If you’re looking for a quick, easy, and simple shelf, this DIY bathroom shelf is easy to make and looks great. I made two shelves with only one 6-foot board. This is a simple design and a good idea for extra storage space on the bathroom wall or to display decorative items. It’s also very easy. No pocket holes or fancy tools. Just a couple of simple floating shelves to keep your bathroom supplies. This is a great beginner project! Scroll down for a quick step-by-step tutorial and get busy building, sister!

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DIY Bathroom Shelf

If you’ve been a reader for a while you may remember my main bathroom and all the things that I did to pull it out of the 1990s without gutting it.

Well, we finally gutted it.

These DIY bathroom toilet shelves were the finishing touch. I love how minimal they are. These babies are the epitome of less is more. They are simple yet modern and they provide some much-needed storage for little things like washcloths, cotton balls, and such. Not to mention the easy access open shelving provides can’t be beat! It’s also a great alternative to a medicine cabinet! I was able to build these, put them together, and stain them in half a day. I put them up the next day only because I had to let the stain dry. So, this is definitely a quick, easy, and satisfying project! So, head over to the home improvement store and grab a board you like! Keep scrolling for step-by-step instructions.

If you prefer a video tutorial format I added a screencast of my Instagram stories at the bottom of this post. Now let’s get to the tutorial!

STEP 1 Pick your board

Select a 1″ x 6″ x 6′. I know, I know….I usually go for cheap whitewood from the big box store, but this time I splurged and chose oak to match the vanity and the look of the bathroom. I was nervous I’d mess it up because it was a $30 board! But, it all worked out 🙂 I was able to build two shelves with just one board! You can select any board you like but I think oak is a great choice for this project.

STEP 2 Make the Cuts

Using your Miter Saw (or any other straight saw), cut the board into 3 two-foot pieces. Then take one of the two-foot pieces to the Table Saw and rip it into four pieces– two 1-inch pieces and two 1-1/2″ pieces. I used every inch of this board so be sure to measure twice and get your cuts right.

STEP 3 Glue and Clamp

Using the Wood Glue adhere 1-1/2″ wide piece to the larger piece. Then clamp them together for about 20 minutes. The 1″ trim piece will be attached after the shelf is up. I haven’t forgotten about it 🙂

STEP 4 Screw (or nail) Together

This is the part when things got a little tricky. Using the Drill I drilled pilot holes through the trim piece, then used small screws to screw that piece into the shelf. All of them went in great except for one.

The wood split and I thought for a second I’d have to go get a second board (no!). This put a dent in my original plan but I found a solution. I glued the split and added nails instead.

In hindsight, I should’ve used my Nail Gun from the beginning. It’s a great brad nailer!

And yes, that’s me using my kitchen counter as a workbench because the garage was too hot, or too cold, I can’t remember. My comfortable temperature range is extremely narrow!

STEP 5 Stain it

At this point, I gave the shelves a good sanding and stained them. This is the stain I used. Then I let them air out overnight. Be sure to watch the video if you want to see how I stained them!

STEP 6: Attach to the Wall

At this point, I attached them to the wall. I first marked the wall studs, then drilled a pilot hole before inserting the screw. You can see the screw in the middle of the back piece. I was only able to hit one stud, but it was enough to keep them centered and sturdy. Notice that there are no side pieces. This adds to the simplicity and clean lines. I love the minimal look and open design. And it’s a good place for extra towels. Not bad for a piece of wood from Home Depot!!

Once they were both up and level. I attached the trim piece with my nail gun. And that is it! Easy peasy! Do you like it? You can literally put these DIY shelves anywhere but I think above the toilet is the perfect place for this bathroom. It’s a small shelf with simple materials and hopefully, an easy solution and a great option for your bathroom, too! Let me know what you think in the comments!

Also, PS- if you prefer deep shelves with a chunkier look, be sure to check out my chunky floating shelves.

Thanks for reading! I hope you will add this to your list of DIY bathroom storage ideas. Scroll to the bottom for that video tutorial. And if you’d rather just buy the shelves, no judgment here. Here are some great options. I got you 😀

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