While casually scrolling through the Pinterest app, I stumbled over some pretty sick storage and décor ideas that quickly made me realize how overlooked the space above my toilet was.
Seriously, there’s so much to do with that space to help transform a boring toilet into an exciting one. Best part? There’s something for everyone.
In this article, we’ll teach you how to properly use the space above your toilet for both décor and storage, but before that, let’s learn about the things not to put in that space.
What Not To Put Above Toilet?
Free standing open and closed shelves
I know a lot of you might be surprised with this listing but yes, freestanding over the toilet shelves are a big no for décor.
Maybe they’ll get a pass for storage when you’re desperate for it, but if you’re relying on them to make your toilet standout, especially when it’s small, narrow and craving for space, I’m sorry to say, they’re tacky, will make your toilet look cheap (at least for most designs out there), and will make cleaning quite uncomfortable with their not so ergonomic design.
Ladders
Like the free standing open and closed shelves that tank behind toilet seat, ladders, those ones installed behind the toilet to hold towels and toiletries, add bulk to a toilet which can take away valuable space that could make cleaning the toilet uncomfortable.
Of course there are a myriad of designs to chose from and some are deadass gorgeous, like the metal based ladders with floating shelves on it, but if you have a small toilet, those wooden based ladders could easily make it look ugly. So I generally wouldn’t recommend ladders for first choice décor..
Floating Shelves
These are good choices for décor especially when you choose the right dimensions for your toilet. You know, for keeping stuff you wont be reaching for often. But if you’re planning to use it for storage of items you use regularly, they could topple frequently, and sometimes in the worse possible medium — the toilet bowl, unless the shelves are deep and maybe have rails to guard the contents.
What To Put On Wall Over Toilet
So we’ve talked about the things you should avoid putting above your toilet,. Now let’s talk about the opposite, what to put above the toilet.
For Storage
Single Unit Closed Cabinet
There’s no better option for storage above the toilet than a single unit closed cabinetry. It’s sleek, not bulky, and depending on the design you chose can make your toilet pop out.
Plus, your stuffs wont collect dust often and also wont topple with any little impact to the wall (if you have kids, you’ll relate better).
There’s a lot of ways you can accomplish a single cabinet unit. You can make glass doors for them. Play around with the accessories and even work great finishings on the doors to suit the mood in the toilet.
Recess With Guard Rails
A recess is basically a section of a wall pushed further back. And this is great for storage because it can have many shelf’s on it.
Because a recess isn’t usually made that deep, especially in a toilet, you might need guard rails to keep things in place.
A Small Toilet Rack
You can never go wrong with a small toilet rack if all you want is to just see the space above your toilet put to use.
It’ll be great for accommodating your toiletries as well as skin care products. You can fix it over the toilet tank for convenience but make sure to give enough space to access the flush buttons.
Decorative Basket
Instead of a mini rack, you can opt for a decorative basket above the toilet tank to hold tissues and skin care products. You can also add flowers for décor.
Another way to play around with baskets is to have floating shelves that are deep and then place the baskets on them for storage. Most of the time if done well, looks pretty sleek.
Towel Rack
Not many people may be a fan of this one but towel rack above you toilet is one of the best storage options you have. Just make sure there’s enough clearance with the toilet tank so the towels don’t overhand and brush over the top of the tank.
For Décor
The options above are for storage, when it’s décor in you mind however, there’s endless options to try, and this time, you could even get away with floating shelves.
Here are the top options to consider when planning to use the space above your toilet.
Floating Shelves
While floating shelves are not the greatest options for storage due to how easily items could topple from them, it’s a very good option for décor. You can place all sorts of stuffs from plants, candles to fancy toiletries, but avoid heavy or breakable contents because they may take a tumble.
Artworks And Frames
If you have a favorite artwork or even a floating frame, you can use the space above the toilets to constantly remind yourself of it.
Bathroom Quotes
Instead of artworks, you can frame quotes and place them in the space above your toilet. You can use double frames or a single large frame with different quotes across the length. When placing them, make sure the lightening (natural and artificial) in the bathroom works great with to highlight the quote otherwise it might be difficult to read it.
Recess With Accents
Remember the recess for storage, you can purpose it for décor instead. Strategically place down lights to highlight favorite features like plants and candles. You can even make a recess without shelves, place a medium sized artwork in the middle and highlight it with it a down light.
A Small Mirror
What great way to purpose the larger real estate above your toilet than place a decorative mirror there. Be creative with your choice. Depending how much space you have, you can choose from the pool of mirror shapes and designs available.
Nothing At All
Really, sometimes we over think things, and simplicity might just be the best answer. Go for a minimalist design and leave that space as it is!
Vintage Finds
If you happen to have some vintage stuffs at your disposal, you can also use them above the space. For some, you could hang them, while for others, you may need a floating shelf or rack to support them. Either way, vintage finds are the best ways to add culture to your bathroom.
Shadow Boxes
Shadow boxes are great additions for your bathroom too, especially above the toilet. Your favorite flowers, sticky notes, stickers and drawings can be locked up in there for memories.
Hanging Planter
If you want to get a bit green in your bathroom, go the route of a hanging planter. Choose small designs for mini toilets to avoid overwhelming the space. If you have a large toilet however, this might not really be an issue.
Funky Wall Clock
Oh yes, you could add a funky wall clock for some serious character in your toilet. If you want also, you could add a normal wall clock so you keep up with time wherever you are: (life’s not that serious though J)
Wall Decals
Wall decals can be anything from shapes to animals and even flowers. The black subject over a white background is just so special, and if I ever wanted to opt for this décor, I’d go for that style.
But you could try the rainbow one that highlights different countries In the world, or a green theme that mimics the environment of the tropics.
Mini Gallery Wall
Have so much frames that are hidden in lockers because there’s no much space to display them? You can use the space above the toilet to accommodate them.
Choose frames to match the theme or color setting in the toilet for even better aesthetics. Avoid placing so much frames in a small toilet though, it’s an easy way to overwhelm that space.
Hexagon Shelves
Ah, these ones are my fav. The depth they create is unreal, and content that highlight makes everything pop out even more. This one would normally work for large and modern bathrooms, but if you have very good lightening in your bathroom, you can experiment as well.
Woven Wall Hanging
Have a fav piece of woven art? Hang it on that space using a nail to fill up the space. It’s an easy way to prevent your toilet from lacking character at all.
What To Put On Shelf Above Toilet?
If you’re fixing a shelf above your toilet, there are many things you could place on the shelf for décor. Here’s a list of them.
- Candles
- Flowers
- Clock
- Frames
- Plants
- Baskets
- Bowl
- Décor bottles
- Beads
- Lightenings