A bathroom shelf has to cope with steam, splashes and a daily rummage for the toothpaste, so it needs a lighter touch than a shelf in the living room. A few things that look good and handle the damp will do more than a crowded display. Here are ten easy ideas, plus how to look after natural materials in a steamy room. Prices were correct when we published this guide, and each product page always shows the current price.
The short answer
Keep the shelf to a few things that cope with steam: rolled towels, a plant that likes humidity, a small dish for rings and a single stem or a gentle scent. Keep wooden-based pieces out of the splash zone, and leave enough space that the shelf is easy to wipe down.
1. Roll the towels
Rolled hand towels or flannels in a neat row look like a hotel and are easy to grab. Stick to one or two colours so the shelf stays calm.
2. Decant into glass
Refillable glass or ceramic bottles for soap and lotion look far better than a row of plastic labels. Keep only what you use every day on the shelf.
3. A plant that loves the humidity
A bright bathroom is one of the best places in the house for an air plant: it loves the moist air. It still needs light and a soak every week or two, so choose a shelf near the window. A small open terrarium keeps it tidy: the small shaped terrarium on dark tung wood (£12), about 12 x 13cm, or the mini terrarium (£7.75). Plants are not included; small ferns also enjoy a steamy room with gentle light.
4. A small dish for rings
Rings come off for the bath and need somewhere safe to land. A small glass dish does the job and adds colour. The mini blue glass bowl on wood (£18) is about 12cm long; keep it on a shelf away from the basin, where splashes cannot reach the wood.
5. One stem in a bud vase
A single flower or a few dried stems soften all the hard, shiny surfaces. The small vase on whitewashed wood (£26.50) has a pale base that suits white tiles and stone.
6. A gentle scent
Fresh, airy scents suit a bathroom best. Aquamarine Wave is clean coastal moss and Moonstone Glow is soft violet, each £3.50 a bar, and our pebble wax burners (£6.95) take an ordinary tealight. Stand the burner on a stable shelf with clear space above it, away from towels, curtains and anything you might knock, and never leave a lit tealight unattended.
7. A bowl of shells or sea glass
Shells, sea glass or smooth pebbles from a favourite beach cope happily with steam and bring a seaside calm to the room. One small bowl is enough.
8. Group in threes
Arrange things in small groups of three, with one taller piece, one medium and one low. A bottle, a plant and a small dish make a natural trio.
9. Stick to a simple palette
White, natural wood, clear glass and green look calm and clean together. One accent colour, such as a blue glass dish, is plenty.
10. Leave room to wipe
Bathroom shelves need a regular wipe, so keep them uncluttered enough to lift everything off in a few seconds.
Looking after natural materials in a steamy room
- Keep wood dry. Glass-on-wood pieces are happy in a bathroom as long as the wood stays out of splash zones and away from standing water. Wipe away any drips straight away.
- Ventilate after a bath or shower. Open a window or run the extractor fan, so steam clears quickly and nothing stays damp for hours.
- Wipe the glass. A soft, damp cloth removes water marks; dry it afterwards for a clear finish.
Common questions
What do you put on a bathroom shelf?
A few useful, good-looking things: rolled towels, decanted soap, a plant that likes humidity, a small dish for rings and a single stem or a gentle scent.
How do you style a bathroom shelf?
Group things in threes of different heights, keep to a simple palette, and leave space so the shelf is easy to wipe down.
What plants are good for a bathroom?
Plants that like humidity: air plants in a bright bathroom, small ferns and moss in gentler light. Make sure there is enough daylight, as many bathrooms are darker than they look.
Can wooden decor go in a bathroom?
Yes, if it stays dry. Keep wooden pieces out of splash zones and away from standing water, and ventilate the room after a bath or shower.
See our ideas for decorative bowls and bedside table ideas, or browse our glass terrariums and crystal wax melts.
