If you’re planning to remodel your bathroom, rest assured that it is a priceless investment of a lifetime. A bathroom is a sacred place where we go to prepare ourselves for the day, and it is also the last place we visit before going to bed. We do it all over again the next morning. On a daily basis, time spent in the bathroom feels fairly insignificant, but research finds that the average adult will spend well more than a year of their lives in their bathroom.

With this in mind, you might be inspired to renovate your bathroom space and proceed with the project that has been on hold for years. Whether you’re in the market for a different look, switching out old tiles on the walls/floor or simply improving the comfort that isn’t quite there yet. We encourage you to plan your bathroom remodel accordingly without overlooking both the beauty and practicality of the shower niche.

This little gem of a shower niche should be considered especially when you’re dealing with space restrictions. We don’t always have the luxury of extra space for a walk-in shower, let alone a separate tub and shower. If this happens to be the case for you, a well-thought-out shower niche can make all the difference and even rescue you from feeling somewhat claustrophobic. Well, maybe not to that extent, but installing a shower niche will undoubtedly be beneficial in a plethora of ways that our clients have vouched for. Keep in mind that remodeling your shower, especially by yourself, is no small undertaking. Fortunately our team is well versed in all the necessary methods to ensure that it’s designed and built properly and ready to stand the test of water exposure over time.

THE PERFECT SHOWER NICHE

During the remodeling of a shower, it’s a good idea to stand with your arms outstretched and then turn in a circle. This should provide a good idea of the size available that you’re dealing with every morning and night of your life. Do you feel like it’s spacious enough for you to feel comfortable walking and turning? Consider adding the body wash, shampoo, and conditioner bottles to the floor space, plus all the other shower essentials that keep your face and body beautiful and shiny, and ask yourself the same question. Your space is much more limited now, stuck between bottles and more bottles of perfumed products, ultimately creating tripping hazards. We all want larger showers, but even if you already have one, consider adding the pleasure of not tripping over shower essentials or breaking your back in the process of picking them up every time you’re in there. 

You want relaxation, not stress, and the best way to achieve this is by having waist-high access to everything you use in the shower. An immediate solution to this issue is a sad caddy hanging from the shower head, but let’s face it. Those things are as annoying as slow Wi-Fi. Also, hanging racks on a shower head can damage it and lead to shower leaks. Another common mistake is the drilling of metal brackets (which will inevitably rust over time) on the walls. Lastly, shower caddies, regardless of what color you get them in, are, well, not the most elegant/prettiest decor. It’s safe to say that a shower niche is the best way of creating a storage unit within arm’s reach. It’s also quite beautiful if you’re creative and adventurous enough in your design process. Take a look at these niches from The Tile Press for inspiration.

BRING BACK OUR FAVORITE NOOKS!

Why is the shower niche so frequently overlooked? Even when the shower niche is a key component to elevating the shower experience, some people tend to leave it out of their bathroom/shower renovation plans. This is quite surprising, especially because the cost of including a niche is incredibly minimal, and it allows for a great opportunity to get even more creative with your shower design. Some common options are using a contrasting tile for the niche to create a subtle detail that can tie the shower in altogether. If the walls outside your shower aren’t the same color as the ones inside, you can choose tile for the niche that will harmonize with the palette.  Another commonly practiced design tip is framing the niche. This frame might extend beyond the recessed horizontal surface to give you an extra inch, but be cautious. Too much of it can interfere with your personal space and defeat the purpose. We recommend for the bottom to sit at three to four feet from the floor. Whatever you have in mind for your shower niche, The Tile Press can help you install it. In fact, we once created a custom, tiny 2×2 inch niche that our client used to stick her toe in to support her leg up while she shaved. Who said niches are limited to just bottle use?

LET’S DO IT

For your upcoming shower renovation, you can either install a prefabricated or custom shower niche. Whereas a prefabricated niche already comes with defined dimensions that can be difficult to work with, a custom niche makes it possible for you to get creative and include more aesthetic highlights. Some of our clients have gone super horizontal with it, and others have chosen long vertical niches with glass or granite shelves to maximize efficiency. Whether your next niche is horizontal or vertical, or a custom-made shape, The Tile Press can build it from scratch. We do this by constructing a framed box within the wall, installing wallboards on all surfaces of the framed box, and covering the niche with a waterproofing membrane.

We can help you address the tile dimensions and ensure that the tile is symmetrical around the recessed area for the cleanest look possible. Your niche may require bullnose/round edge tile (or miter cuts) for the corners, or you can opt for a metal Schluter frame that provides a watertight edging but inevitably includes a metallic look. If you choose the latter, the Schluter frame can be painted, but we don’t advise this because harsh cleaning chemicals can remove the paint. Again, remodeling your shower is no small undertaking, but feel free to chat with us so that we can help you deal with all the technicalities involved and bring this overdue shower renovation to life.

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