very modern space, where an organic element may be needed. Greenery will also naturally complement wooden shelves, making it easy to add to your decor in most cases.

You can opt for a small vase of flowers – personally, I like faux bouquets for the bathroom given their low maintenance. Alternatively, create a small display of different plants or succulents and invest in a cute set of pots.

If you have a floating shelf, you could even look into a trailing plant. The cascading leaves will look so stunning!

3. Add Glass Jars

For another great example of combining extra storage space with aesthetics, look no further than glass apothecary jars. These classics of bathroom decor have become a staple and for a good reason. They look chic, are perfect to keep your counters, are affordable, and, last but not least, are super easy to clean!

I especially love how they can add a touch of elegance to your bathroom shelf without requiring too much effort. If you already have them available, you can even recycle some mason jars for this purpose.

As far as what they can store, think of anything small like cotton balls, bath salts, cotton swabs, tooth picks, and so on. The further away your shelves are from your sink, the more creative you can get with their filling as you likely won’t be using them for practical purposes.

4. Make Your Bathroom Smell Good

A delicate but great scent is the ultimate trick to make your bathroom feel more luxurious. That’s why you should consider including a scented candle or a high-quality diffuser in your bathroom shelf decor, especially when it comes to toilet shelves.

If you’re decorating a guest bathroom or guest-facing powder room, make sure to pick a more understated scent. The last thing you want is to give someone a headache. Perfumes like linen, peonies, or citruses can all make for an excellent choice.

5.  Use A Tray To Keep Fresh Hand Towels/Tissues Available

Have you ever noticed that luxury hotels will always keep extra folded towels available on a beautiful tray? Give your own bathroom a spa-like atmosphere by stealing this idea and adding some functional but stylish decor to your shelves.

When selecting the right piece, look for materials and colors that fit well within your color palette even if as accents. A cohesive color scheme will immediately make your bathroom shelf decor feel more curated.

I love this idea especially as a renter. There were so many times where I couldn’t install towel racks because I couldn’t drill the wall and this makes a great alternative to keep additional towels available, especially to guests!

6. Add A Lighting Source

If you’re dealing with a smaller bathroom that does not receive a lot of natural light, your bathroom shelf decor should include an additional source of lighting. Think of a small table lamp – something batter operated perhaps – or a cute little lantern.

While these light fixtures will not be used as the main source of illumination, they can help give the impression of a brighter and more open space. They are also a great alternative to turning on the big light if you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night!

7. Play With Different Textures

As all interior designers will tell you, one of the best ways to create visual interest in your decor is by combining different textures. Whether you love to mix and match different styles or are trying to stick to similar items for a more cohesive look, don’t shy away from texture.

Wood, marble, and even less common materials like steel or bronze will add some variety and depth to your bathroom shelf decor. These can be as simple as a small bowl or a decorative item – sometimes the smallest details can make the biggest impact.

8. Display Your Favorite Beauty Products

As a girl who loves anything beauty, skincare, and perfumes, I truly believe some products are so beautiful they can double as decor. Make a selection of your pieces with the best packaging or items that hold a sentimental value or you and display them on your bathroom shelves. This way, you’ll always be able to look and them and you’ll free up even more space in your medicine cabinets for more fun products (pro tip here 😉).

While this idea can work for all types of bathroom shelves, I do think it would look especially good if you have glass shelves similar to a luxury boutique or corner shelves that serve as a built-in display.

9. Add Small Decorative Elements

A few small, purely decorative pieces can be a great way to add personality to your decor even if you’re working with very limited space. For instance, a small powder room is a perfect place for interesting pieces as it’s guest-facing.

If you’re trying to achieve a modern look, consider adding a curved vase, or a sleek marble ball. For something more boho-inspired, look instead for a solid-wood box or a stunning set of yoga figurines in different sizes. So chic!

10. Optimize Space with Storage Containers

If you tend to accumulate a lot of items in a small space, it’s important to include in your shelf decor some additional bathroom storage solutions. Forget about plain plastic organizers and look instead into containers that can double as design pieces.

For example I love how timeless and elegant a wooden organizer looks even when filled with makeup brushes and products. For something a bit bolder, consider instead buying a piece that can bring a pop of color into your design.

11. Add Some Artwork

While wall art may not directly go on your shelves, I do think it’s an important complement to bathroom shelf decor. Including artworks into a bathroom is also my favorite way to create a clear focal point and introduce some vibrant colors and personality into the space.

Look beyond purely functional items and let your more creative side help you pick some fun prints and frames to add over your bathroom shelves. Especially in a guest bathroom, I promise these pieces can become such a great talking point as far as your home decor is concerned!

12. Look For Vintage Finds

If you love vintage items in your personal style, make sure to include a few in your bathroom shelf decor as well. A vintage standing clock for example can bring a lot of character to your bathroom while also playing a functional role. Overall. vintage finds always tends to be beautiful statement pieces in any space, so don’t be afraid to be a little bit extra and include them in your bathroom too!

FAQs

​1. How many pieces of decor do I need?

You can use odd numbers (3, 5, or 7) for a balanced look. For a large space, use clusters of 5-7 items. On bathroom cabinets, 3 pieces like a plant, decorative container, and functional item work well. As a general guideline, avoid overcrowding your bathroom storage shelves by limiting to 3-5 pieces per shelf.

2. What are the best materials for bathroom shelf decor to withstand humidity?

The right material for your decor depends on the shelf material you are working with. Overall, pieces in sealed wood, glass, or metal will tolerate humidity better than materials that can warp or rust. Other good options include materials like stone, ceramic, or treated wood.

To Conclude

This post was all about choosing the best bathroom shelf decor!

We have seen how bathroom decor is all about transforming bare walls and wall-mounted shelves into beautiful design statements. Whether you are working with large open shelving or simply want to add some cute decor to store efficiently cotton swabs, bathroom shelf decor is something you want to invest in before you can call your space complete.

Happy decorating! 😊