Outside of a kitchen renovation, a bathroom remodeling project is one of the best ways to add comfort and convenience to your home while giving it an equity boost.
Most bathrooms use tile in the shower to provide a moisture-resistant surface that reduces the risks of rot or water damage.
When you replace or convert this space to improve the experience, you might add a niche, nook, or shelf to maximize its usability.
Recessed shelves and spaces in a shower often create tile edges that could be sharp if you encounter them. How do you finish them to ensure a straight, clean look is possible?
How Do You Finish Tile Edges in a Shower Niche?
Some tiles come with a finished edge version. Installing that product is the easiest option. Bullnose tile on the edges is also possible, butting the cut edge up to it to create a clean look. Additional options include using a Schulter stick, installing a pencil edge, or using flat-edged waterproof trim.
A shower niche provides a storage area built into your bathing area. You can have one installed even if you’re using a bath-shower combination.
Here are the steps to follow when you need to finish the tile edges for a seamless look. If you choose not to use one of these options, it’s more likely that the exposed area could be damaged or chipped.
Three common methods are used to finish tile edges for a shower niche.
- Apply plastic or metal tile edging to create a finished look.
- Use caulk lines to seal the tile edges to create a strong, smooth appearance.
- Install trim tile pieces, including bullnose tile, to produce a finished perimeter.
Although finished tile takes longer, it also looks better and lasts longer. The work offers more protection to this sensitive space.
The edges around a niche are only one of several spots where a finishing effort is necessary.
You would want to consider it for transitions from tiled flooring to another choice, shower jambs where the tile ends, backsplash edges, and places where the trim meets the installation.
Protective edging is not needed for places where unexposed tile exists, like where the tiles meet the molding or ceiling in the bathroom.
Steps to Follow When Finishing Tile Edges
The table below offers the steps to follow for each finishing technique. Each shower niche has specific needs to consider, so the information cannot cover every possibility.
| Finishing Style | Steps to Follow When Finishing Tile Edges |
| Caulking | This option is the easiest and cheapest method to finish tile edges. It provides a waterproof seal, delivering results for products with an edge that already looks finished. Install and grout the tile, including all edge pieces. Select a caulk that matches the grout used for the tile installation. Apply a think line along the exposed edge to produce a watertight seal. Use a damp cloth or your finger to smooth the line, creating a professional, finished appearance. Touch up uneven areas before the caulk dries to create an even look. Allow the caulk to dry up to ten days. |
| Edging | Tile edging trim uses metal or plastic strips with different profiles to create smooth edges. Square and rounded options are available, with one side using a role of holes to help glue the product to the niche area. Install and grout the niche tiles, leaving a single row along the perimeter. Measure the installation area, then cut the tile edging to an equal length. Tin snips could be required for this step. Keep the tile adhesive smooth to attach the remaining tile row. Hold the trim so that its side with the holes faces the installation surface. It helps to align the product to the outer edge while pressing it to the surface, ensuring the glue seeps through for a firm grip. Use a level to ensure the edging is straight.Press a tile to the surface to see if it is flush. Make adjustments as needed. Apply the remaining tiles until the row is complete. You can remove any excess mortar with a damp cloth, then apply the grout to the area. |
| Trim Pieces | Trim tiles, including bullnose options, provide a smooth edge that hides the unfinished ends of standard tiles. Products with a half-rounded and finished edge make it easier to manage transitions. Ensure the trim tile thickness matches the rest of the tile. Review the color to ensure it complements or matches the other products in the shower. It helps to purchase the tile from the same manufacturer. Measure the placement location to determine your needs. Use a pencil or masking tape to indicate where the trim tile goes. Grout the standard tile, saving the top and border rows for the edge trim pieces. Use a thin-set mortar with the edging, having the smooth end aligned with the border. Grout the bullnose tile with the same mortar mixture to provide a consistent look, removing any excess. Use a thin caulk line to form a watertight seal. |
Options Other Than Bullnose Tiles to Use
Some homeowners don’t like the look of bullnose tiles for a shower niche, even when the product comes from the same manufacturer.
If you’re not a fan of the trim or caulking methods, you have three other choices to consider for finishing your new niche.
- Sink caps, which are also called V-cap tiles, have a rounded edge that fits over the edge of tiled counters. Their L-shape uses a longer edge to install flush with the other tile while having a shorter edge that covers the front of the top.
- Tile moldings are decorative pieces of porcelain, ceramic, or natural stone that have molding on one side. They’re designed to provide a raised border between two different tile types or the niche and drywall in the bathroom.
- Liner tiles, which are also called pencil tiles, deliver a clean border or edge that works well for mosaic designs. They’re rounded while lying flat, which gives you a matching flooring option.
