The area behind the toilet is often overlooked and underutilized in bathroom design.
However, this space offers ample opportunity to inject personality, function, and style into your bathroom.
With a bit of creativity, you can transform the formerly barren wall behind your toilet into a stylish focal point that adds visual interest and makes your bathroom feel complete.
There are many innovative ways to decorate the space behind your toilet to make it look pulled together.
Read on for 13 innovative ideas to decorate behind the toilet for a stylish, put-together look.
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Wallpaper Accent Wall
One of the easiest ways to decorate behind the toilet is by adding an accent wall with wallpaper.
This allows you to introduce color, pattern and texture in a subtle way.
Opt for a bold, graphic print or something whimsical and floral.
Use the wallpaper as an opportunity to layer in your personality.
Select wallpaper in a color that complements your existing bathroom color scheme.
For a cohesive look, match the wallpaper color with towels, rugs, shower curtains or other bathroom accessories.
Consider glossy or metallic wallpaper for lots of shine and drama.
Play with different scales of print for visual interest.
Large graphic florals make a statement.
Neutral grass cloth wallpaper adds natural texture.
Damask prints or Moroccan patterns feel elegant and chic.
Whatever wallpaper design you select, this is a relatively simple diy weekend project with lots of payoff.
Remove the old wallpaper if needed, prep the wall, apply wallpaper paste, hang the strips and thenvoila!
You have an instant accent wall that makes your bathroom feel decorator-done.
Bold and Colorful Tile
Like wallpaper, tile is another excellent material for covering the wall behind the toilet to create an accent area.
Whether you opt for glossy ceramic, earthy natural stone or handpainted tile, covering the bathroom wall behind the toilet with tile is a foolproof way to add color, texture and interest.
Pick tile in your favorite bold color or a geometric pattern for lots of visual appeal.
Accent tile in vibrant teal, citron or violet paired with neutral bathroom tiles gives your space a colorful pop.
Introduce texture and depth with Spanish mission tile or Moroccan fish scale tile.
Handpainted tile turns the space into a mini art gallery.
If colored or patterned tile feels too overwhelming, consider just adding a tile chair rail or border tile as an accent.
This allows you to introduce bolder hues and patterns in a subtle way.
Tile the bottom half of the wall behind the toilet or add a strip of mosaic tile or decorative trim halfway up the wall.
This polished look frames the toilet perfectly.
Floating Shelves
Turn the wall behind your toilet into functional display space with floating shelves.
This is the perfect place to store extra toiletries, small decorative objects, potted plants, rolled towels or other bathroom essentials.
Floating shelves keep everything organized and at arm’s reach.
Choose floating shelves in finishes like glossy white, natural wood or powder-coated metal to complement your bathroom aesthetic.
For a cohesive look, select shelves that pick up colors, materials or finishes used throughout the rest of the room.
Mount the shelves at different heights for lots of display real estate.
Try decorating shelves with green succulent plants or decorative vessels in ceramic, glass or rustic rattan.
The wall behind the toilet is prime real estate for floating shelves because you can easily access them from the toilet.
Keep shelves reasonably sized so they don’t overwhelm the small bathroom space or impede natural traffic flow.
This is the perfect place to tuck away small containers filled with cotton balls, Q-tips and other toiletry odds and ends.
Bold Paint Color
Paint is an affordable and dramatic way to transform the wall behind your toilet into an eye-catching focal point.
Choose a bold, saturated hue that excites you.
Deep teal, sapphire blue or emerald green are gorgeous backdrops behind a white toilet.
Strong paint color packs visual impact into the small space above your tank.
If full-on color feels too daring, consider just painting the wall behind the toilet a lighter tint of your main bathroom color.
For example, paint the other walls a soft dove gray and the wall behind the toilet in a slightly deeper charcoal shade.
This adds subtle interest and depth.
You can also paint the wall behind the toilet in a contrasting color to the rest of the bathroom walls.
For example, paint the main bathroom walls white or beige and the toilet wall black for striking contrast.
Use paint to make this area an accent wall that catches the eye.
