Open shelving can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, the visual aesthetic is both trendy and attractive. It creates a lot of visual interest in a space that might normally be covered by a cabinet. On the other hand, it can easily feel unorganized or messy if you don’t plan out how you want to use the space. Today, I’m sharing my top 5 tips on how to decorate your bathroom shelves and keep things organized.
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1. Add a basket for organization
Baskets are essential for keeping your odds and ends in place. I used a simple wire frame basket on my shelf, but you could also incorporate a wicker basket or a wooden basket with a lid instead. I like storing extra toilet paper in the basket so your guests don’t have to rummage in your cabinet to find it.
2. Add things that smell good
This is probably a no-brainer, but I always try to add 2-3 elements that smell amazing. My favorite is this Glass Reed Diffuser from Amazon. It smells so good that I’ve actually had guests ask me what “scent” I use in the bathroom. I also really love the Homesick Candles. I’m originally from Kansas, so my friend bought me the Kansas one as a gift and it smells great! Either one would make a great house warming gift for a friend or loved one.
3. Include a Catch-All
The first few months that I had my engagement ring, I almost lost it about a dozen times. I have this cute little dish in my bathroom that serves as a catch-all for tiny things like earrings and rings. The white one I have is actually a soy sauce dish from Daiso, but you can find something similar on Amazon.
4. Add greenery with a plant
I have a ZZ plant in my bathroom and it actually thrives with only a little bit of light from the small bathroom window. If you’re not a plant person, you can also get fake succulents or florals to liven up the space instead. Plants and greenery always make a space feel fresh and inviting.
5. Incorporate your towels
Most people have extra towels laying around, so you might as well add them to your decor. They’re also easy to grab when you have guests over. If you don’t want your towels in the open, you can instead place them in a basket or roll them up into a container.
However you decide to decorate your shelves, don’t feel bad if it feels a little awkward in the beginning. Open shelves might be trendy, but they present their own set of challenges. We have two bathrooms in our home and both of them came with open shelving. The photos above feature my guest bathroom, but I would be embarrassed to share what our master bathroom looks like because the decor is still not quite as cohesive as I would like it to be. Sometimes these design elements take a lot longer to get right and that’s okay!
