Is your shower starting to feel stale and boring? Are you looking for ways to upgrade your shower’s design with functional flair? Installing a creatively styled shower niche may be just what you need to reimagine your shower space.
A shower niche adds storage and acts as a built-in cubby to corral all your bath essentials in one place. With the right niche design, you can also infuse your shower with eye-catching style. From choosing niche shapes and sizes to customizing with tile and textures, the possibilities are endless.
Explore Your Niche Design Options
When designing your dream shower niche, there are several varied routes you can take. Here are some of the most popular niche styles to spark your inspiration:
Corner Shower Niches
Tuck a niche neatly into a corner for an efficient use of space. Corner shower niches maximize your storage capacity while fitting seamlessly into your existing layout. Choose between simple recessed designs or more dramatic shapes like curves and angles. Stick with a neutral palette or go bold with contrasting tile colors. The cubby-style shape adds subtle style while keeping products discreetly out of sight.
Recessed Shelf Niches
Shelf niches provide tiered storage solutions to stack products vertically. Go minimalist with a single recessed shelf or expand with a tower of shelving. Stagger horizontal shelves at different depths for additional storage real estate. Show off colorful bottles and containers with open shelving or keep it all concealed behind a sleek shower door. Glass shelving illuminated with LED lighting creates a high-end spa aesthetic.
Double Niches
For larger households or extensive product collections, double your storage space with a double niche. Two niches side by side can accommodate multiple users. Or opt for a more symmetrical look with one long horizontal niche spanning the whole shower wall. Maximize usefulness with a combo of open and closed storage. Highlight the dual niches with geometric tile patterns or mirrored shapes.
Cubbies and Compartments
Further divide your niche into organized compartments. Try a column of square cubbies of varying sizes to stash each product in its own designated space. Or frame your niche with built-out shelves on the sides for bottles and divided compartments in the center for folded washcloths. The divided sections keep your products separated and tidy.
Choose the Right Niche Size
Niches come in all shapes and sizes to suit your storage requirements. Consider how much room you need when picking niche dimensions. Here are some common size options:
- Small: 12″ W x 4″ D x 24″ H
- Medium: 16″-18″ W x 4″ D x 24″-36″ H
- Large: 20″-24″ W x 6″ D x 36″-48″ H
- Extra Large: 30″+ W with greater depths and heights
Measure your existing bottles and items to visualize fitting them in. Allow for some future growth and new products. But don’t oversize your niche substantially either. A niche too large for its contents will look imbalanced. For a fully tailored fit, many niches can be custom sized.
Play with Shapes and Lines
The silhouette of your niche also contributes to its style. Look beyond boring rectangles. Here are examples of niches with more distinctive shapes:
- Arched – A rounded top softens the look.
- Octagonal – Angled edges add interest.
- Oval – A curved organic shape.
- Trapezoid – Jazz up a corner niche with unique lines.
- Mosaic – Irregular mosaic tiles create a one-of-a-kind shape.
Match or contrast your niche outline with the other tile shapes. Frame niches with coordinating borders or tiles. Vary the height and width for new dimensions. A niche’s shape impacts both aesthetics and utility.
Select Your Niche Building Materials
Waterproof, durable and moisture-resistant materials are a must for shower niches. Here are some top options:
Tile
Natural stone, ceramic, porcelain and glass tiles are go-to niche materials. Their hardwearing and water-resistant properties keep your items protected. Choose tile colors, patterns, shapes and textures to coordinate with your overall shower design.
Plastic
Affordable acrylics and plastics like ABS make practical niche substrates. Look for recycled plastics that are environmentally friendly. Plastic niches easily fit right over studs and are paintable.
Composite Materials
Agglomerated quartz or solid surface materials offer other niche possibilities. Their molded construction lends well to curved and shaped niches. Composite niches often feature waterproof foam backing boards.
Build a Custom Niche Design
For a completely tailored niche, go the custom route. Both plastic and tile niches can be modified and finished on-site. Build your own framing to an ideal size. Select exact tile shapes and colors. Continue your wall tile pattern right into the niche space for a seamless look. Add ledges, shelves and other bespoke features.
If tiling your niche, choose complementary tiles but avoid busy patterns. Large format tiles or subtle mosaics keep the focus on the products displayed. Contrasting grout lines can also outline customized niches.
Pick the Perfect Placement
Proper niche positioning enhances both aesthetics and utility:
- Mount at average eye/hand level for convenient access.
- Avoid placing too high or low.
- Consider proximity to the shower head.
- Angle niches toward the shower entryway.
Centering niches or aligning with other features creates visual harmony. But maximizing practicality is most crucial. Ensure you can easily reach your items without straining. Keep niches away from direct water streams.
Get Creative with Niche Decor
Now for the fun part – dreaming up decorative niche designs. Take your basic niche from boring to brilliant with these enhancing touches:
Mix Up Materials
Use contrasting textures, colors and tile shapes to accent niches. Try a smooth glass shelf atop a slate stone niche. Or frame ceramic subway tile niches with metal mosaic sheets.
Show Off with Color
Make neutrals more nuanced by lining niches with hues like sage, taupe and beige. Or go bold with navy blue or emerald green. Use color to complement other bathroom finishes.
Backlight Built-Ins
Install discreet lighting to illuminate niches. LED strips or mini sconces cast a gentle glow. Create a focal point over the shower bench or beside a statement niche.
Layer Patterns
Mix and match patterns for visual energy. Stack horizontal and vertical tile arrangements. Combine organic shapes with geometric designs. Repeat motifs to tie spaces together.
A custom shower niche is both beautiful and functional. Assess your needs, research designs, and tap into your creative spirit. The perfect niche solution awaits. Get inspired and reimagine your shower space today!