FAQ About Installing a Shower Niche at Home
Shelves and storage containers provide some solutions, but they won’t solve the problem of having bottles lining the wall or taking up space in other areas.
This built-in solution creates a seamless look while ensuring a moisture-resistant installation occurs.
If you’re thinking about having a tile niche installed, here are the questions you’ll want to have answered first.
Are There Advantages to Using a Shower Niche?
Some shower niches insert directly into the installation area. These preformed products use a waterproof box that eliminates the need for an interior membrane. The surface allows the mortar to adhere to its surface easily, ensuring the edges receive the attention they deserve.
After laying the tiles in the insert, you have a beautiful shelving unit inset with the shower for additional storage.
When you need more space, a custom-build option between your wall studs is an alternative solution to consider. It’ll take more work, but you’ll get the results you want.
Why Choose a Custom Shower Niche?
A custom shower niche lets you have as much, or as little space as needed for your needs. It’s possible to have the storage area extend across an entire wall.
Customized approaches allow for more creative shower designs, creating a dominant design feature that can be a selling point for the home. You can insert multiple shelves, have specific spaces for each family member, or have a spot for your waterproof Bluetooth speaker.
This option often requires professional installation, but you can handle the finishing work if you know how to set the tile.
What Wall Should Host the Shower Niche?
Before you commit to a specific design or aesthetic, the correct wall must be selected for the niche. It cannot interact with any electrical or plumbing kept behind the wall.
Although you can place a niche on an outside wall, it’s not usually recommended if you live in a cold weather area. Since this space is prone to moisture, you could inadvertently damage the home’s exterior with improper placement.
It is better to be cautious and use an interior wall whenever possible. Unless you’re using a pre-made niche, don’t forget about the waterproof membrane to limit damage risks.
What Is the Best Shower Niche Size to Use?
When your preference is to use a custom shower niche, it can be difficult to determine what specific size to use. There’s nothing right or wrong to consider in this space, so it depends on your particular needs.
Horizontal designs offer more storage, but they might require structural reinforcement if you want a bigger space.
Pre-made shower niches dictate how big the storage area is for your bathroom, but you have the option to install multiple ones for added space.
How Do I Position a Shower Niche?
A shower niche can be a showcase design element, but it should serve a practical purpose. That’s why most installs focus on a center position that offers symmetry.
You can also decide to position this asset in spaces that are easy for you to access, especially if you’re not contemplating a sale anytime soon.
Water can collect in the niche if it’s positioned incorrectly. You might think about keeping it outside the splash zone to reduce its cleaning requirements.
How Do I Style a Shower Niche?
You can use a tiled shower niche to dominate or accent your bathroom design. It’s something you can hide or feature. There aren’t any rules to follow beyond the need to finish the edges.
If you use subway tile for the primary shower area, you could install mosaic products to create an offset look.
You can also use long vertical shapes between the studs to change patterns or use the same tile. Anything that you like is a possibility when designing this element.
Best Tile Cutter to Use for Installing a Shower Niche
When you decide to take on a shower niche project yourself, a tile cutter is often needed to complete the work. The SKIL 7-inch Wet Tile Saw is an excellent choice to use. It offers an adjustable rip fence and a miter gauge for accurate straight and angled cuts.
The design uses a cooling reservoir with water that keeps the blade cool for accurate cutting while keeping debris and dust levels down. It cuts through stone and masonry up to a 45-degree angle.
If you have an intricate niche design to install, you can tilt the saw table to give you a bevel cut for various designs.
Even though it’s a small saw, you can use it for large-format tiles with the right supports. It helps to use the tool on a workbench to avoid stooping and discomfort.
I’ve found it to be a wonderful addition to my tool collection for shower niches and other DIY projects.
When Should I Renovate My Shower to Give It a Niche?
The best time to renovate a bathroom is when obvious damage exists. When a leak exists, mildew may form on the walls, or a musty smell might be present. If it has been more than ten years, a complete remodeling project can update the space with new features, including a built-in shower niche.
The first time I encountered a shower niche was while working as a general contractor to repair foreclosures. Someone had started this project in their bathroom, but then stopped about halfway through it.
We decided to complete the task by setting tile and caulking the unfinished edges. When the house was ready for tours, the design became the highlight for everyone.
As bathtubs have fallen out of favor for showers, the niche has become a go-to element for modern designs. It’s easy to maintain, provides a gorgeous aesthetic, and can add artistic elements to the bathroom.
Whether you build one out yourself or use a pre-made design, the advantages are clear. You can organize the clutter, reduce rust rings, and stop putting pressure on your plumbing with temporary shelving units.
It’s worth the investment!