Photo: Tessa Neustadt for EHD | From: Emily’s Classic Modern Bathroom Reveal
I didn’t put a niche in our previous master bathroom and while I didn’t regret it (because we had a shelf at one end of the tub) I knew that functionally, most people would wish there were waist-high access to their hair potions, instead of turning around, bending down and grabbing their shampoo. While I did put them in our current master and don’t mind them there, in general, I don’t love niches, mostly because they break up fields of beautiful tile with labels and gross scum (literally, soap scum). This isn’t something where if I go to a friend’s house or stay at an Airbnb and see a shower niche, I’m like “ugh, get some taste.” They can absolutely be FINE and often are even beautiful.
But designing what has felt like dozens of bathrooms between Portland and mountain house (honestly, I think I’ve designed a bathroom for every Duggar offspring this year), I’ve had a lot of opportunities to contemplate the niche and what other things can be done instead. The possibility of designing a good version of the thing I didn’t love was an attractive challenge. What could we do to create storage but not have a box break up a field of beautiful tile or if it is going to break up the tile, can we do it in the most modern way possible?
First, let’s revisit the niche. This grid of four that follows shows a handful of niches that feel rather dated. I want to preface this by saying that if your bathroom looks like this, there’s no need to hide out in your closet forever, never admitting to the world that you have a “dated” bathroom niche (how dare you), but I do feel like I have to establish what a “traditional” niche is before launching into how I’m seeing people rethink the whole inset box.
When you do a Google search for “shower niche,” 92% of the results come back with contrasting tile, and I think this is the ticket to feeling a bit “dated.” As a loose rule, I’d say to stay away from alternative tiles or “accent” tiles. Yes, this can totally be done well, but like a wet pair of jeans, it’s just harder to pull off.
In some of the ones above, it basically sucks in your eyes/attention. Call it the excessive cleavage of the bathroom. It’s hard to look away, for better or for worse.
Instead, I recommend going for a shower niche that is almost invisible to the eye. Built with the exact same tile as the rest of the shower surround, so it almost disappears when empty. Or keep the background of the shelf super neutral. I get it, having a shelf right in the shower is almost a necessity, but it doesn’t have to announce itself.
Here are some great niches that I think are simple and pretty and well done, mine included.
These are the niches in my master bath. Yes, they were styled simply and pretty for this shoot because we’re not heathens, but they’re functional and don’t really pop out at you.
This appears to be a hotel (or a very fancy home) where each showerhead gets its own designated niche. These are pretty big for a niche, but something I wanted to point out is that sometimes, niches are made so small and you can’t even store your taller or larger-sized products. You can FORGET going from shopping bag to shower niche if you’re all about that Costco bulk-sized life. Yes, you can decant things into bottles that fit in a smaller nook (which would be better, if you like to keep things pretty and ready for the lifestyle mafia to come by at any moment), but it’s just an extra step. SO, if you’re remodeling and dead set on a niche, remember to allow yourself at least 12 inches in height to maneuver your bath goods.
The lower niche is also a subtle option, but if you’re not into bending down or sudsing up while seated, this might not be the best path to go down.
Technically, this image has a niche, yes, which is why it’s here, but mostly I just wanted to show you a WALK-IN TUB SHOWER THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS.
The way the tile pattern falls in these niches is a little trippy, so even if you aren’t going with a contrasting accent tile, be careful with how your tiles will fall within the shapes you are creating. The nice thing here though is that there are different levels of niches—one for when you’re in the bath, and two for when you’re showering.
Somewhere between the traditional niche and what I’m about to talk about (spoiler alert: it’s a ledge) is the linear niche, like this:
So, it’s just what it sounds like…a niche, but longer (i.e. linear). To keep the look nice and clean, make sure that the inset lines up with your tile line so nothing is cut off strangely or awkwardly.
This is a large linear niche. I mean, some people don’t even have that length in their bathrooms, let alone enough room for the ledge and a walk-in shower BUT, the installation of the tile is spot on here. If it weren’t for the black edging, from afar, the depth might not be very perceptible, which = a barely noticeable break in the tile field and less visual clutter.
Hot tip: if you have the space while renovating a bathroom, putting the handle trim in the entrance to your shower (instead of on the further wall where the showerhead is) IS SO SMART. DO IT. Long gone will be the days of subjecting your limbs to either scalding or freezing waters before your shower gets to temp. But back to linear, updated niche talk…the wall-to-wall look is even closer to the ledge idea, but again, make sure you have enough room to store the bottles you know realistically you will be using.
It’s a particularly sexy look in a marble bath surround, plus it’s far easier to wipe clean scum because there is no grout or tile texture to get stuck in (because let’s face it, NO space looks good messy/grungey, but a modern minimal room looks ESPECIALLY bad because there’s nothing to distract from the filth; you cannot create a dirt diversion in a room with fewer elements than you have fingers on one hand).
Now to the new ideas—what is the “new niche”? America must know! Well, I’m here to tell you today that I DO NOT KNOW because likely, the niche will never go away, BUT the ledge is a serious contender in my design playbook, and something we’ve been seeing a lot in magazines and in high-end hotels.
In fact, that’s where I first started contemplating this. I was in Portland staying at a hotel while working on the project up there and mid-shower, I was like… “why aren’t we doing a ledge like this more?” It looked so sleek, so modern (and by modern, I mean more “fresh” and less “contemporary”), didn’t break up any lines and, frankly, just looked cool. So I ask…
Is the ledge the new niche?
