by Fan Winston - June 30, 2021

Archive Dive: 10 Bathrooms with Niche Appeal

Bathrooms are among the tiniest spaces in most homes, which means storage is nearly always elusive in this room—unless, that is, you plan for it. One of the smartest storage strategies is to design built-in niches into shower stalls and bathtub areas for a clean look. Here are 10 examples from our archives of tiled, niched shelving done expertly.

A wet room with tub and shower enclosed behind a glass partition features a long niched shelf. Photograph by Nicole Franzen, from Rehab Diary: Monochromatic Luxe in Park Slope. — Above: A wet room with tub and shower enclosed behind a glass partition features a long niched shelf. Photograph by Nicole Franzen, from Rehab Diary: Monochromatic Luxe in Park Slope.

Another one, similarly shaped, in a glass-walled shower crowned by a skylight. Photograph by Laure Joliet, courtesy of Brian Paquette Interiors, from Bungalow Upgrade: A Craftsman House Orchestrated for a Hollywood Composer. — Above: Another one, similarly shaped, in a glass-walled shower crowned by a skylight. Photograph by Laure Joliet, courtesy of Brian Paquette Interiors, from Bungalow Upgrade: A Craftsman House Orchestrated for a Hollywood Composer.

Tall and narrow niched shelving accentuates the vertical tiles (from Heath Ceramics) in this bathroom. Photograph by Devon Banks, courtesy of Denise Lee Architect, from Before & After: A Gramercy Park Apartment Transformed. — Above: Tall and narrow niched shelving accentuates the vertical tiles (from Heath Ceramics) in this bathroom. Photograph by Devon Banks, courtesy of Denise Lee Architect, from Before & After: A Gramercy Park Apartment Transformed.

This slim and high version accommodates three shelves. Photograph by Kevin Greenberg, courtesy of Space Exploration, from The Simple Life: A Montauk Beach House for a Creative Couple. — Above: This slim and high version accommodates three shelves. Photograph by Kevin Greenberg, courtesy of Space Exploration, from The Simple Life: A Montauk Beach House for a Creative Couple.

In lieu of one large, long niched space, you may want to consider a his/hers cubby approach. Photograph by Kate Sears, from The Joshua Tree Casita: A Stylish DIY Remodel, Budget Edition. — Above: In lieu of one large, long niched space, you may want to consider a his/hers cubby approach. Photograph by Kate Sears, from The Joshua Tree Casita: A Stylish DIY Remodel, Budget Edition.

The vertical tiles in this niche are a nice contrast to the horizontal tiles around it. Photograph by Laure Joliet, courtesy of Tamar Barnoon, from Bathroom of the Week: In LA, a Softer Take on Black and White. — Above: The vertical tiles in this niche are a nice contrast to the horizontal tiles around it. Photograph by Laure Joliet, courtesy of Tamar Barnoon, from Bathroom of the Week: In LA, a Softer Take on Black and White.

This double shower stall has not one, but two niches. Photograph courtesy of Elizabeth Roberts, from A Whole-House Overhaul in Brooklyn with a High/Low Mix. — Above: This double shower stall has not one, but two niches. Photograph courtesy of Elizabeth Roberts, from A Whole-House Overhaul in Brooklyn with a High/Low Mix.

bathroom-white-subway-hex-tile-brooklyn-remodel-elizabeth-roberts — Above: A simple glass shelf inserted into the niche of this wet room creates two surfaces on which to store soaps. Photograph by Dustin Aksland, courtesy of Elizabeth Roberts, from An Unfussy Brooklyn Townhouse Remodel from Architect Elizabeth Roberts.

Two niches and an integrated bench provide more than enough storage in this stall. Photograph by Marcia Prentice, from Before & After: A Brooklyn-Inspired Bath in Los Angeles. — Above: Two niches and an integrated bench provide more than enough storage in this stall. Photograph by Marcia Prentice, from Before & After: A Brooklyn-Inspired Bath in Los Angeles.

Black and white simplicity. Photograph courtesy of Amee Alsop Design, from 10 Favorites: White Bathrooms from the Remodelista Designer Directory. — Above: Black and white simplicity. Photograph courtesy of Amee Alsop Design, from 10 Favorites: White Bathrooms from the Remodelista Designer Directory.

N.B.: This post is an update; it was first published 2018.

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