Niches in the bathroom: varieties, filling options

A niche is an interesting architectural solution. In modern design, such elements can combine practicality and beauty. By equipping a niche in the bathroom, home owners can not only use space rationally, but also give the interior a bright personality.

This structural element appeared in ancient times. Small indentations were specially made in the walls. They were equipped with statuettes depicting gods and other religious objects. Today niches are also used to accommodate small but important things. They successfully replace shelves, shelves and bedside tables familiar to many. At the same time, the room remains free of bulky furniture. This point is especially important for bathrooms, because such rooms are usually not large in size.

Sometimes the grooves in the walls are provided for by a design project and are created on purpose. In other cases, depressions are formed as a result of certain repairs. For example, when disguising the installation system, a small plasterboard wall is erected. You can take advantage of this and make a spectacular decorative "shelf" in the upper part of the structure.

The same situations arise when hiding water pipes leading to the bathroom, various utilities. As a result, you get stylish and neat interior with functional built-in storage system. And if you correctly beat the resulting indentations in the walls, then they will become a real highlight of the room.

The advantages of such designs are numerous.

• Practicality. You get compartments that can accommodate many of the items you need in your bathroom.
• Convenience. Unlike wall shelves and cabinets, the recess does not stand out at the wall level, which means it does not interfere with freedom of movement. You won't accidentally hit it with your hand, you won't be able to hit it.
• Feeling of spaciousness. The indentations seem to be a natural extension of the walls. Despite the fact that there may be some objects in the niches, there is a feeling of complete absence of furniture. This is especially valuable for minimalist interiors.
• The beauty. Niches are usually decorated with the same materials that are used for decoration. Therefore, they look very aesthetically pleasing. If you additionally decorate the recesses (for example, with lighting), the attractiveness of these places will increase.
• Saving space... In small bathrooms, every meter counts. Therefore, the possibility of replacing furniture with recesses in the walls becomes a real salvation.

However, it is worth noting the disadvantages of this solution.

• Limited functionality... Niches are for small and light items only. In addition, they are not protected by anything, unlike, for example, lockers. You will not be able to store towels or clothes in the recess for a long time, as dust and, in some cases, water droplets will get on them.
• The complexity of dismantling. If you can remove the shelf at any time and move it to another place, then you will not be able to move the niche. We'll have to make repairs, partially changing the wall decoration.

Niches can be placed in different parts of the bathroom. However, some options are more common.

• In the bath area. Such indentations usually have a practical purpose. They put detergents and cosmetics, hygiene items. It is convenient to put a bath towel on such a "shelf" before taking a shower or bath. This allows you to dry off immediately, and not leave the bath wet. Sometimes the recesses in the walls are used for aroma candles or souvenirs. Those who like to soak up the fluffy foam will simultaneously enjoy the beauty of the decor that adorns the water treatment area.

Usually niches are made at the end of the wall to which the bathtub adjoins. As a rule, these are several identical depressions located one under the other or one vertical, separated by partitions. Sometimes a long wall is selected to create a structural element, along which the bathtub is located. In this case, you can show imagination. It could be one long notch in the wall. You can make two niches, located next to the same level, or below each other. A diagonal arrangement is also possible.

• In the shower cabin. Here, a recess in the wall also serves as a storage space for bath accessories. The shape, size and location can be anything. Both horizontal and vertical structures are often used. In some cases, a small “shelf” is preferred, and sometimes the recess occupies two or even all three walls. It all depends on the design idea and user needs.

• Over the toilet. The recess in the wall above the installation toilet can be used in different ways. It often plays the role of a decorative element, serving as a stand for souvenirs. However, if there is not enough space in the bathroom, you can arrange a storage space here, for example, for household chemicals. There are also several options in this case. It can be one large niche or several shelves. Often, a hinged closed cabinet is located above the recess.

• Near the washbasin. Built-in storage next to the sink can be very helpful. If you want to hang a mirror above the sink without shelves and an adjacent cabinet, all your daily care products can be placed in a niche on a perpendicular wall.You can also place a towel rack in the recess.

• In other places... If the room is spacious, you can use the niches as an opportunity to decorate it with various accessories. In this case, the recesses can be located in any places convenient for you. Although, of course, it is advisable to draw a project even before the repair in order to assess the correctness of the selected places.

