We dive deep into the world of shower niches, exploring how these recessed storage spaces can transform your bathroom's functionality while serving as stylish design elements. By eliminating clutter and creating dedicated storage, shower niches offer a simple solution that makes bathrooms feel more spacious and organized.
• Shower niches provide dedicated storage for bath products while eliminating clutter from shower floors and ledges
• Available in various designs including rectangular, arched, curved, wall-to-wall, and multi-tiered options
• Optimal placement is typically at eye level (42-60 inches high), with corner niches ideal for smaller spaces
• Materials range from classic tile to natural stone, with opportunities for contrasting finishes and accent pieces
• Built-in LED lighting can transform a niche into a striking design feature while adding practicality
• Custom designs allow homeowners to match niches to their personal style and bathroom aesthetic
Reach out with your questions or comments at www.belktile.com or call us at 614-543-8334. Find us on Facebook and Twitter at BelkTile, and on Instagram at @BelkTiles. Make sure to leave a rating and review and we'll address your questions on the next show.
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Episode Transcript
What kind of tile can you put on the wall or shower?
Do you have to seal tile?
How much extra tile should Ibuy for my project?
What thinset is the best for mytile application?
How hard is it to maintainnatural stone?
You have questions.
We have answers.
Welcome to the Belt TilePodcast.
(00:22):
How to style the bathroom, thebackyard, the kitchen, how to
improve your home style withtiles to make your home
absolutely beautiful?
Welcome to the Belk TilePodcast.
Here's your host, Mike Belk.
MIke Belk (00:43):
Good morning Abby.
Are you ready to dive into ourtopic of the day?
Abby (00:46):
Oh, good morning Mike.
What do we have on the tabletoday to discuss?
MIke Belk (00:50):
I am thinking we should discuss shower niches
this morning.
Abby (00:53):
That is a good one.
I get asked about these all thetime.
MIke Belk (00:55):
All right, so let's dive right in.
What is a shower niche exactly?
At its core, it's this recessedarea that's built right into
the wall of your shower and,honestly, it's a game changer.
It's such a simple addition,but it frees up so much space by
giving you a dedicated spot foryour shampoo, conditioner, body
wash, all that good stuff.
No more cluttered showercaddies or bottles sitting on
(01:16):
the floor.
Abby (01:17):
Totally.
And it adds this polished lookright Like it's not just storage
, it's a design element.
You get both form and function.
MIke Belk (01:24):
Exactly, and you know , I had a customer recently who
was remodeling their bathroomSmall space, you know, maybe
five by seven feet.
They were convinced theycouldn't make it feel bigger
without tearing down walls.
Abby (01:35):
Let me guess you suggested a shower niche.
MIke Belk (01:37):
You got it.
We added this simple horizontalniche that spanned the width of
their shower.
I kid you not.
When they saw it installed,they were blown away.
They said it felt like gainingspace without actually expanding
the room.
Just having the bottles off theledge made everything feel
cleaner and more open.
Abby (01:52):
That's amazing and paired with the right tile, like
something seamless or even anaccent, it can elevate the
entire bathroom right.
MIke Belk (01:59):
Oh, absolutely.
Plus, it keeps everythingwithin reach, which is such a
big deal.
No bending down mid-shower tograb what you need.
Abby (02:05):
Say goodbye to balancing shampoo bottles on your soap
dish.
I mean, we've all been there.
MIke Belk (02:09):
Yeah, and a niche isn't just practical, it's
customizable.
You can choose the height, thewidth, even the depth, based on
what you'd store in it.
It's such a simple solution,yet it makes a big statement.
And speaking of customization,let's dive into the designs.
When it comes to shower niches,you've got options like arched
niches, curved ones,wall-to-wall setups and even
multi-tiered shelving.
(02:29):
Each offers something unique,whether it's elegance,
practicality or a bold statementpiece.
Abby (02:35):
Wait, arched and curved niches.
That feels so different fromthe typical rectangle.
What's the appeal there?
MIke Belk (02:41):
Well arched niches bring this subtle architectural
charm.
It's a throwback to classicaldesign, but works beautifully
even in modern bathrooms.
A curved niche, on the otherhand, softens the aesthetic,
makes the shower feel morewelcoming without seeming rigid.
