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Over Toilet Storage Shelves
Add extra storage to your bathroom with these farmhouse style storage shelves.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 3.3–6 hours
- Cost
- $$
Cut list
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side boards | 2 | 3/4" × 5" × 24" | — | ☐ |
| Top & bottom back boards | 2 | 3/4" × 5" × 18" | — | ☐ |
| Shelf boards | 3 | 3/4" × 5" × 18" | — | ☐ |
| Shelf divider | 1 | 3/4" × 5" × 7" | — | ☐ |
Materials
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Board, 1x6 96" | 2 board | ☐ |
| 1 1/4" pocket hole screws | 25 each | ☐ |
| D-ring hangers | 2 each | ☐ |
| 1 1/4" finishing nails | 4 each | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1/2" x 1/16" x 36" flat bar aluminum pieces | 2 each | ☐ |
| Decorative knobs | 3 each | ☐ |
| 1" wire nails | 5 each | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools
- Brad Nailer
- Drill / Driver
- Impact Driver
- Jigsaw
- Miter Saw
- Pocket Hole Jig
- Random Orbit Sander
- Bar / Pipe Clamps — optional
- Tape Measure — optional
Instructions
1. Draw decorative top & bottom boards
Print out the templates for the top & bottom back boards from the extras. Cut out the templates and trace them onto the boards making sure to line up the bottom and sides of the templates with the bottom and sides of your boards.
2. Draw curves on side boards
To draw the curves on the side boards, measure 2 3/4" up from the edge and 2 3/4" in from the front and make a mark. Tie a string to a pencil and hold it on the mark with the tip of the pencil flush to the edge of the board. Draw the curve. Repeat the top & bottom of both side boards.
3. Cut the decorative edges
Use a jig saw to cut the curves on the side boards and the decorative top & bottom boards.
4. Secure top & bottom boards
- Drill pocket holes into the back of the top & bottom boards with the Kreg jig set to 3/4" thick wood. Using 1 1/4" pocket hole screws and wood glue, attach the flat edge of the top back board to the top of one of the shelf boards.
- Then repeat to attach the bottom back board to the bottom of one of the shelf boards.
5. Drill pocket holes in shelf boards
Set the Kreg jig to drill pocket holes for 3/4" wood. Drill 2 pocket holes into each end of the shelf boards.
6. Attach side boards
Attach the top & bottom shelves to the side boards using 1 1/4" pocket hole screws and wood glue. The top of the top shelf should be 2 3/4" from the top of the side boards. The bottom of the bottom shelf should be 2" up from the bottom of the side boards. The curved edges should be on the front of the shelves.
7. Attach center divider
Attach the center divider board to the center of the last shelf board with wood glue and finishing nails.
8. Attach center shelf
Attach the center shelf board (with divider in place) to the side boards with 1 1/4" pocket hole screws and wood glue. Then secure the center divider to the top shelf with finishing nails.
9. Finish
- Fill pocket holes.
- Sand and finish your shelves.
- Drill pilot holes in the bottom back of the shelf to add knobs for hanging items. To add the metal shelf detail, cut a piece of 1/2" x 1/16" bar aluminum to size with snips.
- Drill tiny holes in the aluminum bar and secure with a 1" wire nail.
10. Hang shelves
To hang the shelves, attach a D-ring hanger on each of the side boards just under the top shelf board. Make sure to hang the shelf in wall studs or with heavy duty drywall anchors.
