Toilet Paper Holder Shelf and Bathroom Accessories

Lowe’s Creative Ideas Monthly Challenge: For as long as we’ve lived here (going on 8 years), the guest bathroom’s toilet paper rested in a basket on the floor. Not ideal. So, rather than just secure a pretty oil rubbed bronze holder to the wall, I attached it to a piece of stained scrap wood to create a shelf for decorative accessories like a small plant, air freshener, vase of flowers, extra t.p. or even just cell phone accident prevention, if you know what I mean. 

DIY Toilet Paper Holder with Shelf tutorial @diyshowoff

What I used:

What I did:

1. Cut, sand and clean a piece of scrap wood. 

DIY shelf toilet paper holder at diyshowoff

2. Stain wood shelf by applying stain. Then wipe away with a clean rag.  I use RustOleum Ultimate Wood Stain since it dries in about an hour.

DIY shelf toilet paper holder at diyshowoff

3. Seal wood. I did two coats. 

DIY shelf toilet paper holder at diyshowoff

4. Attach the toilet paper holder to the under side of the shelf. Allowing room for toilet paper to roll (not be tight agains the wall when installed).

DIY shelf toilet paper holder at diyshowoff

Optional: Have inspector approve your work.

Lalka (ragdoll) at diyshowoff

5. Attach corner brackets on one side where shelf will rest against the wall.

DIY shelf toilet paper holder at diyshowoff

6. Decide placement (keeping everyone’s size in mind – not too far of a reach but not so close that it’s in the way of someone’s knees or thighs) and using a level (there’s one in my iPhone’s compass), secure shelf to the wall with screws (use wall anchors if needed). 

DIY shelf toilet paper holder at diyshowoff

7. Add a roll of toilet paper. 

DIY Toilet Paper Holder with Shelf tutorial @diyshowoffDIY Toilet Paper Holder with Shelf tutorial @diyshowoffDIY Toilet Paper Holder with Shelf tutorial @diyshowoffDIY Toilet Paper Holder with Shelf tutorial @diyshowoffDIY Toilet Paper Holder with Shelf tutorial @diyshowoff

Other bathroom updates: 

Pedestal sink means no storage. Storage cubes with linen milk crates/bins for organizing towels and bath products…

bathroom storage shelves{It’s been nearly SIX years and the painted floor is still in good shape!}bathroom storage cube and bins

 

A towel ring for hand towels…towel barbathroom updates

Just a few finishing but helpful/functional accessories make a big difference!

Bathroom Updates @diyshowoff

DIY Toilet Paper Holder with Shelf tutorial @diyshowoff

DIYShowOff #lowescreator

I received a Lowe’s gift card to put towards this challenge. Opinion and above idea is 100% my own. More DIY ideas at Lowe’s Creative Ideas or follow Lowe’s on InstagramPinterest and sign up for the Creative Ideas magazine and app.

DIY Hanging Organizer (for peg hooks)

How do you add a fun pop of color to an otherwise neutral room? Try Pantone’s Color of the Year for something you may not normally choose. The Lowe’s Creative Idea March challenge was to use Valspar’s Radiant Orchid. Just a small touch adds elegance to my white and gray space. 

Pantone Color of the Year Radiant Orchid

Inspired by PB’s Gabrielle system, I created a wooden peg hook organizing caddy from scrap wood. 

DIY Hanging Organizer Tutorial

Materials I used: Most of my wood was purchased at Lowe’s and is left over from previous projects with the exception of the .50 yard sale find piece shown below. Adjust measurements according to your own needs or scrap wood measurements. Inexpensive pine works well for this project.

  • 1″ x 10″ x 18 1/2″ (back)
  • 1″ x 6″ x 18 1/2″ (bottom)
  • 1″ x 2″ x 4″ (sides)
  • 1″ x 2″ x 18 1/2″ (front)
  • 1″ deep (or however thick your peg hook rack is)  x 1″ tall  x 6″ wide (back stop piece)
  • Gorilla Wood Glue
  • 1 1/2″ wood screws
  • Wood filler
  • Valspar Radiant Orchid 

What I did:

Mark the center top of the back piece of wood. Hold up to a peg on your coat rack, lining the center with the center of a peg. On the wood, mark the center of each peg placement.

DIY peg hook caddy tutorial

Decide which hole saw bit is just a little bigger than the pegs. 

DIY peg hook caddy tutorial

You’ll want your holes to be near the top end. I used a ruler to measure down about 2″ from the top and a level to make a cross mark to show the center of each hole. Drill tiny pilot holes where the pencil marks meet.

DIY peg hook caddy tutorial

Attach the hole saw bit to your drill and using the pilot hole as a guide for the center drill bit, drill/cut holes. I think our hole saw bit is a little dull so the back side of my wood is splintered. (Thankfully no one will see that side!)

DIY peg hook caddy tutorial

Sand and wipe clean all wood pieces. Hang on pegs to ensure holes line up.

DIY peg hook caddy tutorial

Using wood glue, wood screws and clamps, assemble your caddy and let dry. I attached my screws from the bottom and back so they weren’t seen but you could also countersink screws, fill and sand.

