Skip to content
Makan Al Najah

Guides

Shower niches and bathroom storage

A recessed niche is a hole in the waterproof layer. Built well it is the neatest storage in the room; built badly it is where the leak starts.

Request a quoteWhatsApp us
Renovated bathroom with a glass walk-in shower, timber vanity and dark wall tiles

Recessed shelves in the shower keep bottles off the floor and away from the screen, and recessed mirror cabinets give storage without projecting into a small room. Both depend on the wall behind them having enough depth, and on that depth not being occupied by pipes, cables or a structural element.

Element pages explain one part of a larger renovation in detail: what is being chosen, what the installation involves, and where the cost and time usually sit.

Inside the shower, a niche interrupts the waterproofing. The membrane has to run into the recess, around every corner and across the bottom, which should slope slightly outward so water does not sit there. It is detailed and inspected before tiling, because once tiled there is no second chance to check it.

What matters most on this page

  • The wall must have depth

    Niches are only possible where the wall is thick enough and free of pipes and structure.

  • Waterproofing runs into the recess

    Every inside corner of the niche is a joint in the membrane and needs reinforcing.

  • Plan the tile cuts

    A niche looks deliberate when its edges line up with the tile grid. That is decided before the wall is built.

Storage options in a bathroom

  • Shower niches

    Recessed into the shower wall, ideally not on an external wall and not opposite the shower head where water hits directly.

  • Recessed mirror cabinets

    Need wall depth and often a power supply for lighting or a shaver socket, both planned at first fix.

  • Boxed ducts as storage

    Where a false wall hides a cistern or pipes, the space above it can become a shelf without cutting into structure.

Before a niche is cut

  • Check what is inside the wall

    Pipes, cables and structure can rule a location out. Check before the design is fixed.

  • Align with the tile grid

    Size the niche to whole tiles where possible so the edges look intentional.

  • Ask how the corners are waterproofed

    Reinforcing tape or preformed corners at every inside edge is the detail that prevents leaks.

Questions we are often asked

Can a niche go in an external wall?

It is usually avoided, because it thins the wall and can create a cold or damp spot. An internal wall or a built-out wall is preferred.

Are preformed niche inserts better?

They can simplify the waterproofing because the box is already watertight. They still need sealing to the surrounding membrane.

Why does water sit in my niche?

The bottom is probably level or sloping inward. It should fall slightly towards the shower.

Related guides

Start from bathroom renovation, browse the guides, or see all renovation and fit-out services. We work on homes and commercial premises across Dubai.

Tell us about the property

Tell us which room, which element and what is being replaced. We will confirm the measurements and the sequence that follows.

Next step

Plan storage that does not leak

Tell us which wall you want the niche in and send a photograph. We will check the wall depth and plan the waterproofing detail.

Request a quoteWhatsApp usCall +971 58 846 4007
Call usWhatsApp