Whether you have a bathtub or a walk-in shower, a custom niche is a great way to add storage for all your bath products.
When we did our bathroom renovations, we added shower niches to both bathroom designs and I’m so glad we did!
The niches keep you from having your shower products on the shower floor or in the little tiny corners of the bathtub or, heaven forbid, in a clunky shower caddy hanging over the shower head.
Shower niches aren’t just for walk-in showers. They are great to have built-in to your tub surround, so don’t think you can’t have one if you have a bathtub/shower combo.
You may wonder, what is the best height for a shower niche? There is no right or wrong height to add a recessed shower niche and you can find out the benefits of the most common heights in this post.
Installing a custom shower niche isn’t hard to do. You can buy prefabricated shower niches that are designed so that water won’t puddle in them. The other great thing about using a prefab shower niche is that you can tile directly on the surface.
We recommend using them in your bathroom renovation and we even walk you through how to install one and how to tile it in this post.
Shower niche design ideas:
- Double shower niche – two niches stacked on top of each other. They can be equal in size or different depending on what you want to use them for.
- Horizontal shower niche – a custom niche that is wider than it is tall
- Vertical shower niche – taller than it is wide
- Shower niche shelf – not recessed, but a shelf built into the wall of your shower
These are just a few, there are so many ways to configure the niche in your shower area.
Shower niche trim ideas:
Something that you should think through before installing a shower niche is how you will trim or how you will handle the edges of the niche. There are several different options:
- Use bullnose tile trim, which is a piece of tile with a rounded edge on one side. You can use bullnose tile trim pieces on the inside edge of the niche or on the flat face of the shower with the rounded edge facing the shower niche, creating a frame around the niche.
- Use pencil trim or jolly trim, which are long narrow pieces that look like a quarter-round
- Finish tile edges with caulk, which is cheap and easy, but won’t look as neat and finished.
Check out more details in this article all about tile edge trim.
Let’s check out these 20 shower niche ideas for inspiration with size, shape, and tile design. I know they will inspire you to add a custom niche to your bathroom design.
20 DIY Shower Niche Ideas
Double shower niche
My favorite part of this bathroom remodel was definitely the double shower niche. The bold accent tile defines the niches and I really love the cement tile design we chose.
Two shower niches are an ideal solution when multiple people use the bathroom. Everyone has a spot for their shower products and they don't end up sitting on the corners of the bathtub.
The other great part about having two shower niches here is that you can still reach the lower niche when taking a bath.
His and hers shower niches
We came up with the idea of his and hers shower niches in our master bathroom renovation and I'm so glad we did!
Our large walk-in master shower needed a place for all the soap and shampoo bottles and with two shower niches, our shower products don't intermingle.
We positioned them on the outside wall symmetrically from the window and the accent tile really makes them pop.
DIY Removable Teak Shower Niche Shelf
Teak wood is water resistant and is the perfect choice to use in your bathroom shower. You may not be able to find a teak wood shelf to fit in your recessed shelf niche, but you can DIY your own!
The shelf allows water to drain off and it's removable so it's easy to clean. You still have room for your shampoo bottles and other shower products and the shelf looks great against classic white subway tiles.
Read more to learn how to make your own DIY teak wood shower niche shelf.
Custom shower niche
This custom niche idea blends in with the rest of the tile and is barely noticeable in the bathroom design of this walk-in shower.
Having a low shower niche helps to keep your shower products organized and accessible and doubles as a leg-shaving ledge. Score!
Shower niche shelf
When taking on a bathroom renovation, it's important to design it for your needs. When you have a large family, a simple shower niche just isn't enough and you may need more storage space in your shower.
This design is done completely in concrete and the modern design is minimal and beautiful! This custom shower niche is an entire shelf with plenty of room for everyone's shower products.
Tiled shower niche
When you have a shower niche opposite the shower head (and placed above where the water hits), less water will accumulate in it as opposed to placing it anywhere else.
You can easily grab what you need without the fixtures getting in the way and this tiled shower niche design blends with the rest of the marble subway tile for a seamless custom look.
