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How Preparing the Shower for Tiles?

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Gut the shower stall down to the studs. You may need to remove the shower pan and ceiling, as well. Do not put down any plastic because this can trap moisture and lead to rotting. Instead, use a product that you can paint on to help prevent moisture.


Choose a vapor barrier to install and introduce according to manufacturer directions. If you fail to install a vapor barrier, you might grow mold and mildew as moisture from your shower escapes through the tiles and into walls. Improperly installed tile and grout can allow water vapor to pass into the space behind.


When installing a vapor barrier on an exterior wall, it may be helpful to seal a plastic vapor barrier to the concrete floor but not all the way up to the top of the ceiling. With insulation improperly installed, or in colder climates, there’s a chance that condensation that forms behind the vapor barrier will cause the framing members to rot.


In order to avoid that possibility, install the vapor barrier with space to spare so that the gap behind the vapor barrier can breathe. Use a roll on product, such as Red Guard. Wedi boards are another option some consider even better than cement board. If you choose a membranous barrier such as Trugard or Kerdi, you can install plain old drywall or you can just install a cement board instead.


Put up a sturdy cement board backer. Putting up cement board is just like putting up drywall. You cut it to fit using a grinder with a diamond bit, and then screw it to the studs. Leave a 1/8″ gap between panels and then a very small space between the shower pan and the bottom of the backer so that the two don’t squeak by rubbing together.

How to Adding Extra Wall Storage?

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Add wall shelving. On any open wall spaces, add sturdy shelves that match the style of your bathroom. If you need the extra space, go all the way up to the ceiling. You can even use the space directly above the door. Place items more frequently used on the lower shelves. If you can’t reach the higher shelves, store a stepstool in front of the bathroom cabinet.

Add floating shelves above the toilet. Most people ignore the space above the toilet, but this is actually valuable real estate for storage. A standing rack can look bulky and outdated. However, if you hang a set of floating shelves in a complementary color to the wall, then this will actually open up the space. Stack decorative items on these shelves or use them for extra toiletry storage for items, such as toilet paper and tissues.

Hang glass jars on the wall. Get a set of clean, large mason jars. Use metal loops or small shelves to keep them suspended on the wall. Once the jars are secured, fill them with small items, such as makeup tools. Keep the design looking even cleaner by putting the same type of items into each jar. For example, 1 jar can just hold brushes. Another can hold cotton swabs and so on. 

Place magnetic strips around the vanity. Buy long, metal magnetic strips from your local hardware store. Use screws or construction glue to secure these strips to any gaps on the walls around the sink and vanity. Then, hang metal items, such as tweezers, on these strips. This is also a great way to secure small metal items that you might otherwise misplace, such as bobby pins. Don’t place any sharp objects on the strips in the slight chance that they could fall off and cause an injury.

Use spice racks for makeup storage. Spice racks are great for storage because they are the perfect size for makeup or even medicine bottles. They are also easy to wipe down for cleaning. In the empty wall space near the sink, hang a set of spice racks using screws. Make sure that the racks are close enough together to maximize your wall space. However, don’t place them directly against one another or that might look overcrowded.