The Best Bathroom Shelves to Store Your Toiletries

If you are still undecided about which of the best bathroom shelves to go for, we have prepared this guide to help you make the right choices.

Types of Bathroom Shelves

Single or wall-mounted shelves are generally used for storage. Usually, these shelves are rectangular in shape and small, made using different materials, and may or not come with sides. Depending on their design, they may need to be screwed into the wall with the aid of wall plugs. You need to select something that effectively matches your bathroom style and ensures it is mounted in the right place.

Wood shelf

Usually, solid wood shelves are made using pine. These rustic-style shelves are built to be drilled into walls. One big drawback is that their aerosol and perfume cans can scratch the surface, so you need to protect the shelf using wax or varnish.

Glass shelves

These shelves are fragile but look modern. They are mounted by screwing wall plugs into chrome-plated, plastic, or aluminum bracket. Such material is ideal for use in the shower or above sinks but note that you must use aluminum brackets if the shelf touches water.

Plastic shelf

Although this may not be the most attractive option, they are often installed in showers and mounted on suction pads.

Composite wood shelf

Such shelves are usually painted using a single color and have a close semblance to wood. Also, they may be mounted on floating shelf brackets.

Factors to Consider Before You Buy a Bathroom Shelf

If you spend money buying anything, you certainly don’t want to end up with regrets about your purchase. To help you make the right choices, we have come up with the following tips to help out.

1. Space

Just because it will be used in the bathroom doesn’t mean you should settle for a shelf with limited space. Search for a shelf that can take as much as you need.

2. Material

If you are looking for something with quality and looks, you need to be careful about the type of material you purchase. If you are eco-conscious but won’t want to ignore sturdiness, a shelf made from bamboo will be the best choice. However, if you are looking for something with sufficient load capacity but good aesthetics with your decoration, an iron or steel shelf may be the perfect option.

3. Design

The design of the shelf is an essential factor you shouldn’t ignore in the selection process. You certainly don’t want a shabbily assembled piece of metal that serves as a shelf. Depending on your intentions, there are several design options you can buy. 

4. Shelf installation

Several users have had to rank good shelves low because of installation issues. Therefore, if you want to pick a good choice, choose a shelf that requires the least energy and time to install or assemble.

5. Load carrying capacity

Depending on the choice of shelves, there are different load capacities. However, you need to have a suitable shelf to carry your intended supplies as a user.

6. Style of shelf

There is no shortage of bathroom shelf choices, so you can choose the one that suits your needs perfectly. Rustic wood styles are reputed to be quite popular styles. This type often comes in the form of wall-mounted units and floating shelves. If you don’t have enough hanging space in your bathroom, you could go for an industrial or rustic-looking shelf with hooks at the base and towel rails. Such options are ideal for hanging flannel, small towels, and hairbands.

7. Functionality

Although the shelf looks are significant, how useful it will be is equally important. The ideal bathroom storage unit should be sturdy and big enough to accommodate bottles and even towels without the shelves falling off the wall. It, therefore, suffices to say that you need to think of what you need to use the extra storage space for.

Also, if you feel you have small items you need to store, such as nail polishes or perfumes, the most functional designs will be those that come with a closed surface against a slatted build. Railed or slat bases will allow small items to fall. 

The ideal bathroom shelf with a protective rail will also boost its functionality because you will have more room to store. Also, this helps optimize available space usage.

Tips for Installing Shelves in Your Bathroom

Before you think of installing shelves, you need to look at the instructions. To begin with, you will need to drill to create holes as indicated in the instructions, and you will fill the holes using screws and wall plugs to attach the frames to the wall. After that, the shelves will either get screwed to the brackets or balance on the top.

If you are not a DIY fan, you should go for shelving ideas that don’t need assembly tools. Such tools can come in self-adhesive shelves or free-standing units that don’t require building.

Cleaning and Maintenance Tips for Your Shelves

If you want your bathroom shelf to stand the test of time, there are some vital tips you must never forget. Here is a breakdown of our top tips to help clean and maintain your shelves.

• Don’t overload it

Each shelf comes with a defined load carrying capacity, and failure to adhere to this could damage your shelf over time. Also, note that it is not every type of load you should place on the shelf; usually, it is the type and nature of the load.

• Clean right

The way you clean your shelf depends mainly on the material used in constructing it. It would be best to use a slightly damp cloth for frames built with wooden material to wipe it clean. A wiper, tissue, or wet cloth should suffice if yours is made with glass.

• Check the screws and hinges

If you want your shelf to stand the test of time, check the screws and hinges regularly to be sure they are properly fastened and in place. You certainly don’t want your shelf falling with a bottle on it.