1Opt for an Arch
Jessica Brydson Photography Squares and rectangles might be the shower niche status quo, but if you’re looking for something different, take a cue from Cristina Lehman and try an arched design. “We took inspiration from the arched mirrors in this bathroom and mimicked them in two niches in this space: one in the walk-in shower and another arched niche above the freestanding tub,” the Bay Area-based designer explains. “This added some curved contrast against all the straight lines from the rectangular tile.” Bonus points: The unexpected silhouette brings some visual intrigue to an all-white bathroom.
Related: What Is an Ensuite Bathroom?
2Pack in Pattern
Snook Photography Calling all maximalists: Your shower is an excellent spot to embrace your bold streak. Designer Lizzie Green fashioned a series of square tiles to create the illusion of a striped backsplash. (She even continued the pattern in the alcove for some much-appreciated visual cohesion.) The result? A shower—and niche!—that toes the line between statement making and soothing.
Related: 16 Shower Tile Ideas to Suit Every Style
3Be Picky About Placement
Cate Black Looking for a niche that accommodates both showers and baths? It’s all about location, location, location. Just ask Austin-based designer Annie Downing, who admittedly had a lot to pack into this small space. “The client requested a freestanding tub, and the only way to incorporate that and a shower in this remodel was to house the tub in the enclosed area,” she says. “We found the right spot so the niche was easily accessible from both and the perfect height: just low enough so it would be accessible from the tub but high enough so you wouldn’t have to bend down to reach it when using the shower.”
Related: What Is a Wet Room, Anyway?
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4Go Low
Marea Clark Speaking of shower niche placement, Marea Clark recommends thinking through your entire shower routine. “If you make them down low, it gives you a spot to prop up your leg to shave,” the San Francisco designer shares. “It’s not something most people think about when designing bathrooms, but our female clients always comment on how much they use and love this feature.” See how it’s done in this serene shower, which boasts a minimalist tan niche and marbled bench.
Related: 21 Walk-In Shower Ideas That Elevate Your Bathroom
5Keep It Simple
Erin McGinn As the shower niche idea Blair Moore designed for this project in Narragansett, Rhode Island, proves, less can sometimes be more. “Embracing a minimalist ethos, we opted for predominantly organic and natural materials to evoke a moody, wabi-sabi sensibility," says Moore, who’s the creative director and principal designer of Moore House Design. “Walls were removed to cultivate spaciousness, while small windows were replaced with larger statement windows and doors to invite natural light and panoramic views.” Here, the wide niche draws eyes across the room and onto that stunning, sun-drenched window.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Wabi Sabi Design
6Sidestep the Subway Tile
Emily Followill When it comes to choosing the right tile for your bathroom, it doesn’t get more classic than rectangular subway style. However, if you want to shake up the go-to tile choice, why not include a shower niche? In this space by Atelier Davis, a vertical niche creates some visual tension with the horizontal tiles, creating an alcove that both stands out and blends in.
Related: 24 Creative Ways to Use Subway Tile in Your Bathroom
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7Try Some Texture
Shade Degges Just because you’re going for a single-shade shower doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Case in point: This spot by Morrison Interiors, which got the full-on textured treatment. “Shower niches are a great way to add a pop of pattern or seamlessly blend with existing designs,” designer Denise Morrison says. “We have done a bit of both yet always like to deliver a chic, seamless look, even when patterns are juxtaposed.”
Related: 65 Best Small Bathroom Design Ideas
8Stack the Shelves
Lance Gerber Ultra-organized dwellers will find a lot to love about this shower niche idea from Morrison Interiors, which maximizes the storage space. “We did a three-tier vertical stack, and it added some great visual interest,” Morrison explains. Ah, the power of shelving.
Related: 15 Black and White Bathroom Ideas You'll Love
9Select a Statement Shelf
Stephen Karlisch “I love to use a shower niche as a storage solution that easily integrates into the overall design,” Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Design says. However, if you want to add drama to your setup, take a cue from the Texas designer and select an exaggerated shelf. This smart trick draws the eye to the alcove while keeping your belongings organized.
Related: 90 Bathroom Design Ideas to Inspire Your Remodel
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10Step Up Your Storage
Mike Davello A small shower niche might be a clever way to break up a big, bare wall, but can it fit all of your stuff? Curtis of Urbanology Designs found a smart solution by pairing this alcove with a small wooden stool. It’s the perfect way to double up your storage without cramping your style.
Related: 31 Best Bathroom Storage Ideas
11Consider the Slope
Julie Soefer When installing a shower niche, it’s important to be cognizant of your angles—literally. “Niches need to be ever so slightly sloped to be sure that water doesn’t pool,” says Elias. Though she thinks it’s best to integrate the niche into the shower tile rather than backing it with a different tile—“I like to make them disappear when not in use,” she says—the contrasting tiles used here offers the best of both worlds.
Related: 60 Stunning Bathroom Tile Ideas to Steal for Your Space
12Build a Bold Border
Lauren Taylor Admittedly, having the same tile or material in your niche and shower can be a bit...well, boring. However, designer Linda Hayslett adds an unexpected pop with a thick, black border. “Considering the design of the niche helps enhance the shower experience,” the Los Angeles designer explains. The result is modern without feeling too masculine.
Related: How Designer Linda Hayslett Squeezed Major Charm Out of This Condo
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13Double Up
Lauren Taylor Sometimes two shower niches are better than one. “When designing a shower, and it’s for you and your partner, it’s always best to have a big, long niche so you both can put all the products needed without fighting for space,” Hayslett says. Have your own shower? There’s still a reason to consider dual niches. “Depending on where it’s placed in the space, it can also be for eucalyptus, candles, and incense burning, " the designer says.
Related: The Proper Way to Use Eucalyptus in Your Shower
14Go Wall to Wall
Chris Coe Have a lot of stuff? You’ll love this idea from Chango & Co., a New York–based residential design firm. In this pink bathroom, a niche stretches from one side of the shower to the other, making it possible to house all of your shower essentials. (Shampoos? Scrubs? A waterproof speaker? You'll definitely have enough space.)
Related: 14 Timeless Colors That Go With Pink
15Think Up and Away
Raquel Langworthy Sometimes, like in this neutral bathroom from Chango, the only way to go is up. Not only is this slim vertical shower niche great for avid organizers—you can place your most-used items at eye level and less frequented essentials up top—but it’s also a practical move for anyone who shares a bathroom with a significant other, roommate, or child.
Related: 65 Best Small Bathroom Design Ideas
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16Get Creative With Color
Kaitlin Green Showers and niches are typically swathed in versatile (yet predictable!) neutrals, but you have our permission to go with a fun, eye-catching color instead. In this cool shower by Portland, Oregon–based designer Max Humphrey, a deep green adds a maximalist flair to the slim, uniform Ann Sacks tiles.
Related: 25 Tile Designs to Try in Any Room
17Put It Front and (Off) Center
Halkin Mason Photography Though placing your shower niche smack-dab in the middle of your wall might be a symmetry win, Kaitlyn Murphy wants you to reconsider. “We like to locate our niches in an inconspicuous place—because who wants to call attention to their shampoo?” asks the senior designer at Marguerite Rodgers Interior Design. For the finishing touch on this off-centered shower niche, she used a slab material for the sill, sides, and top. Murphy says: “No matter what tile you’re using on the walls, you will never see an exposed cut edge.”
Related: 26 Best Neutral Paint Colors, According to Interior Designers
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