To Accent Tile Shower Niche or Not

5 years ago

We are in the middle of a bathroom remodel and have a design debate for the shower niche. The question is whether to leave the niche with a continuous subway shower tile look or use an ‘accent’ piece.

On one hand the continuous look may look less busy / cleaner and allow the niche to blend in. On the other hand it may be more boring and less luxurious in comparison to using a well thought accent tile. Im stuck!

Here is a general sense of the bathroom design and shows continuous tile niche:

Here is the accent tile for the niche

Here is the inspiration for the accented niche:

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PRO

Beth H. :

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

personally I like an accent tile but not the one you picked.

If a niche is "just a storage or utilitarian" then put it on the far back wall where it won't be visible when you walk through the door. The way you have it, on the center main wall, and the size you've made it, actually calls attention to it. So, pick one or the other.

another thing w/niches and why people don't like to call attention to them, is because they're usually stuffed with random bottles of product and look messy. If you want a nice accent niche, you'll have to put your products in nicer containers. what you don't want are huge bottles of Target shampoo, conditioner and a giant pump bottle of Body wash!

How could anyone say these aren't a focal point or look bad? when they're done like this, they look great.

If you have no plans on doing this, then put your niche on the rear, side wall, and keep it out of view.

If you're doing that black hex floor tile with white subway tile, then think about doing a solid black or black and white to tie in the black.

if you aren't doing any black, then you could do your marble hex or something diff.

Another option is to do the niche in a smaller white tile, but in a diff design.

BTW, the tile design in this shower isn't the best. you have tiny slivers up against the ceiling, and the tile in the niche is asymmetrical.

when doing any sort of niche that will be front and center, you want it well planned and laid out. decide ahead of time what size tile you're using, do a dry layout, and then decide where to place the niche on the wall so that the math works out well. (you don't want slivers, half cut tiles, etc)

personally I couldn't care less what other people think. I like a niche w/an accent tile. this is how I did mine

I spent a lot of time working out the math so that I would have full tiles around the niche. I had the cutout for the hole placed so that I wouldn't need to cut the tiles above or below.

I also chose to do a Schluter jolly for the niche edge, and bullnose white subway tiles for the shower border. Both of my niches have marble insets for the sides and shelves.

this(below) is an example of a poorly laid out niche. The tiles inside don't line up w/the tiles on the outside. (if doing the same tile in the niche, you have to line them up). The tiles inside aren't symmetrical. The ones on top are thinner than the bottom ones. the tiles above and below both have thin cuts. If the niche was put up a bit higher, they might have been able to use full tiles all around it.

If your niche is going to be a focal point, you'll need a good tile setter who knows math and will know how to properly place the niche to accommodate the tile.

another option for the niche is to do a solid piece of marble (or quartz) that matches your vanity or your floor.

Notice the well placed niche(s) in this tile layout. No cuts, and no interruption of the pattern. It's as if the box was perfectly placed over the layout. fits perfectly within the tile rows.

The marble option gives you bit of variation, without being 'too in your face'.

this niche was done w/subway bullnose tiles for the edging, but inset marble shelving.

another layout I did using 3x12 subways in a stacked pattern, with bullnose tile on the niche. This was a preformed niche (they come in set sizes) so we had to cut the tile above it. but notice how all of the other tiles still line up evenly. 2x2 glass tiles (yes those are white) were used inside the niche along w/bullnose edging. Shelving is a piece of quartz that was also used on the curb.

make sure you get the proper bullnose tiles

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Comments (20)

flopsycat1
5 years ago
I would not use accent tile since a niche is a place to store soap, shampoo and conditioner. It is an area that should be functional, not a focal point.
Matt Castellino thanked flopsycat1
Karenmo
5 years ago
I love the hex tiles you selected! You will use them on the floor, no matter what, right?

I'd probably resist the temptation to do the niche with those tiles, as much as I love them, since that seems like the kind of embellishment that could go out of style. If resale is a consideration, the simple classic is probably safer. If you are going to live there a long time, and resale is not an issue, if you love it, go for it!
Matt Castellino thanked Karenmo
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PRO
HALLETT & Co.
5 years ago
The niche is utilitarian and will get cluttered with bottles etc. match it with the wall tile.
Matt Castellino thanked HALLETT & Co.
Matt Castellino
Original Author
5 years ago
I like them for the floor tile as well but the bathroom is a bathtub/shower combo. So it will have a white porcelain coated cast iron tub.
mrs1916
5 years ago
I just don’t get why so many people think a storage area is an accent. 100% vote for wall tile!
Matt Castellino thanked mrs1916
eld6161
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
For some it’s a way to have a little fun. Some do a long stripe of glass tiles down a wall etc.

