I’m not holding a bathroom election, but if I were, I’d be endorsing the Horizontal Niche Party. The overcrowding of shower niches across the country is becoming an epidemic, and I cannot look the other way any longer. We have to solve this crisis together!
If I had a choice, bathrooms in every state could properly house all the bottles and pots of glop any human being could want. I’d see horizontal niches installed into any shower or tub wall that I could get my hands on. Tall, boring shower niches that fit between the studs with little effort would be a thing of the past. I know what you’re thinking: A horizontal niche requires a bit of framing work. It’s not as simple as adding a prefabricated niche box.
Browse before and after pictures of this major master bath makeover
You might even have to have a deep conversation with your contractor about this, and defend the number of products, combs, soaps and shampoos you own. Stand up! Be honest about your desire for a niche that can support your interests. The Horizontal Niche Party represents change, and most importantly, space in the shower.
It’s a whole new world out there in the bathroom, people, and horizontal shower niches are just the change we need. Are you with me? Cast your vote in the comments below.
Totally agree with your complaint. Now bathrooms have sleek design and no where convenient to store the products one uses in the bathroom. What are these builders thinking when they design only for beauty and not function? We changed our minds about buying a house, because of the lack of storage in the master bath!
Hi LLB!
Storage is so important to how we live today. I know many people have said 'No' to a home because it lacked storage. Did you see our post here – http://blog.hgtvremodels.com/2012/09/18/bathroom-… Branka is a very talented designer who helped her clients solve the bathroom storage issue beautifully.
Thanks for following along!
Awesome. My husband remodeled our kids bath. He ripped out the pre-fab plastic tub with walls and replaced a full walk in shower with the big niche. All four kids can put their own stuff. He had to cut two studs and frame it. We put glass tiles in the back. The kids feel like they are in a spa! It was worth the extra time!
Liz – How wonderful to have a handy hubby! Saying goodbye to the prefab sounds like it gave you so many options. Another vote for adequate shower storage!
Your kids must feel very lucky
We couldn't get them to take a shower before, now they fight to get in! lol
My bathroom is 41" by 74" !!! not including the barely one person shower… all i see are bottles n brushes and junk… now anyone have ideas on how to solve that… let me know
Hi, I am corious if anyone answered your dilema. If anyone did I would like to know as i have a small bathroom myself. Thanks in advance. Diane
Geo –
I always like to give a good purge of all the bottles, containers, and product that collects in the bathroom – then you can look around for a spot to install another medicine cabinet. There are many options that can fit between the studs if you have a space for it.
That's a teeny bathroom!
I bought a shower liner that has mesh pockets in/on it. Works great
I share your pain. I do have three more feet in length, but about the same, by inches, in width. I resolved my storage problem, by putting the sink in crosswise (the shortest width), and leaving the space under, open. I built in 2 shelves, and use decorative baskets to store everything from lotions to cleaning supplies. My shower was built to accomadate a shower chair, or one day…so I can't help there.
Hope this helps.
We have a wall mount by simple human it holds soap, shampoo and conditioner . It get the bottles out in you can also get a shelf to go with it. Check it out at Bed & Bath store's.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, this idea. I'm thinking of ripping out a one-piece walk-in shower and want to tile everywhere, with at least 4 niches and a bench!
Vickie –
Hooray! Another bathroom converted to great storage!
Benches are such a great addition to showers that have the space for it. Will you tile it? perhaps a teak bench? Keep us posted.
I am keeping this idea for our master bath remodel which has zip point squat for storage!
Tjennings –
Are you planning a remodel soon? It's wonderful that you're thinking of storage now… you'll be so glad you planned ahead to sneak in some tricks like a horizontal niche.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
I'm going to be starting 2 bathroom's!! 1 Handicap accessible, {for my mother-in-law} our other for the family {our 5 older kids and us!!!} But I'm havin' fun…….:)
Maureen –
Look into the Invisia grab bars and the teak bench in this post here – http://blog.hgtvremodels.com/2012/08/28/multi-gen…
I saw them at the Kitchen and Bath show this year and they are really well made, sleek, useful items that anyone would be pleased to see in the shower.
I'm glad you're having fun! Remodeling can be a creative, enjoyable process when you take the time to plan and know what you want. Kudos to you!
Niche great way to go wish I had done that when our kids were growing up.
Love the idea. I feel the need.
when i was remodeling my bath I asked my contractor for a niche and he said no because it would leak…my guess he was too lazy to do what would be necessary to prevent it from leaking
Jan –
Sometimes it can really take some debate and even some pressure to get a contractor to explore something they don't know. Often contractors are used to using a prefabricated box that you tuck in between the studs – and it can be intimidating to try something new.
It isn't too hard to frame and install a niche in this fashion – just a different process. A subtle slope on the bottom shelf helps water to drain into the shower.
How was the rest of the remodeling process? Are you pleased with your finished bathroom?
jacs –
Yes! love this idea too. So many creative spots to create custom storage.
Until you remodel, you might try a shower curtain with "pockets." Bed Bath and Beyond carries them, and they have up to 12 pockets to store your stuff right on the shower curtain. I use mine as the liner, then have a curtain that matches my decor facing the bathroom. This might not work with a spring loaded shower curtain bar…the weight might bring it down.
My husband I are remodeling the entire house. We completed the kitchen, family, living, dining rooms & entry already. We plan to start the bedrooms & bathrooms soon. We have added lighted niches in the family room & plan to add them in the guest bedroom, master bedroom & hallway. We will have niches in both bathrooms… inside & out of the showers, but can we add lights to the niches in the shower? If so, what type of lighting? LED lights? Thanks for your advice.
I like the niche, a little contrast in color would have set it apart from the rest of the wall.
What realy irks me is when i see a handicapped bathroom sink with a cabnet under it. How do you expect people in wheel chairs to wash their hands?
I'm now trying to figure out how to knock out the wall that holds the faucets of our tiny shower & steal some of the closet space , if not all of it, in the small bedroom that backs up to a very small outdated bathroom. This small room ajoins the master bedroom so I would also like to put some kind of a walk in closet in there. This was first on my "honey-do-please"list for my husband of 53 years who sadly passed away from stomach cancer in February. Now my mind is boggled on how to accomplish this feat & add storage. Much Aloha