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Wallpaper Picture Frame
Here’s a clever and inexpensive idea for decorating behind the toilet – create a picture frame effect with wallpaper.
This allows you to transform the wall into an instant focal point.
Simply cut out a large rectangle from contact paper or wallpaper in a contrasting print and adhere it to the wall behind the toilet, so the negative space forms a frame.
You can find premade wallpaper with picture frame motifs or create your own frame using painter’s tape.
Choose wallpaper or contact paper with a funky print or color.
Adhere it to the wall behind the toilet so it looks like a large framed artwork.
Inside the frame you can hang art, a mirror, a bulletin board or just leave the wall empty for a modern look.
This is such a simple way to add interest above your toilet.
Play around with metallic or faux wood grain contact paper for lots of dimensional style.
The wallpaper picture frame instantly turns a blank wall into a decorative focal point.
Artwork Gallery Wall
Turn the wall behind your toilet into a mini art gallery by hanging an eclectic collection of artwork.
Get creative with the types of artwork you display.
Choose pieces in coordinating colors and frames for a cohesive look.
Play with different sizes, textures and mediums for lots of visual interest.
Consider displaying photos, architectural prints, framed illustrations, pressed botanicals, small sculptures, painted canvases or even colorful plates.
Look for artwork and accessories that align with your overall bathroom aesthetic.
For a bold yet relaxed look, display black and white photography paired with rattan baskets holding rolled towels or bath accessories.
Make sure to hang the artwork at different heights for dimension.
Group pieces close together near the top of the wall so they don’t impede natural traffic flow yet are still within eyesight.
The wall behind the toilet is the perfect spot for showcasing art and infusing more of your personality into the bathroom.
Ballard Designs Medicine Cabinets
Medicine cabinets aren’t just for holding toiletries anymore.
Today’s modern medicine cabinets make a gorgeous style statement and provide concealed storage.
Opt for a eye-catching mirrored cabinet to hang above the toilet as a focal point in your bathroom.
Look for a cabinet with interesting architectural shape or details.
Recessed panels, chrome trim and integrated lighting amp up the visual appeal.
The mirror instantly makes your bathroom feel more spacious and reflects light.
Meanwhile, the interior storage keeps bathroom clutter neatly tucked away.
Transitional medicine cabinets with an antique mirrored look feel chic and timeless.
Check out medicine cabinets from brands like Ballard Designs for lots of styles that make a statement.
Their Era Collection features medicine cabinets with arched tops, grooved detailing and handsome black nickel hardware for lots of texture and dimension.
Medicine cabinets keep your most-used toiletries organized yet in reach.
And their mirrored surface opened up small powder rooms.
This is an easy way to add storage and style behind your toilet.
Dreamy Wall Mural
For serious wow-factor behind the toilet, consider installing a magical forest or dreamy beach scene with a wall mural.
Wall murals depict expansive scenes like a jungle treetop canopy, tropical ocean sunset or European cityscape to make you feel transported as you sit on the toilet.
From palm trees bending in the breeze to misty mountain peaks, wall murals let you decorate behind the toilet with beautiful photography and fantastical scenes.
They open up small bathroom spaces and provide a gorgeous view.
National Geographic and Komar offer stunning wall mural images printed on easy to install wallpaper.
Wayfair also has a great selection of magical wall murals to decorate the once blank wall behind your toilet.
Nature image murals add peaceful ambiance to the bathroom.
Beach or waterfall murals are an affordable way to add a spa-like feel.
For little boys’ bathrooms, try transportive galaxy wall murals.
Let your imagination run wild!
Wall murals behind the toilet are a beautifully unexpected way to decorate.
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Catchall Shelf or Ledge
A slim ledge or wall-mounted shelf behind the toilet provides space to display candles, soaps, small plants and other decorative objects.
Built-in shelves add both storage and display space.
Or install a wall-mounted floating ledge or wall shelf directly above the tank.
Look for ledges or shelves in materials like marble, glass, black metal or wood.
Dark natural woods like walnut pair nicely with white tile or neutral bathrooms.
Black metal shelves add an industrial edge.
