The Complete Guide to Decorating Behind Your Toilet
The area behind and around the toilet is often overlooked when it comes to bathroom decor. But with some creativity, this utilitarian space can be transformed into a stylish feature that adds personality to your bathroom.
Read on for plenty of tips and inspiration to enhance the look and function of this underutilized spot.
Choose Wall Decor to Show Off Your Style
An empty wall behind the toilet is the perfect blank canvas for decorative accents. Make it a focal point with framed artwork, a gallery wall, wallpaper, paint, or decals.
Framed Artwork Adds Personality
Choose artwork and photographs that match your bathroom's aesthetic. Black and white botanical prints or abstract paintings work well for a modern look, while classic landscape artwork suits traditional spaces. Coordinate framed pieces for a cohesive gallery wall. Avoid heavy mirrors or art that could fall and cause damage.
Wallpaper Offers Texture and Color
Give your toilet wall some pizzazz with lively patterned or textured wallpaper. Florals, geometrics, and nature themes all pop. Wallpaper is great for disguising unsightly pipes or flaws too. Many removable papers make it easy to switch up when you want a change.
A Fresh Coat of Paint Goes a Long Way
Sometimes a simple paint job does the trick. Go bold with a saturated hue or keep it neutral and calming. Paint just the back wall as an accent or the entire bathroom for maximum impact. Extend the paint to the ceiling for a taller, airier effect.
Decals Add Affordable Style
Update your toilet wall in minutes with removable wall decals. Geometric shapes, botanical silhouettes, and abstract patterns add visual interest when you're seated. Decals come in all colors to match your decor. Remove and reposition them anytime.
Creative Storage Solutions Clear Clutter
The area around the toilet is prime real estate for storage to tuck away extra toilet paper, cleaning supplies, towels, and other bathroom essentials. Floating shelves, cabinets, and baskets keep necessities at arm's reach but out of sight.
Floating Shelves Are Simple Yet Stylish
Sleek floating shelves lend a contemporary edge. Stash rolled towels, candles, and small decorative objects on floating shelves situated above or beside the toilet. Opt for wood, metal, or glass materials. Add shelves in varying sizes for visual interest.
Cabinets Offer Enclosed Storage
Freestanding cabinets or wall-mounted medicine cabinets provide discreet, closed storage. Conceal backup toilet paper, facial cotton, cleaning supplies, and other items you don't want on display. For a cohesive look, select cabinetry with finishes that coordinate with your hardware and fixtures.
Woven Baskets Complement Bathroom Materials
Incorporate natural texture with woven baskets made of rattan, bamboo, or other natural fibers. Baskets come in assorted shapes and sizes to corral toiletries on shelves or in cabinets. The neutral hues blend in with any decor from modern to farmhouse.
Incorporate Greenery for Fresh Style
Plants bring nature indoors, and they happen to thrive in humid bathroom environments. Greenery looks right at home around the toilet and adds pleasant texture. Opt for hanging plants, windowsill gardens, or small pots atop the toilet tank.
Hanging Plants Draw the Eye Upward
Direct attention vertically with trailing plants in hanging baskets. Spider plants and ferns adapt well to low bathroom light. Use plant hooks screwed into the ceiling or wall to suspend hanging planters above the toilet or in a corner.
Windowsills Provide Natural Light for Plants
Position low-maintenance succulents, cacti or air plants on the windowsill to take advantage of available sunlight. Choose decorative planters that tie into your overall bathroom decor. This allows you to enjoy greenery without dedicating counter space.
Atop the Toilet Tank Offers Display Space
The flat tank top lends itself perfectly to showing off petite potted plants. Miniature palms, succulents, and bromeliads add fresh accents without interfering with the tank lid. Check placement to ensure proper functioning before fully decorating.
Add Finishing Touches for the Complete Look
Pull together your toilet decor with lighting to illuminate the space, trays to corral toiletries, and candles or diffusers for a soothing scent. These finishing details blend form and function.
Proper Lighting Is Key in the Bathroom
Well-placed lighting ensures the toilet area is easy to navigate and use. Sconces mounted on the wall provide task lighting, while a pendant fixture above the toilet offers soft, ambient light. Install dimmers to control brightness.
A ceramic or porcelain tray fits nicely on top of the toilet tank, disguising its unsightly lid. Arrange extra tissue boxes, soaps, lotions, and candles on the tray. These accessories are kept conveniently close yet hidden from view.
It's easy to give your toilet area a stylish upgrade. Whether you opt for wallpaper, floating shelves, or greenery, these decorating tips help you transform the oft-forgotten space into a beautiful bathroom focal point.