Can you post a photo of your shower area, or a layout drawing? Different shower shapes and configurations lend themselves to different niche placements. If you've got 2 or more walls, there should be a spot for a niche.

So this is the old space, photographed from the doorway, but it will be utilized in the same way, although the shower head will go on the wall on the right. I wanted the niche to go on the opposite wall (the wall on the left) but given that it'll be a 30 inch standard tub and there's a huge pipe in the way, there's no way for it to be centered on that wall. I wasn't crazy about the idea of the niche going on the center wall but even if we were to do that, it could not be centered due to a gas line.

I see no reason it needs to be centered. I would put it either on the same wall as the shower head, or on the back wall near the corner, to keep it out of the shower spray.

I was just thinking about maybe doing the same wall as the shower head. Not thrilled about the back wall because it's directly in the line of sight from the door and I'm concerned about it possibly looking cluttered. Does anyone have experience with placing it on the same wall as the shower head and keeping it clean (I can be a little lazy!).

We have 2 on the same wall as our shower head. It was the only place they could go. They work fine there and are easy to keep clean.

Despite the trendiness, I have never been a big fan of niches. Unless done really well, over time they can provide a point of entry for moisture and leaks, and it's annoying to have to periodically clean into the corners to get rid of the soap and grime that inevitably accumulates. I just redid two of my bathrooms in the last year and neither one has a niche. I did put wood blocking in the wall of one of them, however, and, after the tiling was done, mounted a simple, narrow glass shelf with two chrome brackets that holds all of the bath products. My tile guy wanted several hundred extra to add a niche, and I got the shelf for $30. It's innocuous and it's much easier to clean a piece of glass than a tiled niche. With a shelf, you can mount it anywhere and not have to worry about hidden pipes, etc.

I agree. Dh really wanted a niche to get away from my products crowding the tub corners. But I am worried about moisture infiltration and sitting, scuzzy water. I am pulling things out and giving it a wipe after every shower but I don't know if that is a great long term solution.

Place it on the same wall as the shower head. Just make sure it'll be tall enough to accommodate the bottles you use most often.

We just had the same problem. I was focused on where to put a 12x12 foot niche where it could be centred (couldn't go on outside wall or wall with pocket door). Designer came up with the brilliant plan of having two 6x12 niches instead. We are doing one on either side of the shower fittings.

FYI - 12" height won't fit a Costco sized liquid bathsoap container.

DH just finished tiling our new shower and we were also limited in where we could put a niche due to plumbing and exterior walls.

We ended up with 2 niches on the shower head wall - a tall one above the handle for bottles and a small one below for soap/razor.

For some reason, my portrait style photos are shrunken down and distorted on my cell phone view but if you click on the photo it should show the actual size.

You could also do a Google image search for "shower niche" and several photos with off center niches will come up.

I don't know what these are called but if you go to a tile shop you should be able to find preformed "vinyl" niches. They tile over these to minimize leaking issues and probably make the tile job easier..

I didn't read all of the replies, but I have a quick solution to offer. Instead of putting something IN the wall you could frame up a narrow pony wall type of situation and create a ledge the full length of that back wall. Like the Zerby's bathroom at chezerby.com. We have a narrow ledge like this on the back wall of our shower and I think it's only 2.5 inches deep and holds all our costco size things just fine.

ETA: I'd put the ledge at about 36" or whatever height is comfortable to reach from seated in the tub as well as standing in the shower.

ETAA: If you think you'll be living here indefinitely or if you have aging guests, you might take this opportunity to add blocking for grab bars.

Here's my favorite pic and what I want for my shower. out of sight, but very convenient.

Master Bathroom Renovation · More Info

We had the same problem. I opted to do a shower niche on one side and the shower control on the other so neither are really centered. Our bathroom isn't quite done- still waiting for shower glass so disregard the curtain. I really wanted a long niche so I can have a ledge at the bottom when shaving my legs.

Thanks, everyone! In the end, they actually realized that they needed to build the wall out slightly so we were able to place the niche where I wanted it in the first place! Looking forward to the finished product.

That came out beautifully.

Very pretty! Can't wait to see it all finished :)