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Rain on a Tin Roof

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You are here: Home >> DIY Projects >> DIY Bathroom Shelves: Built In Bathroom Shelves for $25

April 23, 2012 By Jenna 35 Comments

DIY Bathroom Shelves: Built In Bathroom Shelves for $25

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These shelves only cost $25 to make!! Plus, they are super simple to make! DIY Built-In Bathroom Shelving

Everyone can always use a little more storage space, right? These DIY bathroom shelves are a great storage solution for your bathroom! Take advantage of that empty wall behind your toilet and build these bathroom shelves over the toilet for only $25. 

Who else has one of those wasted spaces above the toilet?

Ya know, the space where you hang a pretty picture trying to fill the void?

Who else needs more bathroom storage?

Who doesn’t?

Well, I used to have one of those spaces above the toilet….

and I used to need more bathroom storage……

But then, Grunt Labor (being the powerful force he is) made these great bathroom shelves above the toilet to fit between the walls.

DIY Bathroom Shelves Above Toilet

Built-In Bathroom Shelves

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Materials and Supplies Needed:

*Obviously, these shelves will vary in size depending on your space. Therefore, I have made notes as to how much to get in terms of how big your shelves are.1″ x 2″ x 8ft Furring Strips (supports for shelves – get 22 inches of this per shelf )

  • 1″ x 12″ x 10ft Common Boards (actual shelf surface – get pieces as wide as your shelves will be.)
  • Decorative Molding – I used basic chair rail. You’ll need as much of this as each shelf is wide.
  • Stud Finder
  • Nail Gun & Nails or Hammer and Finish Nails
  • Saw (either a miter saw, circular saw or handsaw. I used our miter saw. You could also pre-measure and have the pieces cut at your local home improvement store.)
  • Level
  • Measuring Tape
  • Pencil
  • Paint Color Of Your Choice

Steps

Step 1

Cut two pieces of the furring strips at 11 inches long each.

Mark your studs on the side walls.

Using a nail gun or hammer and nails, attach one strip to each side wall where you want a shelf, making sure the strip is level.

Built In Bathroom Shelves Over Toilet
Step 2
Cut your shelf tops, the 1″ x 12″, down to the opening size you have between the two walls or the measurement from edge to edge of the furring strip.
Place the 1″ x 12″ on top of the furring strips and secure them down with nails.
Bathroom Shelves Over Toilet

Step 3

Cut your molding to the same length as your shelves. Attach it to the front of the shelves using a nail gun or finish nails and a hammer.

Step 4

Repeat for as many shelves as you want, then finish with paint.

Bathroom Shelf Storage Ideas

It only cost about $25 to make both of these shelves. We did have some scrap wood laying around, but it shouldn’t cost you much more than that. Check the scrap lumber bins at Home Depot and Lowe’s for great deals.

This open shelving makes great extra storage for toilet paper, decorative items and other bathroom necessities. On top of that, this a great space saver for bathrooms and helps to get things up off the floors!

See how I built these same shelves, but bigger for storage in my daughter’s playroom HERE!

Need more bathroom inspiration? You’ll want to see these then…

Remodeling a Bathroom on a Budget – without compromising on style!

Classic Blue and White Bathroom Remodel – on a budget!

1st DIY Bathroom Renovation – on a budget too! This one was even featured in This Old House Magazine!
2nd Bathroom Makeover – a little preppy, a little old school Hollywood glam!
Want to come back to this tutorial later? Just pin the image below!
Bathroom Shelves Above Toilet

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DIY Built In Bathroom Shelves Above Toilet
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Filed Under: DIY Projects Tagged With: bathroom, built-in, shelving, storage

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. [email protected] says

    April 23, 2012 at 4:57 pm

    Those look very nice! I’ve come with some great ideas for built in shelving (at least to me!) in our home, but then I remember that we’re only renters. Phooey! haha

    Reply
  2. [email protected] says

    April 30, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    A perfect solution for a space that never has enough storage. We just did something similar in our girls’ bathroom in an odd little alcove behind a door. Twisterbars- we are renters too and do it anyway. Wholes are easy enough to patch when you leave. Live in your home and make it work for you!

    Reply
  3. Karen at Bargain-ista.com says

    May 5, 2012 at 3:45 am

    These are awesome! Love the finished look! Thanks for the tutorial 🙂

    Reply
  4. Lisa @ Diary of a {Wannabe} Domestic Diva says

    December 31, 2012 at 2:32 pm

    Oh these look awesome and super easy! I may have project to do tomorrow!

    Reply
    • Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 2, 2013 at 10:45 am

      They were soooo easy, Lisa! If you do them, I would love to see your finished product!

      Reply
  5. Our Pinteresting Family says

    January 1, 2013 at 5:18 pm

    Fantastic idea! Looks great. 🙂

    Reply
    • Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 2, 2013 at 10:45 am

      Thanks!!

      Reply
  6. Michelle says

    January 2, 2013 at 6:04 pm

    Visiting from the 2012 Pinfest link up. I have the same type of narrow toilet area and love this idea for it!

