Room Design
Bathroom Design
By
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.
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Updated on 05/06/24
An inset shower niche built into the wall offers a designated spot to keep everyday essentials accessible and organized. But it can also add dimension to a flat wall and offer the opportunity to customize the space with contrasting or complementary shower tile.
Check out these shower niche ideas in a range of sizes, shapes, and finishes to help inspire your bathroom renovation project.
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Wall-to-Wall Shower Niche
Cathie Hong Interiors built a hybrid ledge/niche that accentuates the clean minimalist lines of this deep walk-in shower. The wall-to-wall design makes the compact space feel more spacious.
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Patterned Tile Tub Niche
In this historic Maine home, Tyler Karu Design + Interiors used the same patterned tile on the floor and to decorate the combination bathtub/shower niche. The niche is framed with marble trim on the wall itself to give it a dimensional look that contrasts with the bold blue walls.
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Arched Shower Niche
Paris-based Caroline Andreoni Interior Design added an arched combination shower bench and storage niche in this walk-in shower that adds architectural interest and dimension to the streamlined black-and-white space.
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Backlit Shower Niche
In this bathroom from interior designer Rhianna Jones of Tidal Interiors, bright white LED backlighting adds a touch of spa-like glamour to a sleek built-in wall-to-wall walk-in shower niche. If attempting to add light to a shower, be sure to enlist a professional.
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Side Wall Shower Niche
In this minimalist Southern California walk-in shower from The Home Consultant, the shower niche is located discreetly in the far corner on the side wall next to the showerhead, there when you need it and hiding in plain sight when you don't.
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Blue and White Shower Niche
If you're looking for shower niche ideas to make yours stand out, consider adding shelves in a contrasting color. Jessica Nelson Design added white quartz shelves to this dark blue hexagon tile niche that matches the shower window trim for a coordinated look.
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All-White Shower Niches
Michelle Berwick Design built a pair of stacked framed square shower niches on either side of the showerhead in the corner of this arched walk-in shower that add functionality to the primary bathroom while maintaining the all-white theme.
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Two-Directional Tile Niche
This bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors uses two different rectangular tiles in lightly contrasting shades of gray and alternating sizes and layouts. The mix of vertical and horizontal tile adds subtle movement and dimension to the neutral space.
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Kid-Sized Shower Niche
If you're looking for a kid-friendly shower niche idea, consider a small square shape rather than a rectangle. Emily Henderson Design added a kid-sized niche in this light-flooded bathroom that holds essentials and is decorated with a green dinosaur bath toy.
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Window-Sized Niche
This spacious bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors includes a wide shower niche that mimics the shape of the transom windows, helping it to blend in seamlessly with the minimalist black-and-white space.
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Seamless Shower Niche
Glossy emerald green stacked tiles with thick off-white grout covers three walls of this walk-in shower from Max Humphrey and Beebe Skidmore for Emily Henderson Design. A wide horizontal shower niche as tall as two stacked tiles helps make the niche feel seamlessly integrated into the design.
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Accent Tile Niche
This bathroom from Tyler Karu Design + Interiors has a framed shower niche that includes a shelf to divide the vertical space. The niche is tiled with contrasting tile that matches the tile detail behind the showerhead, making the subway tile shower feel more custom.
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Niche With Glass Shelf
This minimalist shower niche from Cathie Hong Interiors mimics the shape of the tall vertical light taupe-colored stacked tile for a seamless look. A glass shelf maximizes functionality.
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Minimalist Shower Niche
In this spacious wet room style bathroom from Brophy Interiors, a niche finished with a large pale gray wall tile contrasts with the darker gray wall tiles surrounding it. Don’t pack your shower niche with products you don’t use regularly. Leave some extra space for an uncluttered look, and so there’s room to add a new product or decorative item, like a small vase of flowers.
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Stacked Shower Niches
In this compact bathroom designed by Malcolm Simmons for Emily Henderson Design, a pair of subway tile niches stacked on top of one another doubles storage by utilizing vertical space.
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Small Square Shower Niche
Erin Williamson Design made a big statement with electric blue square tiles on the walls of this bathroom, adding a small square niche that is carved into the back wall.
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Mosaic Tile Niche
In a small space, work with what you have to create a unique style. In this small bathroom from Neva Interior Design, a series of stacked cubby-style niches are built into the corner of the compact shower, covered in the same mosaic tile as the rest of the bathroom for a harmonious feel.
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Bathtub Shower Niches
In this bathroom from Arbor & Co., a combo shower and bathtub has a subway tile backsplash and a pair of niches finished in neutral hexagon tile. The niches are stacked on top of one another, with the smaller horizontal bathtub niche on the bottom so it's accessible from the bath, and the vertical shower niche positioned directly above.
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Wide Shower Niche
A small niche usually works well in a small shower, but a larger niche in a smaller space can help it to feel bigger. Tyler Karu Design + Interiors added a nearly wall-to-wall niche in this teal-colored horizontal stacked tile shower. A shelf in the same dark stone as the corner bench makes it feel cohesive.
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Marble Tile Niche
This small marble tile shower niche from Kate Marker Interiors melds seamlessly into the background while adding a hint of depth to the all-over marble wall.
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Simple Vertical Niche
If you're looking for shower niche ideas for a minimalist space, try a small vertical niche that will store the essentials without taking up visual space. The Home Consultant added a small vertical niche that matches the neutral sandy shower tile in this bright Los Angeles bathroom, leaving the geometric floor tile to take center stage.
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Shower Bench Niche
In this bathroom from Michelle Berwick Design, the shower niche is built into the back of an integrated bench that serves as a divider between the walk-in shower and the toilet.
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Pink Tile Shower Niche
If your shower is tiled in an eye-catching color and is carried onto the ceiling like it is in this spacious bathroom from Desiree Burns Interiors, let your niche blend in by lining it in the same tile for a cohesive look.
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LED-Lit Shower Niche
Define your shower niche with warm LED light to create a relaxing ambiance. Gray Space Interiors ran the same lighting along the ceiling line around the shower for a balanced feel.
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Shower Niche With Plant
Style your shower niche with a small potted plant to add a natural, spa-like feel to your bathroom, like this neutral space from Desiree Burns Interiors.
What size should a shower niche be?
A shower niche should be wide, tall, and just deep enough to hold your everyday essentials, so tailor it to the products and accessories that are part of your regular rotation. Feel free to play with proportions depending on your aesthetics and how many people will be sharing the shower.
Where should a shower niche be located in a small shower?
The best place for a shower niche in a small shower depends on your bathroom layout. In a small bathroom, your choices might be limited, so think about how you plan to use the shower and pick the most convenient location and placement for you and your family. Try to place the shower niche out of the splash zone so that excess water doesn’t puddle around bar soap or shampoo bottles. And don’t be afraid to consult a professional for advice.
Which type of shower niche is the easiest to install on your own?
The easiest type of shower niche to install on your own is a prefabricated one. But you still may want to call on a professional to install it in order to ensure that it is sized and grouted properly to prevent water leakage and increase durability if your DIY skills are anything less than advanced.