Bathtub surround shower niches
Shower niches aren't just for walk-in showers. Add them to your tub surround too! I love the pink vertical stacked tile that gives this shower design a modern look.
A double stacked pair of niches provide a place for larger shampoo or body wash and the bottom shorter niche is perfect for soaps and other small items you need while in the shower.
Herringbone bone patterned shower niche
The shower niche design in this shower blends in completely with the rest of the shower surround. By continuing the tile pattern in the back of the shower niche, it fades away and is hardly noticeable.
Large black tiles laid in a herringbone style modernize this amazing shower and beautiful niche with white grout for the perfect contrast.
Small and large stacked shower niches
Another double shower niche design idea is building in the shorter one on top and the taller one on the bottom.
These shower niches are placed close to the corner and the tile used in the niche is a smaller design than the main surround tile. The top one is best for grabbing your soap or razor, while shampoos and body wash can be kept in the bottom one.
Accent tiled shower niche
Coordinate your shower floor tile with your shower niche tile for a custom look in a smaller shower stall.
The marble hexagon tile on the shower floor is also used to accent the built-in shower niche placed just below shoulder height for easy access to all of your shower products.
Framed tile shower niche
Framing your shower niche with a contrasting accent tile really makes a statement on your shower wall.
This bathroom renovation uses three different tile styles with all three being showcased in the horizontal shower niche.
Subway tiled shower niche
Classic white subway surround tiles are used in this bathroom design on the walls and on the shower niche for a seamless look.
Creating the brick pattern around the corners of the recessed niche isn't easy, but once it's done it looks great. a plain marble tile is used on the bottom of the nice and you have plenty of space for all of your bath products.
Large horizontal shower niche
White subway tile is used on the entire shower area in this gorgeous bathroom. Keeping the shower simple with contrasting tile doesn't steal the limelight from the amazing yellow tile of the bathroom floor.
The large custom niche in this walk-in shower has lots of room for all of your shower products and allows you to keep them organized and off the built-in shower bench that is great to use for shaving your legs!
Double accent tiled shower niches
Marble hexagon tiles are used on the shower floor as well as the double shower niche in this walk-in shower design.
The small tiles are the perfect accent to the large vertical marble tile of the shower walls. The double shower niche gives you extra space to keep all your bath products easily accessible and neat and tidy.
Simple double shower niche
White subway surround tiles are used in this bathroom design for a classic simple look. White grout makes the surround look clean and modern.
One square niche sits below a shorter shower niche allowing you to keep your soaps and small items separate from your shampoo bottles and body wash.
Full length shower niche shelf
Marble tile in a modern stacked herringbone pattern is used in this entire shower. The custom shower niche in this shower is a built-in shelf that runs the entire length of the shower wall.
It's positioned at waist height, allowing you easy access to all of your bath products and plenty of extra storage space if you have a large family.
Double framed shower niche
This double shower niche has a taller space on top, great for tall shampoo bottles with pumps, and a shorter niche underneath for soaps and smaller items you need.
Instead of using bullnose tile, brass metal edge trim is used to frame the custom niches for a slimmer more modern look.
Large walk-in shower with niche
First things first, let's stop and admire this beautiful walk-in shower! The colors and bathroom tile choice are fresh and modern.
The shower niche in this large shower is framed with the same tile as on the floor for a bit of contrast. The location of the built-in niche in the perfect spot to be able to grab what you need while showering.
I think it could have been a little bigger, but the location of the wall studs may have been an issue with this bathroom shower design.
Small bathroom shower niche
You need a place in small showers to keep your bath products and a recessed shower niche is a perfect solution.
This horizontal shower niche is framed with bullnose tile for a seamless look. You'll have plenty of space for your shampoo bottles and body wash in this custom shower niche idea.
Simple shower niche
A stacked subway tile pattern makes it easy to tile your shower niche without having to worry about tiling around the corners.
The same classic white subway tile is cut and used to frame the custom niche that sits just under the shower head in this bathroom design.
Which of these shower niches is your favorite?
Let us know in the comments below!