Abby (02:55):
Wow, I did not think you could do that with a shower
niche.
MIke Belk (02:58):
Abby, don't get me wrong.
It is not an easy task, but canbe done.
You will definitely need tomake sure you have a good
contractor who can handle this.
Abby (03:05):
Interesting and wall-to-wall niches.
That's like the big statementniche, right.
MIke Belk (03:09):
Spot on.
They maximize storage, makingthem perfect for larger showers.
Plus, they create this seamlessbuilt-in look.
That's well.
Let's just say it's hard toignore when you walk into the
room.
Abby (03:19):
Oh, totally.
I recently worked on a projectwhere we did a wall-to-wall
niche with accent tiles and itbasically became the focal point
of the whole bathroom.
MIke Belk (03:27):
Right, and placement plays such a huge role too.
Generally, you want the nicheat eye level, something like 42
to 60 inches high.
For smaller spaces, cornerniches are a clever solution,
especially if you're trying tosave room.
Abby (03:39):
And for shared bathrooms.
MIke Belk (03:40):
Ah, that's where multi-height niches come in
handy.
You can install one at astandard height and another
lower down for kids or anyonewho likes sitting while
showering.
It's about finding that perfectbalance between style and
usability.
Abby (03:53):
I love that and it's such a simple way to make the space
more functional for everyoneusing it.
MIke Belk (03:57):
Now that we've explored the importance of
finding the right design andplacement to match both function
and style, let's talk about thematerials that truly elevate a
shower niche, tile, naturalstone, wood, even metals.
Tile, of course, remains aclassic go-to option.
It's not just incrediblyversatile, but also super easy
to maintain.
Abby (04:17):
Right tile is the go-to, but mixing finishes is where the
magic happens.
Think about pairing sleeksubway tiles with something warm
like a wood accent, or even abold metallic edge to add a
little industrial flair.
MIke Belk (04:29):
Exactly like combining a mosaic tile backdrop
with natural stone sides.
It creates depth, almost like aframed piece of art within your
shower.
I actually worked on a remodelrecently where we installed a
mosaic-tiled niche with built-inLED lighting, and the
transformation was just wow.
Abby (04:46):
Wait, hold on Built-in lighting inside the niche.
MIke Belk (04:48):
Yep, we used warm LED strip lights along the edges.
It gave the space this softglow and I gotta say it took the
design up a notch Plus.
It's practical.
You're not fumbling around inlow light trying to grab your
shampoo or soap.
Abby (05:00):
I love that Lighting really helps the niche pop as a
design feature while making itfunctional too, and I think warm
lighting in particular addsthat spa-like vibe which
everyone kind of craves thesedays.
MIke Belk (05:11):
Absolutely, but here's the thing Safety first.
You gotta make sure thelighting is properly installed,
with waterproofing and alicensed electrician, to avoid
any issues.
Led strips are energy efficient, though, so they're really
worth considering for anyoneplanning a remodel.
Abby (05:25):
Totally.
And speaking of remodels, it'slittle touches like this that
make a bathroom go from good tounforgettable.
A beautiful niche with customlighting and the right materials
doesn't just improve storage,it creates a whole mood.
MIke Belk (05:38):
Couldn't have said it better myself.
And it's those thoughtfuldetails that really let your
personality shine in your space.
Whether it's contrasting tiles,textured stone or even smart
lighting, there's so much youcan do to make it uniquely yours
.
Abby (05:50):
So if you're planning a bathroom update or just dreaming
about one, don't underestimatethe power of a custom niche.
It's functional, it's stylishand, let's be honest, it's one
of those little luxuries thatmakes a big difference.
MIke Belk (06:03):
And on that note, we've reached the end of today's
episode.
Thanks for tuning in andletting us share some ideas to
elevate your space.
Abby (06:09):
Yeah, it's been so much fun talking about this and we
hope it's inspired.
You.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Until next time, take care and happy designing.
You've Until next time, takecare and happy designing, and
we'll be back soon.
But in the meantime, reach out.
The website is wwwbelktilecom.
Our store phone number is614-543-8334.
Find us on Facebook and Twitterat Belk Tile, and on Instagram
(06:50):
at Belk Tiles.
Make sure to leave a rating andreview and if you have
questions or comments, reach outand we'll talk about it on the
next show.
Till next time.
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