DIY peg hook caddy tutorial

I thought that was it for the construction until I tested it hanging on my peg hooks. Oops, front heavy. Using just wood glue and a clamp, I attached the back stop piece to the center bottom of the back. This ensures that the caddy will hang level.

DIY peg hook caddy tutorial

Using wood filler, fill all seams and cracks. Let dry, sand smooth and wipe clean. 

DIY peg hook caddy tutorial

Paint the entire wood caddy. Mine took two coats. Radiant Orchid wouldn’t have been my first choice but it’s growing on me and it’s nice to do something bold and fun for a change. I love the Valspar sample size paint…more than enough and perfect for adding colorful accents. Down the road all it takes is a new coat of a different color to re-freshen things up. 

DIY peg hook caddy tutorial

 

Now I have a shelf/tray for decorative items, toiletries in the bathroom

bathroom organization - DIY peg hook hanging shelf

DIY hanging peg hook organizer

hanging peg hook organizer

bathroom peg hook hanging organizer

Great for keys, wallet, sunglasses, change, cell phone near the door in the mudroom or entryway. 

Peg Hook Hanging DIY Organizer

DIY peg hook mudroom entryway organizing hanging caddy

PB inspired peg hook shelf caddy organizer

My peg hook is located in my bathroom but I’d really love to have something like this near the door as well. How about you? 

More DIY ideas at Lowe’s Creative Ideas, follow Lowe’s on InstagramPinterest and sign up for the Creative Ideas magazine and app!    

LCI

*Disclaimer: As a member of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Creators and Influencers network, I received a Lowe’s gift card to complete this challenge. As always, all ideas and opinions are in my own words. The blog post above is what worked for me. Results may vary. Remember to work in a well-ventilated area and to take the proper safety precautions.

Baseboard Trim

Yesterday I shared how I installed grouted vinyl floor tiles in the bathroom and today I just wanted to share a little baseboard trim tip. I re-used existing baseboard trim because it’s the old wide original trim in good shape. See how to easily swap out your baseboards here and a little tip for easy decorative trim detail here.  

grouted vinyl floor tile tutorial @diyshowoff

I gave it a good scrubbing and a little scuffing with sandpaper.

Then reattached the baseboard trim using my nail gun and brads. Countersink the nails, fill with wood filler and sand. 

Next I sealed all of the seams with caulk – where the trim meets the wall and where the shoe moulding rests against the baseboard. I use DAP paintable caulk for windows/doors/trim.

FrogTape® Mult-Surface tape applied to the wall ensures a nice straight line without caulk smears. Apply the tape horizontally above the baseboard onto the wall. Use your thumbnail or a credit card to activate the PaintBlock® Technology.

DIY caulking baseboard trim

Cut the tip of the caulk tube at an angle (the larger the hole, the bigger amount of caulk-age, so I prefer to keep the cut on the small side. Holding the caulk gun at an angle so that the flat end of the cut hole faces the seam where the baseboard meets the wall, run a bead of caulk. 

caulking baseboard trim tutorial

I fill my FrogTape container with a little bit of water. With a wet finger, smooth the caulk. I work from left to right and since this is a small space, I worked in an entire section (about 4-5 ft. at most). You’ll have a lot of excess (remember to have those paper towels handy). 

caulking baseboard trim tutorial

Then peel away the FrogTape starting at a bottom edge and pulling up and away from the caulk. 

caulking baseboard trim tutorial

Nice clean line! Repeat until all top baseboard seams are sealed. 

Now repeat the caulking steps (without the painter’s tape) where the shoe moulding rests agains the baseboards. Once dry (about 30 minutes), it’s time to paint!

Paint is Dutch Boy’s Cabinet and Trim paint. I used FrogTape where the shoe moulding meets the floor to prevent getting paint on my nice new grouted vinyl tiles. Using my thumbnail, I again activated the Paintblock Technology, then painted my trim. After the second coat of paint, I removed the FrogTape while the paint was still wet. 

painting baseboard trim

The vanity: I could have cut the baseboard trim so that the vanity sat flush against the wall but since the countertop had a little play (it sat out from the vanity about an inch), I attached scrap (stained) 1x4s cut to size to the back of the vanity, so that it would hide the gap and rest above my baseboard. (Also…one of my baseboards was good and glued as well as nailed to the plaster wall…I feared created a bigger more involved mess with pulling it off.) Now my countertop rests against the wall and is flush with the front of the vanity with no overhang but I don’t believe there’s a law or rule that says the countertop must protrude from the vanity. Is there? It also gave me a little more wiggle room for the tight fit plumbing. 

bathroom vanity and trim fix

Good as new! I love fresh, clean, white baseboards.

DIYShowOff bathroom accessories

 

I used my FrogTape along the door frame and window trim too. 

bathroom makeover after

 

If you missed it, you can see the complete before and after bathroom makeover here

FrogTape Blog Squad

Disclaimer: I received compensation to complete this project for using FrogTape® products. All opinions, projects and ideas are based on my own experience.