    Reply
    • Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 2, 2013 at 7:48 pm

      Michelle, Thanks for stopping by! I love having the extra storage in my bathroom with these shelves! It makes a weird kind of space useful!

      Reply
  7. The Thriftiness Miss says

    January 20, 2013 at 5:21 pm

    These shelves look fabulous! and you make it look so simple too 🙂 This would be perfect for my laundry room that I’m working on now. Pinning for a reminder 🙂

    Thanks so much for following The Thriftiness Miss too.. GFC following you back now. Have a great day!

    Reply
    • Jenna LaFevor says

      January 20, 2013 at 6:06 pm

      Thank you!! They are SO simple!! Thanks for pinning and I’m so excited that you are following now!!

      Reply
  8. Mommy Mandy says

    January 28, 2013 at 9:34 am

    So simple and easy!! Love it!

    Reply
    • Jenna LaFevor says

      January 29, 2013 at 9:49 am

      Yes, Mandy they were! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  9. Gretchen says

    January 28, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    Those look great! I have a little over the toilet nook like that in my hall bath, too….keeping this in mind for whenever I get around to redoing that bath.

    Reply
    • Jenna LaFevor says

      January 29, 2013 at 9:50 am

      Thanks, Gretchen! They were way easy to do! So happy you dropped by!

      Reply
  10. Missy says

    February 2, 2013 at 5:39 pm

    Love this idea for our tiny half-bath! One question for you: what is the depth of the boards? I have some 1 x 10 and 1 x 8, so I wasn’t sure if one of those would work. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Rain on a Tin Roof says

      February 2, 2013 at 10:55 pm

      Missy, thanks for stopping by! These were way easy to make! The depth of our shelves are 8 inches without the molding. That adds a 1/4 inch or so. We had enough room to do 10 inches deep, but just went 8, so I think you could do either one! Would love to know how they turn out! Thanks for stopping by again!

      Reply
  11. happyvballgirl says

    May 17, 2013 at 12:35 pm

    Oooh, love this one too! Pinned! Thanks for all the great ideas! 🙂 Diana Rambles’ Pin Me Party. 🙂

    Christine 🙂

    Reply
  12. Diana - FreeStyleMama says

    May 23, 2013 at 5:07 pm

    I love the shelving!

    Reply
  13. Amanda says

    May 28, 2013 at 9:46 am

    This is a great idea! We have a similar room and I think it would look great!

    Reply
  14. Christine @ First Home...Love Life says

    May 28, 2013 at 11:29 pm

    I’ve been wanting to something similar in our master bath toilet closet thing. Love that you added the molding! It really finishes it off! Thanks for linking up 🙂

    Reply
  15. Maria Elena says

    May 29, 2013 at 8:22 am

    Jenna, your bathroom shelves are gorgeous! I would love if you stop by and link this post to this weeks party. Beautiful!

    Reply
  16. Krista thehappyhousie says

    May 31, 2013 at 11:34 pm

    I like how you guys finished these off with the molding Jenna:)

    Reply
  17. KC Coake says

    June 1, 2013 at 12:29 pm

    Love your shelving! I need to borrow this idea to gain a little more storage in my small Master Bath. Thanks so much for linking up at the Real Family Fun link party! Hope to see you next week.
    KC

    Reply
  18. [email protected] says

    September 18, 2013 at 8:24 pm

    You are so smart to put the dead space above your toilet to work. Your shelves are great for storage or for making a pretty display.

    Thanks so much for sharing at Throwback Thursday! I’m sharing your project on my FB page tonight!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      September 20, 2013 at 7:58 am

      Thank you for hosting! We love how functional these are!

      Reply
  19. Kimberly @ Colors Mixed Together says

    September 22, 2013 at 2:45 pm

    Simple and added storage. My kind of project. Thanks for linking up to Throwback Thursday!
    Kim

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      September 23, 2013 at 7:51 am

      Thanks, Kim! And thanks for hosting the party!

      Reply
  20. polly plum says

    October 1, 2014 at 3:26 pm

    Love the built-in shelves! I think they’d work for my tiny bathroom. Any idea what the cost was?

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      October 13, 2014 at 8:54 pm

      Thanks, Polly! It was under $25!

      Reply
  21. Julie Briones says

    June 27, 2019 at 12:19 am

    This tutorial is great… even now! Thanks for sharing on Tuesday Turn About! Happy to ‘meet’ you!

    Reply
  22. Kristi Dominguez says

    June 28, 2019 at 1:20 am

    This is such a great idea for this space! I love the built-in look!

    Reply
  23. Alice says

    June 29, 2019 at 11:55 am

    I really need to do this in my bathroom. I have that wasted space as well. Thank you for the tutorial and sharing it with us at #omhgww

    Reply
  24. Jenny says

    July 7, 2019 at 6:14 pm

    The shelves look great. So easy to make. I like open shelves in the bathroom. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tons of DIY House Decorating Ideas Eclectically Vintage says:
    November 3, 2013 at 10:00 am

    […] how to make built in shelves – it’s definitely something on my wish […]

    Reply

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