"Stainless steel might feel a bit clinical, but beats mold remediation any day..."
I get the practicality of stainless steel, but personally, I went with tempered glass shelves in my bathroom remodel. Had similar mold issues with bamboo shelving before—looked great initially, but quickly became a maintenance nightmare. Glass shelves are easy to clean, resistant to moisture, and still keep the space feeling open and less clinical. Just something else to consider if you're not fully sold on the stainless steel aesthetic...
Tempered glass shelves are definitely a solid choice—good call on that. I've seen plenty of bathrooms with bamboo or wooden shelving that look fantastic at first, but moisture always wins in the end. Glass is easy to maintain and doesn't warp or discolor over time, so you're saving yourself a lot of headaches down the road.
Stainless steel does have its perks though, especially if you're dealing with high humidity or poor ventilation. It might feel a bit clinical at first, but once you add towels, baskets, or decorative items, it softens up pretty quickly. I've worked on bathrooms where clients initially hesitated about stainless steel but ended up loving how low-maintenance it was.
Either way, sounds like you've found a practical solution that suits your style and needs. Always good to see people thinking ahead about maintenance—makes life easier for everyone involved.
Glass shelves are definitely practical, but I've had good luck with stainless steel myself. Installed them in a rental unit a few years back—tenants weren't thrilled at first (thought it looked too industrial), but after adding some plants and towels, it warmed right up. Still looks new today, zero rust or discoloration. Glass is great too, just make sure it's thick enough to handle everyday use... learned that the hard way once.
Stainless steel shelves definitely hold up well, but I gotta say, I'm still skeptical about glass in bathrooms. Even thicker glass can chip or crack if someone accidentally knocks a heavy shampoo bottle against it (been there, done that). Plus, water spots and fingerprints drive me nuts. Curious though—anyone tried tempered frosted glass instead? Wondering if it hides smudges better and feels sturdier...
Tried tempered frosted glass shelves in our guest bath last year:
- Definitely hides fingerprints and water spots better than clear glass.
- Feels sturdier, but still chipped slightly when my kid dropped a heavy conditioner bottle on it.
- Looks great, but not totally foolproof...
