DIY Floating Shelf for the Hall Bathroom — Phase One

We’re kicking off a multi-phase refresh of our hall bathroom, and this is phase one. For a while we’ve been hiding a bit of damage above the toilet behind a giant empty frame. It wasn’t there for decoration alone—something important was going on behind it.

To understand the story behind that awkward area above the toilet, it helps to know we’d already removed several unnecessary towel bars months ago. One of those removals left a tile scab that we patched with trim, which looked fine. But another attempt to remove an old built-in soap dish above the toilet wasn’t so successful; the tile around it ended up damaged and lumpy. We dealt with that eyesore for nearly two years, telling ourselves we’d dremel a tile or two and replace them someday.

Eventually we decided to cover the damaged area with something both functional and attractive: a chunky floating shelf. The idea was to hide the broken tile while adding a place for art, toiletries, and small decor—form and function combined. We built a shallow, sturdy shelf that would appear to float on the wall, using a simple sleeve-and-box construction.

We followed a building approach similar to popular floating-shelf plans: create a solid sleeve anchored into the wall, then slide a box-shaped shelf over it so the shelf appears to float. Since this shelf won’t hold heavy loads, we made the sleeve less heavy-duty than some plans recommend. Pilot holes were drilled through the tile to secure the sleeve with appropriate anchors and a masonry bit.

The shelf itself was made from inexpensive craft pine. The top came from a thin leftover piece of wood, and the rest was simple pine boards from the big-box store. I used a Kreg Jig to join the pieces neatly: a flat plank with screws forming the sleeve that gets secured into the wall, and a box-like outer piece that slips over that sleeve. The finished shelf measures roughly 6″ tall, 21″ long, and 3″ deep. I didn’t add a bottom since the underside isn’t visible unless you’re inside the toilet tank.

Once assembled, the box slides over the sleeve and completely hides the damaged tile. We positioned a small, colorful fish print on the shelf to add a pop of color and visual balance with the mirror. It’s a perfect spot for a tiny artwork or a few pretty toiletries, and it makes the whole wall feel intentional instead of patched.

We debated painting or staining, and chose a light whitewash so the shelf would keep some wood grain texture without the orange tone that clashed with the black-and-white elements in the room. To whitewash, we dampened the wood first so the paint spread smoothly, then wiped on a very light gray paint until the tone was even. The goal was subtlety—a muted, slightly graywashed look rather than solid paint.

The finished whitewashed shelf blends the warmth of wood grain with a softer neutral tone, making it less orange and more compatible with the bathroom’s palette. Back on the wall, the shelf and the little fish print add balance and a refined focal point.

This is just the first step. We’re planning a bolder wall color, a patterned window shade, framed window trim, and brighter hardware for the vanity—so the space will evolve. For now the shelf is a small but satisfying improvement: it’s practical, hides an eyesore, and gives us another layer to build on as the room comes together.

This little DIY shelf is a better solution than the old built-in soap dish we removed—today’s toothbrushes and toiletries simply don’t fit well in those old niches. Installing the shelf also gave us the nudge we needed to finally start painting the walls. We lost a few early project photos along the way, but the finished result is clear: a fish on a shelf hiding some broken tile, and a fresh beginning for the hall bathroom.

What did you tackle this weekend? Any clever cover-ups or small DIY wins in your home?

Note: During recent travels in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey we saw the real impact of the storm firsthand. Many people along the coast were hit hard—power and heating outages persist and flooding affected numerous homes. We’re sending support to everyone affected and will share a tour update later this week as we continue with the bathroom refresh.