Simple Tile Shower Niche Installation

Learn how to tile a shower niche with this step-by-step guide. From measuring and planning to grouting, this tutorial covers everything you need to know for a successful DIY shower niche project.

A tile nich with taped top tiles to keep them in place while the mortar dries.

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There are certainly some design choices I’m not sure I lived without before. One of those is having a shower niche – those little boxes to hold shampoo and other bathroom necessities.

I am finally sharing the step by step if you want to add one in your bathroom remodel. If you haven’t done so yet, be sure to check out our full tutorial on how to tile shower walls for even more information for a successful DIY tiling job.

Benefits Of A Shower Niche

Storage: They provide a convenient space to store shower essentials such as shampoo, conditioner, and soap.
Aesthetic Appeal: Niches can enhance the visual appeal of the shower by creating a streamlined and clutter-free look.
Functionality: Strategically placed niches optimize space making it more functional and comfortable for daily use.
Customization: The size and shape can be customized to fit your specific needs and shower design.
Easy Maintenance: Unlike hanging baskets or plastic shower caddies, recessed niches are easier to clean and maintain.

Overall, incorporating a tile shower niche adds both practicality and visual appeal to your shower space, so let’s talk about how to put one in any shower remodel project!

Determining The Ideal Location and Size

Ask yourself these questions to find the most suitable location and size to maximize functionality, aesthetics, and usability:

What is the most useful place? Stand in a shower with your eyes closed and ask where is comfortable to reach for something. That gives an approximation for height and arm’s reach.
How much storage do you need? Consider the items you plan to store in the niche and their sizes. Ensure the niche is large enough to accommodate bottles, soap, and other shower essentials without overcrowding.
Where are your studs? A niche must be mounted on 2x4s or studs. I have an example below of how we framed a larger cubby.
Where is your plumbing? Adjust for obstructions such as showerheads, plumbing pipes or electrical elements.
What placement looks the best? Symmetrical on a wall can be beautiful, but consider other ideas as well. For example, we once added 2 smaller ones on the front wall on either side of the shower plumbing.
Where does the water fall? It is best to place the box out of direct contact with the showerhead to prevent water damage. Particularly if you are short in stature like me, an ill placed niche can make the shower head water bounce off the bottom shelf and hit your face.
Where will the tile lines intersect? Tiny slivers can be hard to work with. Therefore, you may want to measure your tile and look at how the grout lines may fall and adjust accordingly.

Designing Our Shower

We have done some of the most intricate tile shower niche designs in other bathroom remodels. This one from our beveled tile shower installation is one of my favorites:

A blue tiled shower niche with glass shelves and cubbies for soaps and bottles.

However, this was entirely custom designed and built. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have amazing patience, math skills, and tiling experience. Our newest niche is much more simple and ultra-modern.

A bathroom remodel with the walls removed to show framing for a large shower niche.

I forgot to take a framing photo of our newest shower niche, but this is how we framed for the larger niche. Since this is not a load bearing wall, we cut the studs and framed it out.

For ease, I recommend using a pre-made form like this to create a perfectly sized installation.

Pro Tip: When sizing, don’t forget that concrete board, waterproofing or Schluter Kerdi, mortar, and tile thickness will reduce space.

Do I need any special tools?

You pretty much need the same tools and such as tiling your wall. I would recommend getting a small or tight trowel like this one for putting mortar in. The large ones are difficult to use in small spaces.

Check out our full guide >>>> 4 Ways to Waterproof your Shower. This will provide the best long term protection.

Planning and Pre-cut tile

For our newest niche project, this is an ultra-modern and simple design. Most of the time, you see niches with a background accent tile. Today’s niche, however, is designed as an integral part of the wall. It uses only the same wall tile, and no trim tile or bullnose tile.

Below is how I laid out our design on the floor. I then cut and labeled the tile before mixing the mortar. The grout lines are created as a continuation of the surrounding tile. They are not actually centered.

Diagram for how to layout pre-cut tile for a niche.

L= Left, R=Right, T=Top, B=Bottom, I=inside (back), S=side panels. You can also extend this to trim tile if you have that to add.

Tips for Installing a Shower Niche

You can tile either the back or the sides first, depending on your design and tile spacing and depth.
I recommend tiling the wall before the niche.
Make sure that the bottom tile is slanted downward at least 1/16″ so that water drains out without pooling. VERY important!
A pre-made form makes these shelves easier to install. However, I have made custom niches with concrete board and waterproofing.
Waterproofing is highly recommended as corners and dips are more prone to water retention and cracking. If installed correctly, this should not be a problem however.
Measure twice, cut once.
For more complicated structures, the shelves are supported by tile and mortar to keep them in place.
Tape any precarious tiles into place while the mortar sets and dries. I recommend doing the top tiles last so the mortar has more time to set.
Cut and dry fit tiles before mortaring to avoid mistakes.
Do lay your pattern out on the floor ahead of time and label each part. (My own son decided to move my design before I started, and I couldn’t figure out which piece was which!)
Make sure to clean and seal your grout surfaces. We have a handy tutorial for how we keep our grout clean and sparkling for years to come.

A frameless shower in a fully tiled bathroom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need bullnose tile for a niche?

You can choose to use a trim tile such as bullnose around the exterior. Contrary to what I see online, this is generally an aesthetic choice. I recommend installing the bullnose so it forms a slight lip for easier grouting and better design.

What if tile has no bullnose?

I have tiled several shower niches with no bullnose or trim tile. It can still be grouted appropriately around the edge and you can see from our example today how that looks.

Should I use accent tile in a niche?

Use of accent tile is a popular way to add style to a shower. However, the choice of tile style is only for aesthetic purposes. I have mix and matched accent tile as well as used the same tile throughout the niche and wall.

Can I install a niche after tile?

Because a niche is integrated into the wall behind the tile, the niche form must be done before tiling. If you cut into the wall, you will damage the water barrier in the other tile, causing major problems.

Should a shower niche be grouted or caulked?

Grouted. The only places to caulk are around the shower pan or tub and where the tile meets the wall/ceiling.

What do you tile first in a shower?

After framing the shower niche and waterproofing the shower, it is easiest to tile the walls first. This will keep niche tile flush and best supported while drying. Remember to adjust space for the tile and edging your will use for the niche.