When it comes to creating a clutter-free bathroom, adequate storage space for shampoo, soap, and sundries in your shower is essential. A tile shower niche is the most stylish way to add extra storage space to a walk-in or enclosed shower.
Creating a Tile Shower Niche: The Basics
When creating a tile shower niche or recess shelving, you can either build a custom niche/shelving using porcelain or natural stone or use a waterproof prefabricated insert (aka tile-ready shower niche) as a base for tiling.
When tiling a shower niche, you may choose to cover just the back of the niche with large format tile, subway tile, or mosaic tile. Or you can tile the entire niche, from the back to the sides. You can choose to finish a niche with bullnose tile or pencil trim or use metal profiles (like Schluter) if your tile doesn’t offer matching trim pieces. For a more contemporary look, many installers also use mitered tile edges to create a clean, seamless frame.
Typically, a tile shower niche will be covered with a different tile than the shower walls. This helps create an eye-catching focal point in your bathroom. However, for a more seamless look you can tile the back of your shower niche with the same tile used for your walls/and or floor.
To add visual interest and texture to your shower, consider using a patterned mosaic tile (such as basketweave, hexagon, or octagon) to cover both the shower floor and shower niche.
Tiled Shower Niche: Shapes, Layouts & Designs
A small or standard-size walk-in shower typically features a single square or rectangular shower niche, which helps add just enough storage space for essential toiletries like shampoo, soap, and body wash.
You can also create a more modern look in your bathroom by utilizing either a tall, narrow shower niche or long horizontal shower niche, typically covered with porcelain or marble subway tile or large format tile. A long horizontal or vertical shower niche (with or without built-in shelves) will add even more space-saving storage to your shower design.
Two stacked niches covered with the same tile will increase storage space while also creating a clean, cohesive look. These niches can be the same size or the bottom niche can be short - designed just to store soap. You can also place a shower niche on either side of a corner to add ample storage and create a balanced, functional design.
When it comes to creating a custom built-in shower niche, it pays to get creative. Placing a shower niche on the plumbing wall or half wall of a walk-in shower, for example, adds storage in unexpected places while also creating a distinctive, eye-catching look.
A tiled shower niche is often placed above a shower bench in a large walk-in shower in a luxury bathroom or wet room. Placing the shower niche above the bench keeps everything within easy reach and helps create a clean, minimalist design.
Best Shower Niche Ideas
The best tile shower niches offer functional shower storage while also enhancing the design of your shower. Some of our favorite beautiful and useful tile shower niche ideas for your inspiration include:
Hexagon Tile Shower Niche
A hexagon tile shower niche adds classic character and contrast to a vertical subway tile shower design. Charcoal grey porcelain 2” hexagon mosaic tile adds visual interest to this simple square shower niche.
A clean white subway tile shower can also utilize larger hexagon tiles in black and white to create a striking contemporary look. 9x10 starburst hexagon tiles can be used to create a striking hexagon tile niche in a traditional running bond subway tile shower.
Herringbone Tile Shower Niche
Herringbone pattern tile is a classic choice for a tiled shower niche. This white and gray marble walk-in shower uses Italian Carrara marble herringbone mosaic tile on the walls and floor. The back of the shower niche is also covered with Carrara marble herringbone tile. Marble pencil trim is used to frame the niche. For small walk-in showers, using a mini herringbone pattern such as 1”x2” or 1”x3” is the best way to add texture and depth to a small area without overwhelming the space.
Diamond Mosaic Tile Shower Niche
For a larger walk-in shower or shower and tub combo, you can use a double shower niche (two separate niches stacked vertically or placed side-by-side) to add additional storage. Covering stacked niches in the same geometric pattern mosaic tile such as Carrara White and Cinderella Grey Marble Mosaic Tile in White Diamonds creates a striking design feature while adding adequate storage space to your shower.
Marble Pebble Shower Niche
Tiling a walk-in shower floor, bench top, and niche with the same pebble mosaic tile adds texture and depth to a horizontal subway tile shower. This contemporary shower design uses a white and grey pebble mosaic tile in Carrara White and Zebra marble to complement the deep blue subway tile walls with white grout.
Shower Niche Tiled with Small Squares Mosaic
One of the simplest ways to create a clean, uncluttered look in your shower is by adding a matching tile niche and feature wall in Carrara or Calacatta marble 5/8” squares. An Italian marble small squares mosaic tile shower niche provides an elegant look that never goes out of style.
Moroccan Tile Shower Niche with Shelf
This beautiful Carrara marble walk-in shower features a large shower niche with shelf. The back of the niche is tiled with a white and gray marble Moroccan arabesque lantern pattern waterjet mosaic. Carrara marble trim is used to frame the niche.
Basketweave Tile Shower Niche with Shelf
This luxurious Italian Calacatta marble tile shower features a vertical shower niche with two built-in shelves. The embedded shower niche is tiled in Calacatta basketweave pattern tile.
Bubble Tile Shower Niche
A shower niche tiled with a circle rounds pattern mosaic tile is the perfect way to add charm and character to any shower design. For an upscale look, consider a Dark Emperador & Crema Marfil Bubble Rounds Mosaic Tile.
Waterjet Mosaic Tile Shower Niche with Matching Border
Using the same accent tile throughout your shower can create a stunning, cohesive look that’s perfect for a luxury spa shower. This white and gray marble walk-in shower utilizes the Ballet Ribbon waterjet mosaic for both the shower niche and border.
