Shower Niche Design Guide: What to Know Before You Renovate

Let’s talk about the little feature that makes a huge difference in your shower design: the niche. You’ve seen them in Pinterest-worthy bathrooms and designer homes, but there’s more to a well-placed niche than meets the eye. When planned right, it keeps your products tidy, elevates your tile layout, and adds that polished, custom feel that makes the space sing.

At RMH Kitchen, Bath & Interiors, we believe functionality should never come at the expense of beauty, and this shower niche design guide will show you exactly how to blend both.

Planning a full bathroom remodel? Don’t miss our guide to tile laying patterns to help you choose the perfect layout from floor to walls.

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What Is a Shower Niche, and Why Does It Matter?

A shower niche is a recessed shelf built directly into your shower wall to store everyday essentials—shampoo bottles, soaps, razors, and more. It saves you from clunky corner caddies or slippery floor bottles, but more importantly, it’s a place where design meets daily use.

In a remodel, we often say: don’t just add storage—design it in. A niche does exactly that.

Custom vs. Prefab Niches—What’s the Difference?

Not all niches are built the same. There are two main types to consider:

Custom Niches

Custom-built niches are framed on site during construction, allowing full control over the size, placement, and tile layout. Want to match your grout lines? Frame it wider? Add two tiers? All possible with a custom build.

RMH Pro Tip: We love custom niches for their flexibility, especially when we’re working with bold tile patterns or unique layouts.

Prefab Niches

Prefab (or preformed) niches come in standard sizes and are installed directly into the wall between studs. They’re typically foam or plastic, already waterproofed, and can save time and cost.

Good to Know: We sometimes recommend prefab niches for quick remodels or budget-conscious builds—but placement can be limited by wall framing.

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Where Should a Shower Niche Go? Placement Makes the Difference

Niche height, width, and location all depend on who’s using the shower and what you want the niche to do. Here are a few placement strategies we consider:

Eye-level convenience: Place it around the chest to shoulder height for easy access (typically 48"–60" off the floor). | *Photography: Unknown

Offset or center? Centered niches can feel formal; off-center niches feel more modern and organic. | *Photo by Advance Design Studio

Stacked niches: Great for couples, families, or shared spaces with different reach heights. | *Photo by: Hey There, Home

Under the window: Don’t overlook the opportunity to tuck a niche below natural light. | Photo by: House Beautiful

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Sizing Tips from Our Shower Niche Design Guide

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here’s how we guide our clients:

Single bottle niche: 12" x 12"

12" x 12' x 3.5" Schluter Kerdi Board Shower Niche | Photo by: The Original Granite Bracket

Family-size niche: 24"–30" wide with one or two shelves

24" x 12" Bernkot Stainless Streel Shower Niche | Photo by: Amazon

Statement niche: Full-wall or ledge-style running end to end

Full-wall shower niche | Photo by EZ Concept

RMH Pro Tip: If you use large shampoo bottles, bar soap, razors, or décor items like candles or plants, plan for the lifestyle you actually live.

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Tile Talk—Make It Blend or Make It Pop

Your shower niche is a perfect opportunity to enhance your tile design. There are two main visual routes you can take:

Photo by: Room For Tuesday

1. Seamless & Subtle

Use the same tile inside the niche as the rest of the shower to let it blend in. This keeps the lines clean and makes your space feel larger.

Photo by Advance Design Studio

2. Bold & Contrasting

Use the niche as a focal point with accent tile—think geometric patterns, a bold pop of color, or even hand-glazed ceramic for that one-of-a-kind look.

RMH Pro Tip: We often suggest saving the splurge tile for the niche—small space, big impact, budget-friendly.

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Don’t Forget the Finishing Details

The edges of your niche matter. Tile transitions should be clean, polished, and durable. Depending on the tile type, we’ll recommend:

• Metal edge trims (like Schluter) for a crisp modern line

• Mitered tile corners for a seamless, high-end finish

• Bullnose edges for classic, softer lines

These aren’t just pretty—they’re what keep your niche from chipping, cracking, or catching water long-term.

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Real-Life Niche Examples We Love

Coming soon to our RMH showroom: real, full-scale bathroom vignettes showing niche placement, tile transitions, and how lighting affects design! Until then, check out our project gallery or Instagram @rmhkitchenandbath for sneak peeks.

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In the world of bathroom design, a well-planned niche does more than hold your shampoo—it tells the story of a space built thoughtfully, just for you. Whether it’s a family-friendly tub nook or a luxurious primary suite feature, your niche should feel as intentional as every other design detail.

Let’s design one that fits your space, your style, and your day-to-day life.

👉 Book a bathroom design consult and let’s build your dream shower—niche and all.