Bathroom builds are mostly storage solutions and the kind of small upgrades that make a frequently used room more functional.
01Floating vanity shelf
A wall-mounted shelf above the toilet or between the vanity and wall is built from solid wood or 3/4-inch hardwood plywood and mounted on a French cleat. Cut the cleat at a 45-degree bevel, screw the wall half into studs, and hook the shelf half over it. Sand and finish the shelf before mounting. This provides bathroom storage without requiring a full cabinet build.
02Recessed medicine cabinet niche
A niche between two studs — 14-1/2 inches wide by whatever height works in the available wall space — is built by removing the drywall, adding horizontal blocking at the top and bottom, and finishing the interior with drywall or tile. A recessed cabinet either sits in this niche or the niche is open shelving with a simple wood frame and tile interior. Confirm there's no plumbing or wiring in the wall cavity before cutting.
03Linen cabinet build
A simple linen cabinet is a tall plywood box — typically 16 inches deep, 24 inches wide, and whatever height fits between floor and ceiling — with adjustable shelves on shelf pin holes. Face-frame the opening with 3/4-inch solid wood and hang doors with concealed hinges. Built between two walls it can be scribed to fit exactly with no gaps.
04Shiplap accent wall
A shiplap wall in a bathroom is boards applied horizontally to drywall over 3/4-inch furring strips (to create a flat surface) or directly to flat, sound drywall. Use moisture-resistant material — MDF shiplap should be sealed on all edges and faces before installation in a bathroom. Prime and paint with a bathroom-specific paint rated for moisture and mildew resistance.
Marcus Webb is a general contractor and home maintenance writer based in Columbus, Ohio. He writes about the repairs and installs that come up every year in every house — the practical, repeating work that keeps a home livable.