How to Install a Corner Shower Shelf (DIY)

Introduction

The ideal shelves are those built into your shower. They're the strongest and most likely to match the rest of your bathing enclosure. But if your shower is lacking those, you can install a corner shower shelf after the fact to make life easier.

This article focuses on installing glue-in shelves, which are one of the easiest and least-expensive DIY shelves. But that doesn't mean that they're the best kind for your situation. Below are the various types of corner shower shelves, plus how to install the glue-in kind.

Types of Shower Corner Shelves

Corner shelves come in a number of shapes, sizes and materials.

Built-in: Just as they sound, these are built into the shower itself. Built-in shelves can also be recessed.
Corner tension: These can be purchased and installed after the shower is finished. They work by a screw or spring inside of a main vertical upright, which creates tension between the floor of the shower and the ceiling.
Screw-in: These are mounted into shower walls with screws, so they require drilling (ideally into studs).
Floating: These are often screw-in, but with no visible brackets. They range in complexity, with the easiest being systems like GoShelf, which require minimal drilling and can hold up to 15 to 20 pounds.
Suction: These have suction cups that attach to the shower wall, so they can be moved around as needed. However, they also tend to lose suction over time and slip.
Clip-on: these grab onto existing shower features, like rails. "But the major drawback is that they are not common or sturdy," says Jay Sanders, owner of Castle Dream Construction. "But they are the best choice for ultralight objects like razors and sponges."
Shower caddy: These shelves typically hang from your shower head, so require no installation. They're an easy option for many situations, but inconvenient as you have to reach behind the water to get to them.
Glue-in: These attach with a strong adhesive, so they don't need any drilling, and thus are a popular DIY choice. "But the longevity of these shelves depends on the adhesive's quality," says Sanders. "Depending on the environmental conditions and quality of the adhesive these shelves can last from one to five years."

Brandon Walker, Superintendent at ASAP Restoration, has strong warnings about glue-in shelves. He isn't a fan of them because they can't hold much weight, and if the adhesive fails, the shelf can damage your shower when it hits the floor. Also, they can be dangerous, as they pose an injury risk if you slip and try to stop your fall by grabbing one. "At least with suction cups, you know not to trust it," he says. "This looks too much like the shower wall, and it'll just fall off on you with any weight."

Where to Place a Corner Shelf in the Shower

The most common place to install a corner shower shelf is away on the opposite wall from the shower head, so you don't have to reach through the shower stream to pick up items.

How High to Place the Shower Corner Shelf

Most people install corner shower shelves between 48 and 72 inches high, depending on who's using it and how tall they are. "If children or older adults with challenges standing for long periods of time, then a lower shelf might be best," says Walker. "If only working age, able-bodied adults are going to be using it daily, then a higher shelf might be more appropriate."

When to Call a Pro

Most people DIY install glue-in, tension and suction shelves. But if you don't have construction or plumbing experience, you might want to call a pro if the wall needs structural reinforcement or a shelf requires drilling, especially if you're installing it near water pipes. "Pros can suggest to you the right type of shelf for your specific shower design and where to place these shelves," says Sanders.