Spa-like bamboo shelving introduces natural texture.
Whatever material you select, a narrow ledge or shelf atop the toilet tank provides a spot to decorate with bathroom knickknacks to soften the space.
Make sure shelves directly above the toilet tank are securely installed and braced to support weight.
Display lightweight decorative objects like sea shells, rolled washcloths, framed sea glass and decorative bottles or ceramic vessels.
This creates a pretty vignette and transforms the once plain wall into a functional display space.
Vertical Garden
Another way to decorate the wall behind the toilet is by installing a vertical garden.
This instantly brings the beauty of nature into your bathroom.
Vertical gardens are low maintenance and add amazing texture.
To install, secure stacked plastic or felt planter pockets to the wall.
Insert succulents, ferns or air plants into each pocket.
The plants you select can match your bathroom’s color scheme.
For example, pair vibrant green succulents with teal bathroom accessories.
Let trailing ivy or delicate air plants hang down for dimension.
Consider combining faux plants and real plants so you don’t have to worry about watering hanging plants above the toilet.
Vertical gardens lend organic texture and warmth to modern bathrooms with sleek tile and metal finishes.
You can keep them as simple or lush as you want.
Having plants and greenery on display makes your bathroom feel more like a spa sanctuary.
Remember to occasionally dust vertical wall plants since they hang at eye-level.
A vertical garden is a living artwork.
Cover with Fabric
For a super quick and inexpensive way to decorate behind the toilet, consider simply covering the wall with fabric.
Almost any washable fabric will work – consider burlap, denim, lace or cotton.
You can nail, staple or adhere fabric directly to the wall.
Choose fabric in a color or print that complements your bathroom.
Nubby burlap in natural hues adds earthy texture.
A dainty lace overlay creates softness.
For a bit of boho flare try a southwest inspired patterned fabric like kilim wool tapestry.
Or go bold with a vibrant solid or chevron print cotton.
This is a great way to add color and interest in a rental bathroom.
It allows you to layer on your unique style without permanently altering the space.
Have fun with different fabric textures and patterns to spruce up a barren wall above the toilet.
Change it out seasonally if you want for an easy refresh.
Backlit Onyx Wall
For modern elegance behind the toilet install a backlit onyx wall.
Onyx is a natural stone made from crystallized minerals with stunning striations and patterning.
When backlit, onyx emanates a warm, ethereal glow.
You can purchase large slabs of backlit onyx crafted into wall panels.
Onyx adds natural texture and beauty to the bathroom.
The look is striking yet zen.
Since onyx stone panels often have small cracks and fissures, position this decorative feature somewhere it won’t come in contact with moisture.
The wall behind the toilet is perfect.
The glow of backlit onyx casts a soothing ambiance in the bathroom.
Surround a backlit onyx wall with simple, clean lined finishes like marble tile, chrome accents and floating wood shelves.
This creates a nice balance of texture.
Onyx stone tile is another way to introduce this beautiful natural material above your toilet in a smaller way.
The crystalline patterns and variation of onyx tile or wall slabs catch the light beautifully.
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Unexpected Materials
Think outside the box when it comes to decorating the wall behind the toilet.
You can introduce cool, unexpected materials and textures like corrugated metal, salvaged barn wood or cement tile.
This creates an edgy, industrial look and turns the ordinary toilet wall into a design feature.
For example, cover the lower half of the wall behind the toilet in corrugated metal sheeting.
Paint the upper half black for an urban feel.
Cement tile makes a textural backdrop in bold geometric patterns or graphic Moroccan prints.
A panel of salvaged wood adds warmth.
Get creative with materials to make a statement.
The toilet wall no longer needs to be an afterthought in bathroom design.
With a bit of creativity, you can transform this overlooked space into an artistic focal point.
Use wallpaper, tile, shelving, art and light to introduce color, texture and visual interest to this area.
Let your personality shine through in the design details.
Mix metals, layers prints and play with unexpected materials for lots of style.
The wall behind your toilet is valuable real estate.
Take advantage of the blank canvas to infuse more flair into your bathroom.
