11 bathroom shelf ideas to help create smart storage solutions

Organising your bathroom means you need space to store your stuff and these clever bathroom shelf ideas are the perfect partner to help make it happen. 

“Bathrooms are the perfect place to relax so clearing the clutter and finding clever storage solutions help to create the perfect sanctuary” suggests Nancy Emery, Bathroom Design Expert at Drench. “Bathroom shelving is great for storage, as well as a way to spruce up your room by adding accessories that bring touches of colour and style.”

When thinking of bathroom design, don't forget shelves. Not only do bathroom shelves look good, but are practical and once installed you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them. Check out our ideas to take your bathroom or shower to new levels.  

Bathroom shelf ideas for every style 

There’s a lot of different ways to incorporate bathroom shelves but “Shelves don’t have to be complicated” explains Emery. “In fact, they can be placed in areas you wouldn’t normally think of. One of the best ways to maximise space in your bathroom with shelving is to consider spaces that would normally go unused.”

“Think outside the box”, Emery continues, “Shelving doesn’t always have to be the standard wooden planks attached to walls.” And, don’t forget showers and wet rooms, they deserve some shelf love as well.  

1. Make the most of awkward spaces 

 “If you have an awkward space, perhaps caused by the eaves of the roof or sloping walls, then this space can naturally lend itself to having fitted shelves” proposes Grazzie Wilson, Head of Creative at Ca’ Pietra. 

“It might be that you decide to position the sink or vanity area close by, so that the shelves can hold both practical and ornamental decorations. If you do decide on the latter, consider having strip LED lighting fitted underneath in a warm bulb. This will create accent lighting that illuminates your possessions but can also be used as a lighting source when having a relaxing bath.” 

2. Install a wall hung vanity unit 

Jorge Hernandez, Product & Design Manager at Crosswater recommends “Balancing form and function with a wall-hung cloakroom vanity unit in statement-making colours with an adjustable, internal shelf to keep toiletries and cleaning products neatly stored away.”

Crosswater’s vanity unit, inspired by Japandi design, “Brings colour, texture and storage to a bathroom space. And for a unique and personalised design, you can add a shelf below the drawer for the perfect combination of open and closed storage.”

3. Love the ladder shelves

Simple, versatile and mobile, you can place ladder shelves wherever there’s a space in your bathroom. Don’t like where you placed the shelf. Simply pick up and place wherever you need them. Perfect for towels, move closer to the bath ready for when you jump out. 

Or, move closer to the sink, so there's a fresh towel ready and waiting. Alternatively, add all your favourite lotions, soaps and shampoos or combine the two to make the most of the extra shelves. 

4. Keep essentials close to hand 

If you have a small bathroom with little space to introduce shelves then you need to think about how to use those spaces you do have as Emery explains, “In the majority of bathrooms the space above the toilet will usually be empty, so offers up the perfect place to install shelves. This space is ideal for holding items that you want to have close to hand, such as towels or toilet rolls.” 

One shelf is the obvious choice, but don’t hesitate to install two, three or four to utilise the space fully. And, make sure they are no wider than the top of your cistern, to keep them practical. 

5. Smart shower storage 

“One of the most important and often forgotten places to add a shelf is in the shower” suggests Jamie Bebbington, managing director at Aston Matthews. “Creating a niche in the wall to accommodate your shampoo and shower gel looks good and puts an end to a clutter of bottles in the shower tray. You can even incorporate a light for added atmosphere.” 

6. Double up on your towel radiator 

A good looking radiator deserves to be seen, but the moment you drape a towel over it the glamour disappears. But introduce shelves like this Fender towel rail from the Radiator centre and it not only looks good, but offers a practical solution. 

Perfect for a bathroom that lacks space for the shelves you might need. Keep your towels warm, dry and toasty, ready for use, with the added bonus of still being able to enjoy the beauty of your radiator.  

7. Small, subtle shower shelves 

If starting a bathroom renovation project from scratch then Wilson recommends you “Consider adding in built -in shelves”. This offers plenty of flexibility and choice of positioning. 

“A favourite of ours is in this bathroom (pictured). Rather than build a recessed shelf at your typical eye or arm level, it has been built about 50cms off the floor to hold soap. This allows the owners not to have to bend down to the floor, keeps it dry when not in use but also means the rest of the shower area remains clean-lined as it is only really noticeable if you look for it!”

8. Shelves by your side

If you’ve got a bath and shower with a bath screen door, installing narrow tall shelves right next to the bath can give you access to everything you need before you get in and when you get out. 

A smartly placed screen will keep the shelves dry when closed and give easy access to the shelves when opened. Go from floor to ceiling or bath to ceiling and paint the same colour as the walls to help hide.  

9. Free and easy under sink storage 

Couple your bath sink with a freestanding unit and you can bring together space everywhere. Store your everyday products on the top, keep spare towels and linen on the shelves and hide away beauty and skin products, spare soaps and whatever else you like to keep in a bathroom in the drawers. The combination of shelves and storage will help keep your bathroom looking good and clutter free.   

10. Keep it in the corner

Want a small and simple storage solution for your shower? A corner unit like this offering from Keuco provides a space saving platform to store soap and shampoo so it's always at your disposal. No sharp edges to catch yourself on and a removable front gives you more options.

11.  Introduce flexible shelves and hanging spaces 

Not sure what shelf arrangement you want? Looking to change up your storage and shelves whenever you want to. Then try something different as Emery suggests, “For something a little different and completely flexible, consider a peg board. These can be used to add hooks and shelves which can easily be swapped around. If you need more shelf space, hook on another. If you want to add an extra peg for a hand towel, simply slot it into place.” 

She continues, “You'll find that many peg boards look like they belong in the tool shed but with a little searching around or painting, you can find one that will look stunning in your bathroom."

Want more ideas to give your bathroom a makeover? Then check out our 24 Modern Bathroom Ideas, Amazing Bathroom Tile Ideas for Small Bathrooms and 10 ways to cut the cost of your bathroom makeover guides for inspiration and practical solutions.