A recessed shower niche is the difference between a tidy wet room and one littered with plastic caddies. Done well it is invisible storage built into the wall. Done badly it is a leak waiting to happen. The trick is to treat the niche as part of the waterproofing, not an afterthought cut into it.
Where to place the niche
- Inside the shower, off the direct spray line so bottles stay dry between uses.
- Between studs where possible — a standard 300–600 mm width lines up with a 400–600 mm stud bay.
- At seated-shoulder height (roughly 1.0–1.4 m) for a standing user; lower for a bath or kid's bathroom.
- Never centred on a wall mixing valve or drain chase where pipes run.
Sizing and shelf options
A pre-formed XPS niche arrives as a one-piece waterproof box — no site-built timber frame, no corner taping. Standard openings run 300×300, 300×600 and 600×600 mm, with single or double internal shelves.
| Opening | Best for | Shelf |
|---|---|---|
| 300 × 300 mm | Soap, razor, small bottles | Single |
| 300 × 600 mm | Family shower, tall bottles | Single or double |
| 600 × 600 mm | Shared / hotel, two users | Double |
Waterproofing the niche correctly
- Set the factory box into the backer board opening with the flange flat against the wall board.
- Overlay the flange with the wall membrane or liquid tanking so the seam is buried, not exposed.
- Tape and seal every internal corner; the niche is a box of corners, and corners leak.
- Tile with a slight fall on any shelf so water runs off, never pools.
Design details that sell
- Matching tile. A niche in the same tile as the wall disappears; a contrasting niche becomes a feature.
- Shelf notch. A continuous shelf across the width reads cleaner than two brackets.
- Lighting.
An LED strip above the niche turns a storage box into a highlight — just seal the fitting to IP rating for wet zones.
Mistakes that cause leaks
- Cutting the niche after the board is already tiled and expecting to seal it later.
- Letting the niche flange sit proud of the wall, so tile can't lie flat.
- Forgetting a fall on the shelf — standing water breeds mould on the grout.
Frequently asked questions
Can a niche go on an exterior wall?
Yes, but insulate and ventilate the cavity behind it; a cold wall behind the niche can condense. A pre-formed box keeps the interior dry regardless.
Single or double shelf?
Single suits most homes; double suits taller bottles or two users. Decide before ordering so the internal shelf is moulded in.
Do I still need to waterproof it?
The box is pre-waterproofed, but you must bond its flange into the wall membrane. The seam, not the box, is what you seal on site.
What size fits a stud bay?
300 mm and 600 mm widths line up with standard 400–600 mm stud centres, so they drop in without extra framing.
Can I tile it with mosaic?
Yes — small tiles wrap the internal corners nicely. Use a flexible adhesive and fully butter the back of each tessera.
Build storage into the wall, not onto it
TANYTE supplies pre-waterproofed XPS shower niches in single and double-shelf formats, matched to backer board and tray systems.