Looking to spruce up your bathroom with a cute accent shelf? These are the 3 elements you need for the most quaint bathroom shelf decor!
Decorating a bathroom does not come as easily as decorating a bedroom or living room might. Let’s face it: a bathroom is probably the least aesthetic room in our homes. When it comes to bathroom decor, it’s the small accents that really tie it all together. A great way to spiffy up any bathroom is to add a cute shelf that has both decorative and useful items.
In this post, you will learn about the 3 elements you need for your bathroom shelf decor that will add charm to an otherwise charmless room!
After reading this post, you will be able to use these 3 elements to create the most quaint bathroom shelf decor in your bathroom!
This post is all about bathroom shelf decor and the 3 elements you should add.
Bathroom Decor Dilemma
Bathroom decor can be tricky; bathroom “themed” signs and decor seem to be too obvious, but other, more understated pieces seem to be out of place among the less than aesthetic elements of a bathroom. So, what do you use to decorate your bathroom? A shelf is always a safe bet, and can serve as both decorative and useful.
Utilizing a shelf to store certain bathroom products provides those odds and ends with a home, and frees up counter space on your vanity. A bathroom shelf can also be a statement piece, when arranged well and mixed with the right elements.
Another great thing about using a shelf as decor in your bathroom is how you can change what is on it as often or as rarely as you please! Sick of the decor you’ve had for a year? Freshen it up with a few new pieces, and you’ll feel like it’s brand new!
These 3 elements will help you achieve the most quaint bathroom shelf decor in both an understated and useful way.
Choosing The Right Shelf
It can be overwhelming to choose a bathroom shelf once you see how many choices there actually are. A bathroom shelf… how different can they really be? Turns out, VERY different! Each one has a different style and feel. Choosing the wrong one can clash with the vibe you are wanting, BUT the right one will enhance it. Silver, gold, brass, wood, glass… every detail matters. Choosing the right combination of these options will get your bathroom shelf decor off to a wonderful start! A lot of shelves have beautiful details on them, and paying attention to these details before you choose one will also help achieve the look and feel you desire.
You can even pre-choose your bathroom shelf decor, and determine the style of shelf you want based off of this. Knowing what you might want to display on the shelf will help you narrow down your shelf search. One important factor to consider is the size of the shelf. Taking note of what you plan to display on it and how large the area is you want to hang it on will lead you to the appropriately sized shelf for your space. Trying to visualize different shelves in your space is also a helpful way to make sure you make the right decision. In all honesty, any shelf can look cute with the right bathroom shelf decor placed on it!
3 Elements For Useful & Pretty
Bathroom Shelf Decor
Below are the 3 elements you need for your bathroom shelf decor to be both useful and pretty. The 3 elements are: greenery & flowers, useful items, and decorative objects. Continue reading for an in depth explanation of each, and for related decor ideas!
Greenery & Flowers
Any bathroom could benefit from faux (or real, if you prefer) plants and flowers! They’re easy to style, add color, and provide height to your bathroom shelf decor. Having one flower element and one greenery element creates the dream team, and adds that al fresco feel to your space. Placing them apart from each other with other decor pieces in between will give you the most balanced look.
Useful Items
Placing aesthetic yet useful items on a bathroom shelf will create both a functional and decorative accent. There are so many options in this category, and you can circulate which items you choose to place on the shelf. This will keep the bathroom shelf decor from getting boring, and will provide you with an extra surface to store items you use frequently.
When it comes to useful items in the bathroom, there are so many different possibilities! Below are some ideas that you can test out to see what works for your bathroom shelf.
Aroma
As we all know, this might be the most important element in the bathroom, for reasons I shall leave unsaid. Having an element of aroma on your bathroom shelf is a must, and serves as both a decor piece and a functional item. When it comes to adding an element of aroma, there are so many choices.
The most popular one is probably a candle, and with the variety of scents and jar designs, you’ll be sure to find one that looks and smells good. Another option is a reed diffuser, which has a certain elegant charm to it. It is more unique looking than a candle, and does not require you to light it in order for it to be fragrant. Lastly, there is the option of a bathroom spray. Many bathroom sprays now come in the cutest spray bottles, and are made to be displayed.
The beauty about this element of bathroom shelf decor is that you can use multiple on your shelf at once. Since each option looks so different from one another, you can combine a couple of them on your shelf and use them respectively.
Hand Towels
Having hand towels displayed on your bathroom shelf will provide linen storage, and a bathroom-themed element. As folding hand towels is always a classic option, try rolling them to create a pyramid of 3 hand towels. This looks classier, and provides more of a decorative touch. Choosing hand towels that match the theme and decor of the rest of your bathroom will further elevate it. They’re the perfect addition to your bathroom shelf, whether you use them or not!
Soap
As a soap pump on a shelf may look a little silly, utilizing a bar of soap will look more appropriate. Choosing a bar of soap that is pleasing to the eye can be a little tricky, since most bars of soap at the store are wrapped in unaesthetic plastic. This is not ideal for your bathroom shelf decor. Instead, try to find a bar of soap that is meant to be displayed. You can find these kinds of soaps at smaller boutique stores, online (Etsy), or at your local farmer’s/maker’s market.
These “pretty” bars of soap are usually subtly colored, and the labels are much more pleasing than that of those you find at the grocery store. Most of them are wrapped in twine, and my favorite ones have pieces of dried flowers in them, such as lavender. If you buy from a small business, they will usually add a piece of greenery or a small flower in the twine for an extra cute look.
If you don’t want to put that much effort into finding a cute bar of soap, you can spruce a generic one up very easily. Find a soap at the store that is a desirable color, unwrap it, add some twine and a piece of dried lavender, and voila!
Canisters
Plastic, glass, ceramic, marble, rattan, wood, brass… the list goes on! With all of these options, you are sure to find one that fits perfectly into your bathroom shelf decor. The best thing about bathroom canisters is that they can elegantly and subtly store your otherwise unsightly bathroom essentials! Depending on what you choose to store in it, you can use a single larger one, a couple smaller ones, or a variety of sizes clustered together on your shelf. Items like cotton swabs and cotton balls/pads would probably be best in a canister that is not see-through. However, other items that are prettier, such as sugar scrub cubes, would be better stored in a translucent canister to further add to the bathroom shelf decor.
Lotion
If your favorite lotion comes in a not-so-pretty container, there’s a quick fix for this! Buy a nice soap pump, and transfer the lotion into it for a more tasteful and sophisticated look! It provides the same function as the original bottle, but makes it so that it can sit pretty on your shelf.
Tissues
Depending on the brand of the tissues you buy, there can be some designs that wouldn’t look bad on a shelf. However, to ensure your tissues are always looking stylish, purchase a tissue box cover that is understated and timeless. That way, you can purchase whichever tissues you please, and don’t have to worry about how it’ll look on your shelf!
Decorative Objects
As if the above 2 elements weren’t decorative enough! This element, however, is strictly decorative, and can be used more to supplement the items that are meant for use. This element can be chosen more freely, and can be a bit more eccentric than the other two elements. A unique decorative object will help to add interest to your bathroom shelf decor, and will tie together the useful and decorative elements. There are so many different styles of decorative objects. From figurines, to small sculptures, to vases, it’s easy to find the perfect fit for your bathroom shelf decor!
If you don’t have room for decorative objects, just use one of your useful items as a decor piece, such as I did with my cotton swab canister!
There you have it, the 3 elements you need for useful and pretty bathroom shelf decor! Whether you use all of these suggestions or only a few, this bathroom shelf decor will add the glam that your bathroom needs!
This post was all about bathroom shelf decor.