How many bottles, bars of soap, razors, or other loose items are in your bath or shower right now? Are they on the edge of the tub? Sitting on the floor of the shower? Maybe you have a few contained in a caddy, but your idea of being minimalist about bath products didn’t really work out and it quickly overflowed (I’ve been there!)
Instead of dealing with a mess of products, think about adding a shower niche if you’re ready to remodel or build a new bathroom. There are many ways to include these in your bathroom plan, and they fit into any size space. In a small shower where you really feel that need for storage, you can add exactly what you need.
The first thing to consider is the size, shape, and number of niches. Be honest about your needs and how much space you use. Think about whether you need a tall space for large bottles, or a smaller spot for a bar of soap or a razor. Will you use it purely for storage, or do you want something more decorative?
This series of niches fits a variety of products. The smallest one at the bottom can double as a shaving ledge:
Consider whether you want the niche to blend into your design, as the one below does, or to stand out as a separate design element.
The shower below uses a dark tile on the back wall of the niche to add a horizontal block of color, while a contrasting band runs vertically up the same wall. The inner walls of the niche match the main shower tiles.
Another choice to make is how you want to frame and edge your niche. This will impact how much it stands out from the rest of the wall, and different methods work better with different styles. You can use a coordinating tile on the inner walls, such as the example below:
You can also frame the niche on the shower wall; the bathroom below shows an example of a picture frame style with mitered corners. The bottom of the niche is a contrasting tile that matches the bench and windowsill:
You can also use one to feature decorative items, which sometimes get overlooked in a bathroom. A large niche can provide space for a vase, for example:
A wide niche or series of smaller ones can be a great place to set candles, especially above a bathtub:
Photo by Santa Rosa Tile Supply, Inc.
A tiled shelf or ledge is a similar option. Since it extends into the shower or bath rather than being pushed back into the wall, you may need to consider more carefully how it might work in your space. This wide shelf gives plenty of room to place your shower items:
There are so many ways you can incorporate a shower niche into your bathroom. It can blend in or stand out; it can give you a spot to use a smaller amount of a showy tile; it can be both extremely functional and extremely decorative; and it can be customized to fit your exact needs. If you’re in the process of planning a bathroom remodel, be sure to consider whether a shower niche will help your space work better for you.