SHOWER NICHES: WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?
From purely functional to intentionally beautiful.
A shower shelf has come a long way since the days of basic chrome add-ons. Gone is the era of the single 300mm fixed shelf; today, storage is an integral part of bathroom soul. As interior designers, we’re always looking for ways to carve out a seamless, functional space. We’ve compiled a few of our favourite elevated options for your consideration.
The Tiled Niche
A tiled shower niche is a classic and seamless option creating an almost hidden, recessed shelf. It’s important for the tile grout lines to align, so the tiling is continuous. We always consider our tile heights and the height of the niche to ensure it’s been planned correctly.
Why we love this look
This option tends to be the more budget friendly than a full marble shower niche. It can also look beautiful for the tiles to continue to give you a seamless, uninterrupted wall that isn’t overly busy.
The Full Marble Niche
A full marble niche means all five sides are cladded in stone. The result is clean and seamless, and allows the stone to become a feature, especially if it contrasts to the wall tiles.
Why we love this look
We love the smooth, seamless finish, minimal grout and the overall aesthetic it brings to a bathroom. The projection of stone, also creates a deeper shelf for larger bottles to be placed when depth is limited.
The Marble and Tile Hybrid
A combination marble and tile niche is much more subtle than the full stone option, where the tiling to the back of the niche continues. You can choose to mitre the edges where tiles meet, or frame this junction in a stone capping.
Why we love this look
We love how the two materials work together without competing. The subtle contrast between the marble and tile creates a beautiful finish that feels intentional. The stone overhang also hides the mitred edge of the tile if you prefer not to see it.
The Floating Stone Shelf
A stone shelf is a simple yet elegant alternative to a built-in niche. Cut from a single piece of natural stone and fixed directly to the wall, it offers a clean, minimal way to add storage and style to your bathroom.
Why we love this look
Not every bathroom wall is suited to a recessed niche. Sometimes a structural element, insulation requirement, or external wall prevents us from cutting in. In these cases and sometimes simply by design preference, a shower shelf is the solution. Unlike a recessed niche, a floating shelf can be added after the fact, giving you much more flexibility with sizing and placement.
Whether you're drawn to the clean simplicity of a tiled niche, the quiet luxury of full marble, or the flexibility of a floating stone shelf, there's an option to suit almost every bathroom, and every brief. The right choice comes down to your wall construction, your tile selection, and the overall feeling you're after.
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