5 Shower Recess Ideas

Your shower floor is not the ideal place for your shampoo and conditioner. If you’re ready to upgrade from floors and over-the-door caddies, a shower recess is the answer.

These shower features are built into the wall and give you a dedicated area to put everything you need while in the shower. If you’re building or renovating your bathroom, here are some ideas for how you might design your recess.

What is a shower recess?

Let’s clear up one thing, a recess is not technically the same as a shower niche. You’ll see people using these terms interchangeably online, but they do mean different things.

A niche is a built-in shelf in your shower wall, perfect for holding shampoo and soap. While “recess” can technically refer to the whole enclosed shower space, in this article we’ll use “recess” to mean the same as “niche”, the small shelf inside the wall.

Why you need a bathroom shower recess

A shower niche or recess gives you extra space in the shower for your shampoo, conditioner, body wash and other products. You'll never have to balance shampoo bottles on the edge of your tub again! The built-in shelving keeps everything within easy reach and helps prevent bathroom clutter, particularly useful in smaller bathrooms where space is an issue.

What to think about before you choose a shower recess

Any renovation comes with a stack of decisions to make. Here are the most important options you’ll want to lock in before you get started.

Placement

You need your bathroom shower recess to be easily accessible while showering. Most people install recesses on the wall opposite the showerhead or on a side wall at elbow height. Avoid placing it where water directly hits it or where you might bump into it.

Orientation

Going vertical works well for taller bottles and gives you more storage in a compact footprint. Horizontal recesses provide easier access and can make a narrow shower feel wider.

Size

There’s all kinds of bathroom shower recesses, but most range from 30cm–100cm wide and about 30–40cm tall. The depth typically sits around 10cm–15cm to accommodate standard bottle sizes.

Waterproofing

Don’t attempt a DIY. A well-installed recess prevents water damage and mould. When the time comes to reseal, you can follow our silicone sealing guide to make sure it’s done right.

5 shower recess ideas to inspire your reno

Now that we’ve covered the practical side, it’s time to get into the extras. Here are five ideas you can use to really make a shower recess your own.

1. Double recess

Two stacked recesses means double the space. This setup works particularly well for families sharing a bathroom, giving everyone enough space for their products.

1. Corner recess

A corner niche tucks storage into an underutilised space where two walls meet. This option is great for smaller showers where maximising every bit of space counts.

1. Wide recess

A wide recess that spans most of (or all of) the shower wall creates a statement. It gives you heaps of storage space, but works best in larger showers or shower baths where you have the wall space to accommodate it.

1. Vertical recess

A tall, narrow recess accommodates those bigger shampoo and conditioner bottles that never seem to fit anywhere. The vertical design takes up less horizontal wall space in smaller showers.

1. Recess with lights

Waterproof LED strip lighting inside the recess creates a beautiful look and feel. It also draws attention to any special feature tiles you've used inside the niche, like kit kat tiles.

Ready to plan your bathroom?

The right niche can make your shower look modern while solving the universal problem of shower clutter. For the best results, plan your niche placement and dimensions early in your renovation when walls are still open.

While you're updating your bathroom, you’ll also need to think about things like your vanity, basin, tapware and shower accessories. Get in touch to talk through how different options can complement your shower niche and create the bathroom of your dreams.