How to Make a Toilet Tank Skirt

Today I’m making a tailored toilet tank skirt.

I’ve never made one before but I’m always up for trying something new.

We’ve only been looking at the exposed plumbing and wiring behind the toilet (see pic below) in the main floor bathroom for a few years now so it’s about time, don’t you think.

It’s perfectly safe, but boy is it an eyesore.

We live in a 120 year old home and over the years some pretty quirky things have been done to it.

I guess whoever did this couldn’t figure out a better way to get around the huge beam in the basement, and I mean huge.

Until we do a complete bathroom redo, which is a few years away unless we win the lottery, a toilet tank skirt will hide it just fine.

Sewing a Fabric Skirt for the toilet tank

I’m making this skirt in 3 pieces. One piece for each of the long sides and one for above the toilet.

Here’s the striped fabric I’m using. It goes great with the wallpaper.

First I measure the width for the 2 side pieces up to the centre toilet area, and their length from the top of the tank to the floor.

Then I measure for the centre piece from the top of the tank down to the toilet.

So, I need 2 side pieces that are 13″ wide by 28″ long, and a centre piece 12″ wide by 13″ long. Measurements will vary depending on the toilet size.

I’ve made the centre piece wider than it needs to be so the stripes can be easily adjusted to match up with the 2 side pieces.

Next, I measure and cut my pieces, leaving 1″ extra around all sides for an ironed and turned down 1/2″ hem on the sides and a full 1″ hem on the tops and bottoms.

Ironing down hems makes them neater and the sewing so much easier.

I fold down 1/2″ hem on the sides and iron it down. Then I fold that 1/2″ hem again another 1/2″ and iron it down. I do this to all the sides of the 3 pieces.

Then I sew the side hems using my old (but perfectly capable of sewing straight lines) sewing machine.

I never need to use pins when I iron my hems.

Next I iron down 1″ hems at the tops and the bottoms of all 3 pieces making sure the pieces are square, by measuring from corner to corner, before I sew them.

Then I sew them on my sewing machine.

Once all the hems are sewn I give all 3 pieces a good final ironing.

applying velcro to skirt to attach to toilet tank

Then I attach velcro to the top of the 3 fabric pieces.

Attaching a Toilet Tank Skirt

Here’s the before pic again.

Now here’s the technical stuff. (I’m not a plumbing expert, this is just what worked for me.. Do some research on your toilet before doing this yourself.)

I take the cover off the tank to remove the flush handle, and I unhook the chain attached to the flush rod and undo the nut, turning it clockwise.

Then I remove the flush handle (with the flush rod attached) which leaves just the hole in the tank.

I apply one of the long pieces of fabric with the velcro, and I feel for the hole in the tank and make small incisions with scissors being careful not to cut too much fabric.

Then I feed the flush rod through the fabric and into the hole in the side of the tank, being careful to make sure the handle is aligned correctly so it’s lays horizontal.

I tighten the nut, turning counter-clockwise, and reattach the chain

Then I apply the long piece on the other side, and then the centre piece which I tuck underneath the 2 side pieces.

And here it is, my toilet tank skirt in place. It hides what I need it to hide and it looks great. I don’t plan on making a top because the tank skirt has white stripes in it and I think it looks just fine the way it is.

I love my polka dot shower curtain (you can just get a peek at it here). It just makes me smile.

This toilet tank skirt cost me just $5 for the fabric because I had leftover velcro from another project. I’ve never made one before so I’m pretty happy with it. If you’ve ever made a toilet tank skirt and have some tips for me I’d love to hear them. I’m sort of a sewing beginner.Now I just need to replace that hum drum garbage can with something fun and fabulous. So, I’m on the hunt.

Take care,

Thanks so much for reading!

XOX

4 Comments

Anonymous says:

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Hummmm I just may try this. I think it's kind of cute and may improve the look of mine too.

1. tuula@thriftyrebel.com says:
  
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  Thanks! It was quite easy to do and is a huge improvement on what the toilet looked like before. Thanks so much for visiting!
  
Irene says:

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Never in a million years would I have thought of it…….and it’s great! What a neat idea. Can’t wait to do mine. I do have a suggestion for your wastebasket – why not spray paint it in a matching color? You could do it all one color or spray the inside and outside different colors that match your color scheme – or, your could spray paint it and put a transfer flower picture on the front – or just spray paint the outside and make a fabric liner with elastic in the top to go over the lip of your basket? So many possibilities….. Thanks for sharing.

P.S. I checked into your site to try and find the tutorial on the tea pot garden chimes (with the bells and the tea cut). Can you tell me where I can find it?

Irene

1. Tuula says:
  
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  Thanks for the ideas about the waste basket Irene. 🙂 You’re so right… there are so many possibilities. If you look in my garden art gallery listed just below my blog header you’ll find a link to the coffee pot wind chime. That’s the one with the bells. It might be a teapot, but I called it a coffee pot.

How to Make a Toilet Tank Skirt