It’s not necessary but if it strikes a chord in you, then go for it.
Matt Castellino thanked eld6161
PRO
Design Interior South
5 years ago
I have done all my showers with an accent tile in the niche. I love that detail.
Matt Castellino thanked Design Interior South
WestCoast Hopeful
5 years ago
I could see the same tile or accent looking nice. Make sure you measure out how much space you need so your bottles etc fit.
Matt Castellino thanked WestCoast Hopeful
PRO
Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech
5 years ago
Generally, I like to use the mosiac floor tile as an accent in the niche....but, that's just me...
Matt Castellino thanked Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech
PRO
Beth H. :
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
found another example w/a longer niche style.

You might also consider going with a 3x12 or 4x12 white subway tile, rather than a 3x6. (this pic is a 4x12 tile and penny rounds)
Petite Perfection · More Info

that's what they used on this one. they used the same tile for the niche that's on the shower floor. I think it looks nice.
Matt Castellino thanked Beth H. :
Designing Is My Thing
5 years ago
Hi! I wouldn’t use the accent tiles like others said too, it would be the main focus and you don’t want it you want in to blend in hope this helps!
Matt Castellino thanked Designing Is My Thing
PRO
Design For Living
5 years ago
Hello, I agree 100% with the detailed explanation Beth H gave. Good luck and give us an update on your final design decision!
Matt Castellino thanked Design For Living
AJCN
5 years ago
We have both. 2 of our showers have accent tile in the niche, and 2 have the shower wall tile continuing through the niche (those are cool bc they wrap the corner). I love accent tile in a large niche but maybe not a tiny one. We keep our products to a minimum, so the niches don’t get too cluttered up.
Matt Castellino thanked AJCN
AJCN
5 years ago
Whatever you decide, make sure your tile professional puts a solid piece of material (probably your vanity top material) for the base of the niche, curb, window sills, tops of pony walls, anything horizontal.
Matt Castellino thanked AJCN
AJCN
5 years ago
Is your bathroom layout the same as you inspiration photo?

If so maybe you can create a ledge, not a niche on the wide wall that you see when entering the bathroom. And then you can create a niche on the right wall. Nobody will see all your shampoos and such in the niche on the right wall.

On the ledge, you can put an orchid, and other things that make you happy.

If you post your plans, probably some pros on here can give you more suggestions.
Matt Castellino thanked AJCN
lornaqdkitchendesigner
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Beth H said it all well in her first post.
Matt Castellino thanked lornaqdkitchendesigner
ekscrunchy
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I love the acccent tile look;I would put the products into nice white containers; Muji (Available direct or some are on Amazon; the company is from Japan) makes lots of them in various sizes for not much money and they work nicely. Agree, all is lost if you clutter up with big bottles of lurid green PERT or other shampoos and products on the cheap end. You can even buy nice high-proiced shampoos once and after that just pur your Target or Costco shampoos, etc into the nice Aesop, or other, bottles. (My Dad thogght he was fooling everyone, pouring Mr New HAmpshire vodka into grimy Absolut bottles! But it looked nice on the bar....

https://www.malinandgoetz.com/hair/hair-shampoo
HU-20953821
4 years ago
If you do a mosiac on the shower pan and niche, should the grout color be the same on the floor/wall tiles as the mosiac?
PRO
Beth H. :
4 years ago
HU-209,,,, No. It doesn't have to be. my shower floor is black hex w/charcoal grout. my wall tile is white w/soft gray grout. I did use that same grout for the niche tho

To Accent Tile Shower Niche or Not

Beth H. :

Comments (20)

flopsycat1

Karenmo

Related Professionals

HALLETT & Co.

Matt Castellino
Original Author

mrs1916

eld6161

Design Interior South

WestCoast Hopeful

Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech

Beth H. :

Designing Is My Thing

Design For Living

AJCN

AJCN

AJCN

lornaqdkitchendesigner

ekscrunchy

HU-20953821

Beth H. :

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