Asked on Jul 03, 2013

Fold down/up shelf for bathroom

Beth Appel
by Beth Appel
Our bathroom is quite small - I think it is 6x8, standard tub, toilet, little sink with no surround. Using "appliances" like the electric toothbrush, water pik, etc. is difficult.
I'm considering installing a fold down or fold up shelf between the mirrored medicine cabinet and the sink top - I think fold up would work better since it would be higher. There is an outlet to the left of the sink (stupid place for it, but it was there) and then we wouldn't have to rest these things on the flat edges of the sink. Has anyone done this? I have 10" vertical to work with and you don't need to be able to open the medicine cabinet when using the appliances - this is why it needs to be folding, since you do need to open it at other times. I don't want it to become a clutter collector. And I'm the clutterer.
Any suggestions?
  3 answers
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jul 03, 2013
    Why folding? a fixed shelf would get the job done and be a lot easier. If the appliances are in the way to open the medicine cabinet then they would still need to be moved somewhere to "fold" the shelf. you could also re -work the shelves inside the cabinet to house these items.
  • Beth Appel Beth Appel on Jul 03, 2013
    Thanks. I don't really need an alternate solution. I have a place to stow them when not in use, and the shelves in the medicine cabinet are entirely too small. In addition, in order to use the waterpik, it has to be set out on the sink (or the shelf that isn't there yet). And my dh moves anything I have left out on the sink so he can use his waterpik - my soap, etc - all end up who knows where. I can't retrain him (48 years of trying I've given up - and he has many fine qualities - this is not one of them - and I think he's given up trying to retrain me). He has vetoed a permanent shelf since it would get in the way, but about 4-5 times a week, he uses that dratted waterpik. So I thought a little temporary shelf would do the trick. Big enough and sturdy enough to hold the water pick, but folding away when not in use. I could use it to hold my makeup while getting dressed and then fold it away. I will keep figuring this out - hit Home Depot to see what they have that can be repurposed for this. I was just trying to see if anyone had already done it. Thanks for suggestions.
  • Cynthia Cynthia on Jul 04, 2013
    Fold up sounds wonderful. You can even make it decorative on the bottom so when it folds up it looks like it was intended to be there. Place board against wall into studs, attach inside hinge so you won't see it when it folds up. (piano hinge) and attach other board to it. You can use a decorative clip to hold it in place. Frame it out and add picture to bottom and you get instant wall art as well.