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Practical Bathroom Shelf Ideas

Lowe's Editorial Team

By Lowe's Editorial Team
Published January 23, 2025

Whether you need a space to store shampoo bottles or hold fresh towels, shelves are a bathroom necessity. From multifunctional to compact shelves, you can choose one that best fits your needs. This article will explore practical bathroom shelf ideas to make your space more functional.

Ideas for Shelving in Bathrooms

Before you decide on what kind of shelving your bathroom needs, think about where you want to place them and their intended purpose. Wide and open shelves might be better for holding towels, whereas storing shampoo and lotion bottles might require tall and narrow shelves.

Once that is decided, take a look at these bathroom shelf ideas to store your toiletries efficiently. 

Freestanding Shelf

If you have enough floor space in your bathroom, opt for a freestanding shelf that can be placed anywhere you need. This choice is perfect if you want to avoid drilling holes in your walls and prefer changing the layout of your spaces frequently. Freestanding shelves are versatile and also come in an array of shapes, sizes and materials.

You can choose from 2-tiered to 6-tiered ones based on the space in your bathroom and your storage needs. Shapes like squares, triangles, rectangles and other such designs can help you customize the shelf according to your requirements.

You can consider whether you prefer ​a wooden, plastic or metal freestanding shelf as well. Place towels, toiletries and some dainty succulents on these shelves to brighten up your space.

Floating Shelves

Whether you have a large bathroom or a compact one, floating shelves can make your space appear sleek ​and modern. This bathroom shelf idea is perfect for incorporating minimalism into your bathroom aesthetic while making it more functional.

These versatile units can be mounted on any wall, whether you place it next to your sink, above your toilet or next to your bathtub. Choose larger ones if you want to place towels and bathrobes, while narrower ones are ideal for bottles, lotions and soap dispensers.

You can create creative designs with floating shelves by mounting them on your wall in zig-zag patterns or an arch. Invest in a single shelf or multiple ones in any material that blends with the rest of your bathroom for a cohesive look.

Mobile Shelving Unit

A mobile shelving unit doubles as a cart, allowing you to roll it from one point to another effortlessly. This is perfect if you have a larger bathroom and might need to keep your toiletries within arm’s reach wherever you go. The wheels can be locked in one place when you need them to be stationary as well, making them a versatile shelving solution.

Clear Glass Shelves

Clear glass shelves are a great idea for shelving in bathrooms to make your space appear larger and brighter while being functional as well. You can mount them outside your bathroom area and place bath bombs and scented candles, transforming your bathroom into a minimalist and aesthetically pleasing space.

Wall-Mount 3-Tiered Shelf

While singular wall-mounted shelves can be attractive, a combination of three shelves attached together in a decorative manner can make your bathroom look stylish. These shelves are ​​wall-mounted and take up less space, which can be ideal for small and compact bathroom spaces as well.

Wooden designs tend to look more rustic and traditional, while metal ones appear more contemporary and modern. Choose which material would be ideal for your bathroom based on factors like maintenance, durability, and moisture resistance.

Corner Shelves

Maximize the storage capacity in your bathroom by utilizing corner spaces that often go ignored and overlooked. You can do this by mounting compact corner shelves in the nooks and crannies of your bathroom.

You can decide whether you want to use it for decorative purposes or for storage as well. Corner shelves can also make your bathroom look charming with quaint fresh plants or a picture frame placed on it. You can mount corner shelves near the toilet and place a roll of toilet paper, utilizing those corners effectively.

Medicine Cabinet

Medicine cabinets are a popular space-saving storage solution that enhances the practicality of your bathroom​. This ​selection is versatile and multifunctional, occupying a limited area while maximizing storage space.

A medicine cabinet is typically placed near the vanity and houses shelves that are ideal for storing face washes, serums, lotions, toothpaste and other toiletries. Some cabinets offer both storage and a mirrored surface, making them a versatile and efficient storage solution.

Towel Hooks with Shelf

This wall-mounted storage solution is practical and useful, featuring both towel hooks and a shelf to meet various needs. It can be placed near your shower area, allowing you to hang wet towels on the hooks and easily access lotions and scented candles from the shelf.