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Wall niches and shower niches
With or without lighting, in the shower or above the sink, niches create practical storage space without protruding into the room. Not to mention that they are also true artists when it comes to design!
Storage surface, tidiness aids, design highlight.
Although primarily used as practical storage spaces, niches are so much more than that: they can transform a simple wall into a perfectly designed solution that can significantly improve your day-to-day enjoyment. And not just in the bathroom – they also look great in the kitchen, hallway or living room. Many design options, surface finishes and lighting options mean they blend seamlessly into any surroundings.
Clean design element for a well-organised and appealing bathroom
As inconspicuous as they may appear when hidden in the wall, niches are truly multifunctional and should certainly be at the top of the list when planning your bathroom. The unobtrusive recesses in the wall maximise space for movement as well as shelf space, making small rooms appear larger and combining great practicality with individual design requirements. Niches are most commonly encountered in showers, where they replace shower baskets and shelves as a functional, aesthetic and hygienic solution. The storage areas they create are really easy to reach without cluttering up the room – perfect when planning a barrier-free bathroom or walk-in shower.
Walls that serve a purpose
When properly installed, niches offer a permanent solution that is integrated into the structure of the building and provides ample scope for design creativity. Their benefits in the bathroom are by no means confined to the shower area:
Over the bathtub, the niche can be used as an elegant shelf for bath salts, sponges, candles or decorations. This frees up the edge of the bathtub and evokes a feeling of relaxation with spa-like pampering – especially when the niche is combined with accent lighting.
In the wall of the washbasin, it provides a modern alternative to a shelf or cabinet and keeps everyday toiletries within easy reach.
Next to or above the toilet, it creates storage space for toilet rolls and keeps everything tidy.
Inspiration
Storage surface with feel-good factor
This generously sized KERDI-BOARD niche was integrated into the lighting concept and equipped with an LED profile. The additional intermediate SHELF and the edge profiles were chosen with TRENDLINE textured coating to match the colour of the tiles.
Striking accent
As well as creating valuable space, niches also provide structure. In this case, the DESIGN-NICHE in matt black was installed flush with the wall on one side and protruding on the other.
In perfect harmony
A niche with the same tile covering as the surrounding wall is discreetly integrated and allowing utensils to be stored out of sight in this kitchen.
How to plan a wall niche explained step by step
Advance planning is essential to ensure that the niche can later fulfil its purpose in the best possible way. All it takes is five simple steps to take the structural and spatial requirements as well as waterproofing and design preferences into account:
Step 1
Structural analysis and wall thickness
Before any installation work can begin, it is important to check the structural requirements. Depending on the wall, there may be structural reasons that prevent the installation of a niche. An additional criterion is wall thickness: It should significantly exceed the depth of the niche, so that the niche can be securely installed and damage over the long term is prevented.
Step 2
Pipes and wall material
Before the exact position and size of the niche can be determined, it is necessary to check whether any pipework or electrical installations may be located within the wall. The structure of the wall itself also has an influence, because solid concrete or stone walls require different preparatory work, tools and fastening materials than plasterboard walls, for example.
Step 3
Size definition
If the wall and position are suitable for the niche, then it's time to move on to the specific dimensions. The following applies:
- The dimensions of shower niches should always be high and deep enough that even larger bottles can stand in them.
- The more people who will be sharing the niche later, the more width is necessary.
- For seamless integration of the niche into the tile covering, a size in precisely the same format is recommended.
Step 4
Waterproofing
Walls in showers and above bathtubs have a high level of water exposure and must therefore be waterproofed in accordance with applicable standards and regulations. As a consequence, any niches installed there must also be watertight and connected to the waterproofing layer. Prefabricated niches such as KERDI-BOARD-N are ideal, as they are already fully waterproofed and also contain the necessary waterproofing collar for the wall connection. Installation elements such as the DESIGN-NICHE will also be delivered with the necessary waterproofing accessories.
Step 5
Lighting
In case the niche should not only provide storage space but also ambient lighting, planning should be discussed with the specialist tradesman in good time. He can provide expert advice and order appropriate sets such as Schlüter-KERDI-BOARD-NLT. The included LED light profile already matches the dimensions of the recess, while light colour and position of the light strips can be selected as desired.
Small detail, but large impact: Advantages of wall niches
Total freedom of movement
Storage space and neatness
Easy to clean
Durable and resistant
Customised design options
Two methods for installing the customised niche spaces of your dreams
There are two basic methods for the technical implementation of a niche: a customised, manually crafted solution and the use of prefabricated installation elements. The decision to use one method or the other depends on the type of project, the structural requirements, the dimensions required and the extent of design flexibility. While bespoke sizes usually require a tailor-made niche, prefabricated elements can be used for standard dimensions or renovation projects.
The system solutions from Schlüter-Systems are ideal for both options: The KERDI-BOARD installation substrate can be used to create perfectly customised niches, whereas the niches in the KERDI-BOARD-N and KERDI-BOARD-NLT sets come prefabricated in standard sizes. All three variants of the niche can be tiled directly and can be combined with an additional SHELF as a storage surface on request. On the other hand, the DESIGN-NICHE is made of powder-coated aluminium and is available in a range of TRENDLINE colours.
Installation video for Schlüter-KERDI-BOARD-NLT
Our sets for illuminated niches include the prefabricated KERDI-BOARD installation elements along with matching plug & play LED modules that can be installed in a variety of positions within the niche. The waterproofing collar is also included in the set.
Installation video for Schlüter-DESIGN-NICHE
Our waterproof, powder-coated aluminium niche can be integrated directly in walls using KERDI or KERDI-BOARD. The stylish niche can be adjusted using the height-adjustable frame. It is easy to install and is sealed with the supplied KERDI collar.
