This over-the-toilet shelf transformed my tiny bathroom without a remodel

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When I bought my first home nearly five years ago, I spent a lot of time planning out the living areas and bedrooms. The bathrooms, however, were somewhat of an afterthought — especially my half bath. Primarily used by guests, the previous owners renovated it prior to selling with a new countertop and mosaic wall tiles. I liked the look and simply added a towel on a hanging rack and called it a day.

But as time went on, I realized this room was lacking. The sink's open-format design lacked cabinetry or storage of any kind, and the bathroom itself seemed unfinished, despite its diminutive size. Eager for a fix that didn't involve remodeling, I gave Umbra's Bellwood Over-the-Toilet Shelf a try.

I couldn't be happier with the results.

As a mom of two managing a busy household — and a freelance writer who specializes in testing and reviewing many home and furniture products — I found it to be an excellent solution for adding shelving in a small space without spending thousands of dollars or ripping out walls. Better yet, it was easy to assemble and elevated the entire look of my bathroom. I only wish I hadn't waited five years to try it.

The Bellwood shelf is a far cry from the rickety metal toilet racks of the past.

The last time I used an over-the-toilet storage rack was in college. One narrow bathroom counter wasn't going to cut it with four girls, and we picked up a cheap metal rack that I happily parted ways with after graduation. Far from what I used in my undergrad days, Umbra's Bellwood Shelf offers a grown-up solution to the storage space problem.

The shelf arrived in a box that was taller than me — at 5'7,'' I estimated that the shipment stood around 6 feet tall. It was packaged efficiently, with each piece packed tightly in cardboard or styrofoam. Nothing arrived broken or scratched.

I challenged myself to build it in 45 minutes — and I succeeded.

I decided to challenge myself to build the shelf in the approximately 30 to 40 minutes I had between my husband leaving to pick up our kids from school and returning home. At that point, my task would assuredly turn into pure chaos.

I opened the box to find multiple planks of wood, 10 bags of small tools and parts, and only one page of slightly vague, image-led directions. I immediately worried I should have kicked the job off earlier.

Fortunately, my pangs of regret were unnecessary. Once I understood the gist of the directions and got going, things moved quickly. I'm not the most handy person, and usually leave heavy assembly to my husband, yet I only experienced a single hiccup while building the shelf. .

All in, from opening the box to standing back to admire my work took 40 minutes — and successfully before my kids got home.

It provides much-needed extra storage space in my awkwardly-shaped bathroom.

Before adding the shelf, I had no storage in this bathroom. Zero. Zip.

The exposed piping under the sink counter and the fact that my bathroom was oddly shaped with one slanted wall had me scratching my head for solutions. I could have inserted a slim storage caddy with drawers or a cart with shelves next to the toilet, but it felt like too much of a squeeze.

That's why this shelf is such a unicorn.

It helped me to add storage in a small space where it completely didn't exist previously, while also working well in an awkwardly-shaped area. Everything was added vertically, leaving the bathroom feeling clean and uncluttered.

Plus, over-the-toilet shelves are widely recommended by interior designers, who agree they fit well over any standard toilet without taking up additional room. As such, I think the Umbra Bellwood is a great choice for anyone who wants to add space-saving storage in bathrooms that have tight nooks or untraditionally-shaped dimensions.

It makes my bathroom look like it was styled by an interior designer.

Once the Bellwood shelf was in place, it felt like my bathroom had been missing a vital piece for five years. The light natural wood was nearly identical to my countertop and took the bathroom from stark to styled. On top of the three wooden tiers, I added a long, leafy plant for a burst of color, as well as candles and a basket filled with toilet rolls and miscellaneous small items, which had previously been positioned next to the sink.

Initially, I worried that adding an open shelf might introduce clutter without the safety of cabinet doors to hide behind. But adding these select pieces felt curated and transformed the space into something that looked like it was created by a designer — except I didn't hire one. Nor did I have to take on any pricey remodeling to add cabinetry.

While I have noticed that the legs wobble a tad, everything has stayed in place. Overall, the shelf feels pretty sturdy, with each shelf capable of holding 29 pounds. According to Umbra, the shelf is sourced from a combination of "renewable wood sources" as opposed to 100% solid wood. Despite being made from MDF, it's sturdier than you might think.

The bottom line

While I didn't initially plan to place a shelf in my bathroom — evidenced by the five years I neglected the room, despite it being a high-traffic area for guests — I'm so glad I did. I just wish I had added it sooner.

I'm in love with the overall style of my bathroom, and the fact that I finally have a designated place to store toilet paper rolls, toiletries, and anything else without adding cabinets or crowding the sink with bulky baskets is an added bonus. I also think the shelves offer ample space to add items without appearing cluttered.

While the natural wood color was a great fit for my bathroom, I also appreciate that it's available in a darker walnut shade. The classic, slightly rustic hue will add versatility for many home styles. Overall, this shelf is a great choice for anyone looking to quickly add storage and maximize a small bathroom without spending a ton of money