A Quick and Easy DIY Bathroom Shelf over your Toilet

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This simple DIY shelf added more charm and color to this small powder room that was feeling a bit boring.

Shelves are a great way to add storage or style to a small bathroom. Our powder room needed something to break up all the shades of white everywhere. I decided to add some natural wood pieces to give the room more charm and a touch of color. So, I went with 2 wood frames for the wall and this quick and easy build for a DIY bathroom shelf over your toilet.

I’ll be adding some fun wallpaper above the wainscoting soon too. I’ll share the full powder room reveal with you soon. This powder room is inside that Laundry Room I just shared the fun Teal Cabinet makeover for. This powder room is the one our guests use. Now, let’s get to this quick and easy DIY Bathroom Shelf over your Toilet!

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Materials for this DIY Rust Paint Technique

• 1×6 lumber or plywood – I used Select Pine
• Cap Molding to add detail to the edge
• 1×2 lumber or furring strips
• Brad Nailer & Nails OR Nails & Hammer
• Wood Glue
• Saw, I used a Miter Saw for the straightest possible cuts
• Stud Finder
• Spirit Level
• Tape Measure
• Paint or Stain

Steps to Build this DIY Bathroom Shelf over your Toilet

Quick Build Note: I used wall supports for this build instead of floating shelf hardware. My supports are painted to match the wall and aren’t meant to be seen. If you use this DIY to build higher shelves with visible supports, I would use Select Pine or Poplar for wood with a nice smooth finish for painting. Select Pine or Cedar would be great big box store options for staining. AND if you use this DIY to build deeper shelves, be sure to increase the size of the side supports too.

Step One

Decide where your shelf will go and measure the width of the back wall. Be sure to leave plenty of room to work on the toilet tank when adding your shelf. Cut your furring strip or 1×2 to the length of the back wall. Mine is short because the shelf is so low that the supports are never visible. If you’re shelf is higher, I’d try to make the supports on the back and side walls look like one continual piece.

Step Two

Use your stud finder to mark the studs and spirit level to attach that piece to the wall with the brad nailer.

Step Three

Cut 2 – 3 1/2″ long strips for the side supports. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to attach the sides to a stud in the corner. If not, shoot the nails in at different angles in four to six different spots to hold the support firmly in place. For larger shelves or shelves that need to hold a lot of weight, you’ll want to use anchors in screws or another secure way to attach those sides when you can’t find a stud.

Step Four

Once you have all 3 supports attached, measure and cut your 1×6 shelf. Put it in place to make sure it fits before attaching the decorative moulding to the front edge. I used a pretty easy to find cap moulding. You can go with any moulding that matches your room’s style. Cut and attach the moulding with wood glue and a few brad nails. Be sure to wipe away excess glue with a damp cloth.

Step Five

Once the glue dries, fill any holes or cracks with wood filler. Once that dries, you can sand the shelf with 120 or 150-grit paper before applying your finish. I used Watco’s Danish Oil in Medium Walnut. It’s a really quick drying, easy to apply finish for wood. It’s kinda my favorite finish lately. 🙂

That’s it, that’s how easy it is to build this DIY Bathroom Shelf over your Toilet. What do you think? Let me know if you have any questions! I’m always happy to help. 🙂

Looking for more easy decor ideas? Try this easy DIY Pottery Barn Knock Off Textile Art. I saved $300 off the Pottery Barn price. 

Or, this fun DIY Light Clip display board. Works great with photos, notes, school papers, and kid’s artwork!

Feeling inspired? Now that you know how to build this easy DIY Bathroom Shelf over your Toilet, get to it! Have fun and let me know if you have questions. Don’t forget to sign up for the Abbotts At Home email newsletter to get DIY, Remodeling, and Crafty ideas in your inbox.