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What to Do with a Niche in your Home
I work as a blogger for businesses although I do a variety of different types of writing. I particularly enjoy writing about all aspects of design and creativity. I think that your home should reflect your personality and that it should change as you change. More about me at www.kathrynvercillo.com and http://diaryofasmartchick.com.
I work as a blogger for businesses although I do a variety of different... More »
There are two major definitions for the word "niche". The first is a recessed area in the wall of your home. The second is a position that you might occupy as an individual (as in, "she's really found her niche as a home decorator"). I believe that these two things can go hand-in-hand. This happens when you properly use the niche that you have in your home to reflect who you are. It also happens when the niches in your home add to the comfort and personality of the space.
There are many different ways that you can use a niche. You can use it to show off your artwork. You can use it to store items that you need to use frequently. Or you can use it as a combination of both decor and function. How you use your niche is entirely up to you! Just be sure not to neglect this space in the home since it has so much potential to be a part of the overall design that you're trying to create.
There are many different ways that you can use a niche. You can use it to show off your artwork. You can use it to store items that you need to use frequently. Or you can use it as a combination of both decor and function. How you use your niche is entirely up to you! Just be sure not to neglect this space in the home since it has so much potential to be a part of the overall design that you're trying to create.
The most common way to use a niche in the home is to use it as a bookcase. Whether the niche is in the living room, kitchen or bedroom, it makes a good place to store your books without having to buy a separate shelving unit. What I love about this niche is that it's in an untraditional spot in the wall (up high) but it's used in a traditional way (for books). I think a ladder leading up to this niche would be ideal.
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If you're using a more traditional niche for your books then you should take a cue from the design here. The books are laid out in a manner that hints of an artistic sensitivity. The combination of upright and flat-lying books is really aesthetically appealing. This turns your book niche into a work of art.
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Here we see two different niches. The large one is used partially as a bookcase and partially as a space for showing off artwork. The small one serves to showcase a single piece of ceramic art. Each niche has its function here.
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The location of the space where the niche is at might contribute a lot to whether or not it's going to be very functional. A niche in the staircase area is terrific. You can put items here that you might want to take upstairs and downstairs with you (such as reading glasses).
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| Speaking of function, I think it's important to consider that when using a niche as storage space. Since this niche is by the TV and fireplace, it would make a lot more sense to store DVDs, video games and books here rather than storing the assorted stuff that we see in the image. |
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When a niche is in the right place, though, it can be a terrific place for showing off an entire collection of stuff. This is a perfect example of how to use a niche in this manner. The chairs flanking the niche help to create a sense of symmetry and balance for this collection.
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A collection of photos can also be exhibited in a niche in your home. You could play around with different frames and layouts to find the perfect design for showing off the pictures that you like best.
by Susan M. Davis
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Even a bathroom niche can be used to show off a small collection. Most people use bathroom niches purely for their function (serving the same purpose as a medicine cabinet) but it's so much more decoratively appealing to have a small collection of perfume bottles or soap dispensers in there!
I just love this modern bathroom! In this case, the niche is the centerpiece of the whole room. You could totally forget why you went into the bathroom in the first place if you got lost looking at this collection! Dare to do something different like this!
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Another option for doing something a bit different is to put a mirror in the back of your niche. This reflects the back half of any objects that you put in the niche. This is particularly great if you're putting three dimensional art in the niche but it works even with ordinary objects like candles.
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Finally, you can make the niche itself a bit of a work of art. This was done here simply by painting the niche a bolder color than the rest of the room. You could paint or decorate your niche in a variety of ways to create this effect. You don't even have to put anything in there if you paint the space in a really impressive way!
Comments
Sonja Hilliard, DVM In addition to mirrors and bold color, a complimentary wallpaper or mosaic glass tile, can also be used to line a niche, to help it stand out.
4 years ago · Like
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Richard Martin - West Coast Home Design Assoc. Niches are beautiful and functional uses of space. When building or redesigning, it is a great idea to plan for the pleasant surprise of a niche as this collection beautifully illustrates!
3 years ago · Like
embracegrace Our builder had a decorative niche planned for our foyer. I was ready to tear it out because we couldn't find a bench narrow enough for the front door. We came up with the perfect solution for us: we dropped the niche and turned it into bench for guests to sit on when they remove their shoes. (http://dejongdreamhouse.blogspot.com/2012/03/please-remove-your-shoes.html) 
13 months ago · Like
pherein_nike Any ideas for a huge niche in an entry way?
10 months ago · Like
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Elizabeth Mabvira Am wondering what to decorate my staircase niche which is about 4.5m high.any ideas will be appreciated.my house colours are browns and greys
4 weeks ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Sept. 7, 2009.
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