If you’ve ever renovated a shower and then spent the next five years using a freestanding shelf that falls over and leaves rust marks on the tile, you understand the appeal of a built-in shower niche. A niche is simply a recessed shelf built into the shower wall — and it’s one of those small additions that people almost universally wish they’d included if they didn’t.
Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, shaving cream, razors — whatever you use in the shower. A well-placed niche puts these items at a natural reach height without cluttering the shower floor or requiring an add-on shelf.
A niche must be built between studs — it can’t cross a stud without significantly more structural work. Standard stud spacing of 16 inches on centre gives you about 12 to 13 inches of interior width, which is sufficient for most shower products. The height placement depends on your personal reach preference and whether you’re tiling it to align with a horizontal grout line (which looks cleanest).
A niche is a horizontal surface inside a wet area — waterproofing it properly is critical. The back and sides of the niche need to be treated with waterproofing membrane before tile is applied. Products like Schluter-KERDI make this process straightforward.
Most shower niches are tiled to match the shower walls. Some use a contrasting tile inside the niche for a design detail. Schluter also makes prefabricated niche kits that simplify installation and ensure proper waterproofing.
Ask us about shower niche products and planning at Vanity Mart’s Waterloo showroom. We’re at 1-90 Frobisher Drive. Call 519-886-3240.
