A well-styled open bathroom shelf can do wonders for a neutral themed contemporary bathroom by adding colour and interest to the room. It can also provide much needed storage. But without sticking to a few guidelines, an open bathroom shelf can become a dumping ground for products and quickly look messy.
Follow these tips on styling to keep your open bathroom shelf looking its best, as you never know when you may have guests drop by!
1. Keep a unified look
It’s on trend to incorporate open shelving in bathrooms but the last thing you want is shelving that looks like an afterthought. You can avoid this look by endeavouring to match it with the rest of the decor. This means painting it the same colour or using the same wood stain as the rest of your bathroom scheme. This creates flow and unity with the other features of the bathroom, and the rest of the home.
2. Use it for storage
If you live in a small apartment, having an open bathroom shelf that you can use for storage can make your life a lot easier. So seek out small containers, baskets, bowls, jars or anything that looks decorative, to hold everyday toiletries, makeup, hair accessories etc. Even though the shelf is open, it doesn’t mean that the items within the containers need to be displayed.
3. Keep it simple
As mentioned, sometimes an open shelf can quickly become a dumping ground for extra stuff, simply because it’s easier than putting it away where it belongs. Before you know it, you’re decluttering your carefully styled open shelf on a regular basis. Try to keep styling to a few, carefully selected accessories, and put the rest away in the vanity or storage cupboard.
4. Rules around frames
If you want to use picture frames on your open shelf then keep the image inside the frame to abstract art or scenes that don’t involve people. Guests don’t want to be looking at a photo of your family or you smiling out at them while they’re after some personal space.
5. Use natural elements
Items that emulate nature, such as plants, shells, stones and dried flowers can bring a sense of the outside into the bathroom. If you’re not sure what to put on your shelves then you can’t go wrong with natural elements. An actual plant is ideal but make sure that the plant you choose can handle the humidity.
6. What items work well on open shelves?
Here are a few ideas for open shelf items, but there are plenty more creative ideas online:
• neatly stacked coloured soaps
• decanters of top quality hand cream & body lotions
• antique jars and cut-glass decanters
• natural sponges
• baskets for toilet rolls or rolled hand towels
• decorative containers for bath oil or cotton balls
• neatly folded towels
At the end of the day, whether you choose a purely practical or decorative open shelf, or a mix of both, the items you decide to display on your bathroom shelf should be what you love and what suits your personal style.