What are you putting on the shelf? Personally I don't like shelves over the toilet unless they are a necessity.

I would not get rid of the medicine cabinet. Put the towel bar on the same wall closer to hip height.

I would do two, centered over toilet, above and below the point of the mirror. I think if you put it where the medicine cabinet is, that area will feel crowded. One shelf could be nice too since your shiplap offers texture and fills in the wall. I found an article with tons of pictures.

If it were me, I’d skip the shelf and look for a rack, which will be more useful, attractive and feel better balanced.

No to the shelf. I see where you're trying to go but even graphics over the toilet would look better on that wall.

Also I would paint the vanity either to match the shiplap or a dark color.

IMO get a new counter top not try to decorate around the one you have Theses are cheap to get at a HD The mirror is all wrong and IMO the medicine cabinet can go for a PR add a pice of art above the toilet and redo the wall where the medicine cabinet wass add some nice color of paint to work with the art get a nic simple oval mirror the new counter and be done . There is no need for shelp in a PR with a vanity

@BeverlyFLADeziner believe it or not, both the shiplap and the vanity are white; these were taken at night so between that and the black walls its definately making it look different.

@houssaon I plan to mainly use the shelf for toilet paper and a plant. I feel that the medicine cabinet looks strange with the mirror, so I figure I’ll have more room in the vanity for the contents of the medicine cabinet once I have a shelf. I’m not a medicine cabinet hater and have them in the other bathrooms, just not feeling it in this powder room :)

@Maureen I think a rack would work better in a full bath, not sure what I would put on that much shelf space in this small powder room :)

I personally don't love shelves above toilets, unless they are absolutely necessary for storage. It seems unsanitary to me, and they just collect dust. In this case, it seems to be a design choice, not a functional one. What if you just did artwork above the toilet? I think one big graphic piece would look good, or you could do a symmetrical gallery wall grid layout with light wood frames.

@Meghan Lusk I’ll frame the print my husband chose later and hold it there to show you.

@Patricia Colwell Consulting the medicine cabinet will for sure be going. I have the same corian countertops in my kitchen and other 2 bathrooms and because of the shape/size of the penninsula in my kitchen; every bid we’ve gotten to change them has been extremely expensive-so at least for now they're staying. I like the mirror, I tried a couple other shapes and settled on the hex although I wish it was slightly larger. I find ovals boring, to each their own :)

Shelves would look better and be more useful above the toilet. I do not like the art at all. Hate the standing rack over the toilet!!!

I like the two shelf idea.

As previous person suggested, I like the idea of two shelves with the point of the mirror bisecting them.

Gives you so many options to change things around....could have a framed print leaning on top shelf and could change seasonally...plants...small wickery storage thing....lots of flexibility.

As to placement, it seems I've seen it both ways, centered on toilet and centered in the blank space. I personally prefer centered in the blank space. Less focus on the toilet itself.

Do you want to be able to hang a towel or towels? I would put a towel rack with a shelf above it over the toilet. There is the hotel version of this that has the towel bar and shelf integrated, or they can be separate. I would put spare toilet paper under the sinks. Guests will know to look for it there and I don't think it needs to be out in the open.

I’m thinking, a towel bar or ring could go where the medicine cabinet will be removed.

Shelves over the toilet,especially in a powder room seem not only unecessary ,but also intrusive and unsanitary.

Easy for some people to bonk their head,precarious reaching for items.

Easy to dislodge items and have them fall into the toilet.

Easy for dust/ grime to settle.

A lovely artwork tall enough to fit between level of vanity top and light crossbar ,maybe framed same color as vanity may look nice.

There will be a towl bar for hand towels going on the wall with the medicine cabinet, once the cabinet is removed.

Haven’t had a chance to take a picture holding the frame up, but this is the ”artwork” my husband is insisting on. He hasn’t had much of an opinion on anything else, so I’m going to oblige. It will be framed in a matted 16x20” frame. Figured I should share it so y’all can get an idea of the vibe lol

@texmax13, why does he wantBoris Johnson in fancy dress with hemorrhoids on the wall? Sure, momentarily amusing... but long term?

Tesslarox, thank you for posting the art for a good momentary laugh, and Beverly, thanks for your delicious wit.

@Jennifer K the good thing abour framed prints is how easily it can be changed. I’m sure eventually the novelty will wear off and I’ll be able to talk him into something elsw :)

Toilet paper rolls are not art. Ever. And you can’t drop something in the toilet if the lid is shut. That is why it has a lid. 🙂

UPDATE:

Just about finished, just have to swap out the faucet for a black one. I’m liking how it’s coming together and I think adding the shelf and picture frame in the light wood tone, helped to tie in our countertop. I know the art isn’t for everyone, but my husband was really set on it and I think it works for our casual vibe. Question: should we leave it color or would black and white be better?

I think it looks awesome!

It's nice, but I think you need another shelf. the one you have is lonely. Move that one up a bit, and do a longer one beneath it.

You could also add another piece of art to that wall.

or, how about some colorful towels

and some sort of bold rug?

@Beth H. : I actually have another shelf but couldn’t figure out what on earth to fill 2 shelves with in a powder room. For me that seems to make more sense in a full bath, although I don’t really like the idea of storing towels above the toilet. I will consider adding the second shelf later though, if i can come up with a functional reason for it.

good point. I was just looking at it from a perspective point of view.

doesn't have to be a lot of things. just enough to eat up some of that vertical space.

the little macreme would be cute above your shelf or on the other wall

you could style it w/a few small faux plants and a small piece of art.

they have faux succulents that look really nice.

world market has some great individual packaged soaps in pretty wrapping. get a few of those, some succulents, a small framed piece of art

maybe a few handtowels.

Something like this?

I'd like to offer a thought about what ties in with what - floor/counter are warm and are staying. The very light wall contrasts much with dark walls, and to me isn't good. There are too many, not too little things 'visually'.

I read about a product that could make the counter a unifying white, much better look probably -- it's a concrete type overlay.

'Star' Canvas Art by Kathie McCurdy · More Info

Shelf, or no shelf, here's what I think I should post, ideas for art combining the neutrals in the room:

Marilyn Hageman 'Classical Horse' Canvas Art, 18"x18" · More Info

"Classical Horse v2" Black Framed Art Print, 20"x20"x1" · More Info

Ilia Efimovich Repin Moonlight Gallery Wrap Canvas · More Info

"Protective Care" Print by Ruane Manning, 12"x36" · More Info

tesslarox, have you considered just getting a new vanity top w/ sink? a black or white quartz w/undermount sink would really make it all come together. Doesn't have to be expensive. I bet I could find one for less than $150.

Start w/craigslist for remnants or used vanities. if you find one that;s larger, you can cut it yourself to fit your vanity.

go to a stone yard or fabricator shop and see what they're throwing in the trash. they often dump smaller pieces they can no longer use. give the shop guy $50 to save any black or white throwaway and have it cut to your dimensions.

years ago when I redid this bathroom in a rental, I got this marble top just like that. was going in the trash. he cut it for me to fit this vanity. (which was $75 on craigslist and was a 1950's wood chest that I painted) . got the marble vessel sink on clearance too; $30.

if you don't mind spending a bit more, you can find one all inclusive here

https://www.wayfair.com/home-improvement/sb0/vanity-tops-c527057.html

Then bring in a bold patterned rug

32" for $146

Check online at Builders Surplus. you can find tons of countertops like this for under 200

Beth's white top is better - neat and trim all-white 'accent wall' I'll call it [cause more walls are black].