As already mentioned, bathroom niches are almost universal. They are great for storing shampoos, shower gels, scrubs, washcloths and other items you might need in the shower.

Usually, they are finished with ceramic tiles, like the rest of the wall. Therefore, they are not afraid of splashing water.

If the niche is located next to the sink, it will be convenient to store products for washing, shaving, combs, hairpins, cosmetics and everything that may be needed for daily morning "rituals" in it.

If the grooves are located in an arbitrary place, you can decorate them with pots of moisture-loving plants. You can also arrange in them photos in glass frames, decorative vases, beautiful candles. Large shells and interesting stones will look appropriate in the bathroom.

If a niche is provided for by a house construction project and is very large, you can put a washing machine in it... This will allow you to move home appliances further away so that they do not interfere with your freedom of movement. Also, thanks to this, the room will seem more spacious and neat.

The bathtub itself, placed in a recess, is no less a good solution. So the area for accepting water procedures will be visually separated from the main area of ​​the room. The result is a stylish and aesthetic interior.

You can place a sink in a recess. This is a fairly common option. Side walls protect the bathroom fixtures from external influences and create a sense of order and perfect organization of the space.

A mirror in a niche is a good design move... This can be a mirror sheet over the sink. Here, the reflective element is a traditional part of the wash area.

You can place a small mirror over a shelf in a shower stall or over a bathtub. This solution will appeal to women who make face masks lying in warm foam, or wash off makeup at the same time as taking a shower. Also, a mirror can be an independent element located anywhere in the bathroom. In this case, the object becomes a spectacular accent that transforms the space, filling it with light, volume and depth.

If a niche already exists, all that remains is to choose a way to decorate it. If the decorative opening is still at the project stage, it is necessary to create an artificial wall from materials suitable for this.

If you decide to make a drywall niche, you can implement any design ideas. You will get a perfectly smooth surface, you can give it any shape (rectangle, circle, square, arch). Also, for work, you will need a galvanized metal profile to create the lathing. Fastening takes place with self-tapping screws.

You can decorate the recess with ceramic tiles, mosaics, plastic panels. If the recess is not in contact with water, decorative plaster suitable for bathrooms can be used. You can also simply paint the structure in the desired color.

The depth, width and height of the artificially created niche is determined based on the needs of users, the location of the element and the dimensions of the bathroom. With this architectural technique, you can also visually change the proportions of the room. If the main problem is a low ceiling, you can create a vertical depression that visually stretches the space.

A narrow and cramped room can be visually expanded thanks to horizontal recesses.

If you want to make several niches for different categories of objects, but there is not enough space, you can make one large depression and divide it into parts using thin partitions made of wood, plastic or glass.

• Shelves. Tall structures are divided into several compartments by shelves, not only for practical reasons. The material chosen for the dividers can emphasize the characteristics of the interior of the room. Wooden elements will be able to complement other items of the same texture and color in the bathroom. It will be interesting to look at a contrasting design (for example, wenge-colored shelves against a background of light walls). Glass will make the structure light and airy. This design will appeal to connoisseurs of sophisticated design.

• Backlight. Lighting design is an important point. First of all, the backlight will make it easier to find the object in the recess. In addition, it will transform the niche into a real bathroom decoration. A soft glow will highlight the curves of the walls, emphasizing the originality of the design. It will also present the niche content in an advantageous perspective. Even ordinary bottles with detergents will look "expensive" and presentable in such a frame. If you decorate the recesses with decorative items, the effect will be even more impressive.

• Mosaic... Full mosaic decoration of a water treatment area is expensive. However, you can go the other way, decorating the wall with ordinary tiles, and with mosaics - only recesses in it.

• Disguise. If a large niche is filled with a washing machine, other household appliances, or other things that you would like to hide from prying eyes, you can close it. You can use blinds or special doors for this.

• A good example of the use of niches in the interior of the bathroom. One is in the shower, the second is next to the bath, and the third is under the sink. Each recess fulfills its function, while maintaining the harmony and unity of style.

• The large niche is beautifully divided in two with a wooden shelf. A striking design technique that supports the concept of a contrasting interior.

• Even small shelves above the toilet with installation can be quite useful.

• Square wall recesses look more original than regular rectangular options. A great way to make your interior special.

• The niche formed between the shower and the sink is a great opportunity to equip a convenient storage system.

You will learn more about niches in the bathroom by watching the following video.