Lathering up just got a little more luxurious.
Designing a good shower takes more than choosing a cute shower curtain or curating an apothecary of lotions, potions, and bath bombs. (Though don’t get us wrong, those things are important.) It’s crucial to build in organization that works. Enter shower niches. These alcoves offer a convenient place to put toiletries; you’ll never knock them off the side of the tub again. We’ve seen shower niche ideas in practically every shape and size—square! rectangular! arched! with shelves! without shelves!—so there’s definitely a design out there to fit your specific needs. That said, there are a few ground rules that apply to every setup, Courtnay Tartt Elias of Creative Tonic Design says. “Size matters when it comes to shower niches,” the designer says. “I like to ensure that they are large enough for big bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Typically, 14 inches is perfect!”
Though shower niches are often considered a function-first feature, the truth is these nooks and crannies have plenty of design potential—you just need to know where to look. To help, we’ve pulled together some of our favorite shower niche ideas from designer bathrooms to inspire you.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
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
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
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.
“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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.”
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