Is your tub or shower space smaller than you’d like? Is it messy and unsafe because bars of soap and shampoo bottles are stacked on the shower floor or on the bathtub bar? Eliminate these problems during your next bathtub or shower remodel project by designing a recessed niche in the wall for your soap and shampoo. Here are 7 tips to guide you through this process.
Tip 1: know the benefits of a wall niche vs. an externally mounted product – Built-in niches in the wall save space (i.e. don’t protrude) – a great feature for showers or small bathtubs. Since they are built into the wall, they create a cleaner appearance and help minimize slippery shower or tub floors. This dramatically reduces the risks of injury from a fall (a great benefit for older parents or those with mobility problems).
Tip 2 – Determine where to locate the shampoo box and soap holder. The most common place to locate your soap and shampoo storage is near the shower head. The plumbing wall and back walls farthest from a glass door or walls are most often chosen.
Tip 3: Identify the Right Time to Install a Shower Shelf – The best time to add wall storage compartments is after preliminary framing during a bathtub or shower remodel or a new construction project. It is not practical to fit a recessed niche by trimming an existing finished wall trim in a bathtub or shower.
Tip 4: How to build the niche: You can either build your own niche (by framing, covering the space with a cement board and then sealing around the joints) or buy a pre-built waterproof niche made of expanded or extruded polystyrene. A ready-made unit can save labor costs and ensure that water doesn’t seep behind walls.
Tip 5 – Space Sizing: When sizing your bathroom or shampoo storage area, measure the height and number of bottles you want to store at one time. Prebuilt units come in standard sizes: 22 “x 11”, 14 “x 11”, and 6 “x 11”, to name just a few.
Tip 6: Determine where to locate the wall niche: Identify the location that can best serve all of the people who might be using the shower or bath both long and short term. For a more accessible and universal design, a good location is approximately 48 “above the shower floor. Placing the niche higher will also work (except for small people and those in wheelchairs).
Tip 7 – If you are confused, seek help – Don’t be that stubborn person who doesn’t ask for help. Call in a professional bathroom remodeling contractor to guide you through your selections and options, as well as to provide a professional installation.
Now that you know these 7 tips for designing a recessed wall niche, you’re one step closer to creating a safer and more organized bathtub or shower.