Bathroom Renovation Vol.24: Storage Shelf Installation

u270fufe0f Originally published: 2016-12-16 / ud83dudd04 Rewritten: May 8, 2026

u270fufe0f 2026 Update from DIY Dad: Looking Back on the Finished Bathroom/Laundry Room

This is the final chapter of the bathroom/laundry room renovation series. With the switches reinstalled, washing machine in place, and storage shelves up, I can now speak from experience about what was worth doing u2014 and what I’d do differently next time.

Reinstalling Switches and Outlets u2014 What You Must Do

When reinstalling switches and outlets after a wallpaper replacement, always wait until the wallpaper has fully dried u2014 at least 24 hours. Installing them too early causes the wallpaper to shrink and leave gaps around the plate covers.

For the bathroom dryer control panel, refer to photos taken before you disconnected the wiring and work through it one wire at a time. If you’re unsure about any wire, use a multimeter to check. Always do a function test after reinstalling everything.

Storage Shelf Installation Tips

In a bathroom/laundry room, moisture protection is the top priority for storage shelves. Solid wood warps easily in humid environments, so melamine-coated board or pre-painted shelf panels are the better choice for wet areas.

Always screw into wall studs. Screwing into drywall alone will pull out under any real load. A stud finder costs around 1,000 yen and is well worth having on hand.

Reflecting on the Completed Renovation

This series ran a full 25 episodes. Under-floor storage, a ceiling access hatch, a new vanity, wallpaper replacement, cushion flooring, and storage shelves u2014 essentially a near-complete renovation of the space.

The biggest lesson from this series: plumbing DIY is all about planning ahead. If you don’t check the pipe connection types in advance, you’ll hit a wall mid-job. From now on, I always photograph the connection points before ordering parts.

After 15 years as a landlord, I’ve seen it firsthand: properties with a clean, well-finished bathroom and laundry room have clearly better occupancy rates and hold their rent value better. Money invested in wet areas always pays off.

ud83dudebf For Anyone Considering a Vanity or Wet Area Renovation

DIY vanity replacement is doable, but mistakes with the shutoff valve or drain connections lead straight to water leaks. Always confirm the dimensions and pipe types before you start.

Hi, it’s DIY Dad! Continuing the first-floor bathroom/laundry room renovation u2014 last step: installing the narrow storage unit and laundry rack.

Tools and materials used: slim gap-filler storage unit, laundry rack, screwdriver, hex key (Allen wrench).

The gap-filler unit simply drops into the pre-planned space. I designed the layout from the start with this unit and the laundry rack in mind u2014 both were factored in when I worked out the placement of the vanity and washing machine pan.

The laundry rack wraps around behind the washing machine, surrounding it on three sides. Assembly involves connecting the poles and adjusting shelf heights, then once everything is positioned, tightening the screws with a screwdriver and hex key. It tension-mounts to the ceiling with an extendable pole.

The tension-mount ceiling contact point.

Shelf boards go in next, followed by the laundry baskets.

The gap-filler storage unit and laundry rack, installed together.

The gap-filler unit from the front u2014 fits the space perfectly, exactly as planned. That’s all for today u2014 see you next time!

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