Key Takeaways
- A shower niche is a recessed shelf built into your shower wall to store toiletries without cluttering the space.
- Popular options include horizontal, vertical, and corner shower niche designs — each has pros and cons.
- The standard shower niche size is 12×12 or 12×24 inches, with a typical shower niche depth of 3.5–5 inches.
- In Ontario homes, consider stud spacing (16″) and waterproofing techniques to avoid mold and structural damage.
- A shower niche insert offers a pre-formed, ready-to-tile alternative for easier installation.
- Proper shower niche placement is essential: 48″ from the floor is a common height for accessibility.
- Use contrasting tile shower niches and edge trims to elevate the design of your custom shower niche.
In bathrooms, space is at a premium. If you share a bathroom with your partner or 1 or more people, finding enough room to store your shampoo bottles and bars of soap is near impossible.
Sure, you could hang up a bulky shower caddy and call it a day, but that can also take up your valuable shower space, not to mention rust over time. The simple and practical solution? The shower niche.
Shower niches eliminate clutter by storing your bathroom products neatly in a recessed opening built right into your shower wall. They also add some pizazz to bathroom decor with contrasting tiles and edge trim.
Here’s our guide showing you how to build a shower niche in six easy steps:
Step 1: Plan Shower Niche Design
First, think carefully about the type of shower niche you’d like to install in your shower.
Each type of shower niche has its advantages and disadvantages:
| Type of Shower Niche | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Horizontal Shower Niche | ➕ Great for larger showers ➕ Minimalist, sleek design. | ❌ Longer installation ❌ Higher construction costs because of the need for extra studs. |
| Vertical Shower Niche | ➕ Versatile, works in walk-in showers and tub-to showers. ➕ Easy to install, no extra studs | ❌ Less shelf space ❌ Basic “utility” design |
| Corner Shower Niche | ➕ Perfect for small showers ➕ Gives you a shower cubby to store products, hidden away from water | ❌ Basic “utility” design ❌ Smaller ❌ Less space available |
Pro Tip: Adding a single, double, or a floating glass shower niche shelf, or even installing an additional soap niche or shampoo niche is a great option to increase space in vertical or corner niches.
Step 2: Choose the Right Shower Niche Dimensions and Size
You’ve chosen the type of shower niche, time to get the dimensions and size of the custom shower niche right.
Too low causes back pain; too high is out of reach for kids.
The standard shower niche install size is 12X12 for basic storage, and 12X24 for more space. The reason for this is because shower niches have to align with studs in the shower frame.
For shower niche depth, 3.5 – 5 inches is usually the ballpark to make sure shampoo bottles don’t fall off the shelf.
Step 3: Measure Shower Niche Placement and Height
An important factor to remember for shower niche placement and shower niche location is to consider the studs already in the frame.
In Ontario, most wall studs are 16 inches apart. To avoid spending the extra cost on structural changes, it’s best to build the niche between those studs, or plan ahead if you’re building a horizontal niche.
It’s recommended to use a stud finder to locate the studs before building.
How high should a shower with niche be? A standard niche height of 48 inches from the shower floor is generally comfortable for the average adult, while a 60 inch height of shower niche would work for decorative niches at eye level.
For bathtub niche placement, the niche base should be above the tub rim by 36-48 inches.
Step 4: Build and Frame Shower Niche
Now that you know the size and height of your shower niche, exactly where to place your shower niche, and the bathroom niche height. It’s time to start building the frame.
Step 1: Using a dry saw, cut out the 12×2 or 12×24 opening where the niche will sit.
Step 2: Measure and cut 2×4 and 2×6 pressure-treated lumber pieces.
Step 3: Fit the pieces in a frame between the studs.
Step 4: Make sure everything is level, and add extra blocking if installing a shelf.
Step 5: Line the inside with cement or foam board, and fasten with screws.
Pro Tip: If you are nervous about framing with wood or generally building a shower niche, you can purchase a shower niche insert that is pre-sealed, waterproof, and fits between studs.
Step 5: Waterproof Shower Niche
Water leaks in shower niches cause a whole host of issues like mold, rotting wood, warping, cracks, and weakened structural integrity.
How crucial is waterproofing your shower niche?
It’s absolutely essential. Because a shower niche is a recessed feature built directly into the wall, even a small waterproofing failure can lead to hidden water damage over time. Moisture that seeps behind tile or cement board can compromise the wall structure, encourage mould growth, and require costly repairs. Proper waterproofing ensures long-term durability and protects both the aesthetic and structural integrity of your shower.
Here’s how to waterproof a shower niche to avoid problems related to leaks:
Step 1: Cover all niche surfaces with 2-3 coats of a liquid membrane or use a sheet membrane.
Step 2: Angle the bottom part of the niche ⅛ of an inch to allow water to drain off.
Step 3: Seal corners and edges with silicone caulking. When applying sealant, make sure surfaces are bone dry.
Step 4: Ensure all corners are sealed by applying extra liquid membrane, applying waterproofing tape, or pre-waterproofed corner pieces.
“In the GTA, proper waterproofing and framing are absolutely critical when building a shower niche — cutting corners here often leads to costly repairs. We always advise homeowners to treat the niche like a miniature shower wall in terms of prep and protection.” — Stas, Project Manager at RenoDuck
Step 6: Tile and Finish Shower Niche
Believe it or not, applying shower niche tiles is the same as applying tile in any other part of your home.
Here’s how to tile a shower niche:
Step 1: Cut tiles with a wet saw to fit your niche.
Step 2: Dry-fit your tiles to the niche in your shower, making sure they are evenly spaced and symmetrical in design.
Step 3: Tile shower niches by applying mortar onto back of cement board/foam board and place tiles down, covering your niche.
Step 4: Apply an edge trim, which cleans up the edges and creates a more cohesive look.
Get creative with tile! There are tons of genius shower niche ideas and walk-in shower niche ideas out there to take your shower nook from basic to incredible. A popular option is using contrasting tile on the niche back.
Here are some shower niche examples from Renoduck’s bathroom gallery that should help you get inspired and show you how to make a shower niche your own.
Custom Shower Niches & Bathroom Renovations in Ontario and GTA
There’s so much to consider when installing a shower niche. It has to be correctly sized, fitted, framed, installed, and waterproofed to prevent mold, warpage, and wall damage. Not to mention, installing tile in a niche takes precision to get spacing just right.
Reaching out to a reputable bathroom renovation company like RenoDuck to properly fit, frame, waterproof, and tile your shower niche can save you from extra repairs and maintenance in the long run.
Whether you’re in Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa, Barrie, Bradford or in another location of the GTA, Renoduck’s multi-faceted approach to bathroom renovation means they not only take care of the design, but also address any plumbing issues and permits needed.
If you’re still confused on how to install a shower niche, want expert help with a walk-in shower installation, or a custom waterproofed custom bathroom niche design, we’ve got you covered.
Contact us for a free quote, and we’d be happy to help.