At first glance, I thought this was a ledge, but studying it again…it might be a nook? A ledge-niche? The change in materials makes it look a bit like a pony wall (which we considered doing in the mountain house upstairs guest bath), but it still just feels simpler and fresher.
Oh, this is a different perspective on that bathroom and I have to imagine there was a reason they needed that vertical break in the ledge (likely to attach the shower door/glass wall), but I do like how it continues around the vanity area.
It’s not common to get a ton of surface area for storage around a free-standing tub, mostly because they’re not exactly a shower stall and more of a luxury design moment, which says “don’t you dare besmirch me with your bottle of Garnier Fructise Sleek & Shine.” While a ledge doesn’t automatically rebrand your drugstore shampoo (no shame), it does provide a place to put whatever bottles you need (pretty or not) in a way that’s less obvious (like a nook or niche would be) since it’s a continuous line across your wall.
Yes, you’ve seen this bathroom from Decus Interiors time and again here on this blog, but it just keeps proving its worth in terms of style. It’s basically all the bathroom trends we’ve been talking about for the past few months (stacked tile, bubble sconces, wall-mount faucets, vanity mirrors) in one bangin’ package.
Here’s another angle of that bathroom that shows how the ledge stretches from the shower to the sink area, which is a really nice touch. This plays out especially well if you’re installing a killer material (like this stone they have here) and just makes everything look so seamless. If you’re working with a space limitation and it works best for you to have your vanity on the same wall as your shower, something like this would seriously elevate the style of your smaller space.
Keeping the ledge lower like in this bathroom serves two purposes: it’s at a height that would work well for easily doing real-life things like shaving legs and having your products in easy reach when you’re bent over. Have you ever been shaving your legs and need to reach for more shaving cream/soap/conditioner (yes, I know some people who use conditioner to shave their legs and swear by it) but it’s so high and far away that it feels like a nightmare game of Twister? Something like this is a solution that also happens to look really sleek.
Another little tip: if your ledge is on the same wall as your showerhead, make sure the showerhead extends out far enough past the shelf (which is typically four to six inches) to make sure you don’t end up with a soggy, soppy wet shelf always and forever.
Okay, SO…what do you guys think? EHD really loves the simplicity and clean lines of a ledge vs. a niche, but are you team niche 4eva or totally on board? As always, chime in in the comments below with all your thoughts, concerns, advice…all the goodness that lives in your brilliant brains.
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What good is a beautiful shower if you have nowhere to store your bath and shower products? Shower storage ensures that your shampoo, soap, and razor are right where you need them while keeping your space looking clean and organized. We’ve reviewed some common shower storage options, both temporary and built-in, and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
If your shower is lacking storage, but you are not interested in remodeling your bathroom anytime soon, temporary shower storage is a great option. These storage systems can be purchased at any store that sells home goods and they are usually relatively affordable.
This type of storage typically features a metal or plastic shelf or bucket that attaches to your shower wall with suction cups. The main benefit of suction cup storage is that it is typically affordable and simple to install. However, one of the cons of suction cup storage is that even the strongest suction cups can begin to slip over time, especially in a wet shower environment.
We love the OXO Good Grips StrongHold Suction Corner Basket ($22.99).
Image Credit: Left, Right
Many homeowners love over the showerhead storage because it is so easy to install. These storage systems slip over your showerhead pipe and contain multiple shelves or baskets for storing products. One thing to keep in mind with this type of storage is balance. Some models may tilt and lean if you remove a heavy product, causing all of the other items in the caddy to shift. Look for over the showerhead storage that fits snug around your showerhead pipe or has suction cups for additional support.
Our top 4 favorite ‘over the showerhead’ storage solutions:
Image Credit: Left, Right
This type of storage fills the space between the floor of your shower or the curb of your tub to the ceiling. Corner shower storage units are held in place with a combination of tension rods and suction cups and usually contain multiple shelves – making this a great option for families or homeowners that need a lot of space. These systems can take a bit more time to install, but once in place, they become a cohesive part of the shower.
Our favorite is the simplehuman 9′ Tension Pole Shower Caddy, Stainless Steel and Anodized Aluminum – $139
If you are considering a bathroom remodel, incorporating ample built-in shower storage is a wise choice. Built-in storage is functional and blends seamlessly with the design of your space.
Recessed niches are a popular choice when it comes to built-in storage. These niches come in a variety of sizes and may contain additional shelves within them. We often suggest this type of shower storage because it is set into the wall and therefore doesn’t take up any shower space. Recessed niches also offer the opportunity to add a pop of accent tile to your shower, creating a functional and beautiful element to your space. The downside of recessed niches is that they require a lot of careful planning – from making sure the niche is well-insulated to ensuring the grade of the tile will prevent water from settling in the niche. If you’re interested in including recessed niches in your shower, we recommend hiring a bathroom remodel professional.
These triangular shelves are another simple built-in storage option. Corner shelves can be stacked one on top of the other, providing a storage space for each member of your family. If you have a smaller shower, one drawback of built-in shower shelves is that they do take up a little bit of valuable shower real estate.
Like other built-in storage options, shower seats offer a convenient space to store your products. But built-in shower seats also provide a place to sit if needed. These shower seats are convenient for activities like shaving but are also great for those with more limited accessibility. With shower seats, it’s important to bear in mind that they require a larger shower to implement, which means they won’t work well in a small bathroom.
When it comes to the shower, every homeowner’s storage needs are different– we hope that this guide will help you create a shower space that is equal parts beautiful and functional. If you’re still unsure of what type of storage would work best in your bathroom, check out our remodel gallery for some before and after shower inspiration.