Renovating
9 Reasons to Carve Out a Recess
Make clever use of a recessed space, such as a nook or niche, to make the most of your wall space and increase storage to boot
Niches or nooks may not be the first things you think of when renovating your home, but they’re a handy way to incorporate interesting and functional design, capitalise on space that might otherwise have been wasted, and simultaneously increase your storage and add visual interest to a wall. Be inspired by these ways you can use recessed space.
2. Add visual variety to a plain wall
A niche can break up a plain wall and add valuable shelving to a minimalist room. This design introduces wood to the walls, which links to the flooring and brings warmth to the space.
Think about what you will use the shelf for – such as books, framed photos, knick-knacks and tea lights – as this will inform the height and depth of the niche you build into your wall.
A niche can break up a plain wall and add valuable shelving to a minimalist room. This design introduces wood to the walls, which links to the flooring and brings warmth to the space.
Think about what you will use the shelf for – such as books, framed photos, knick-knacks and tea lights – as this will inform the height and depth of the niche you build into your wall.
3. Supplement another feature
While a niche can be a feature on its own, it can also carry other statement pieces beautifully. In fact, the original purpose of the niche in architecture was to display statues and vases.
In this room, logs are kept conveniently close to the fireplace (which gives it an authentic feel) in a tall, thin niche, making it both a neat storage idea and a slice of interest in the white wall.
While a niche can be a feature on its own, it can also carry other statement pieces beautifully. In fact, the original purpose of the niche in architecture was to display statues and vases.
In this room, logs are kept conveniently close to the fireplace (which gives it an authentic feel) in a tall, thin niche, making it both a neat storage idea and a slice of interest in the white wall.
4. Recess a rail
Guests are sure to be wowed by this staircase. Not only does the recessed handrail leave more space for the thoroughfare, the built-in lighting is visually interesting and doubles up as a design feature.
If a niche like this doesn’t suit the style of your home, other unexpected spots for one might include on either side of the bed to hold lamps or in the hallway as a home for keys.
Guests are sure to be wowed by this staircase. Not only does the recessed handrail leave more space for the thoroughfare, the built-in lighting is visually interesting and doubles up as a design feature.
If a niche like this doesn’t suit the style of your home, other unexpected spots for one might include on either side of the bed to hold lamps or in the hallway as a home for keys.
5. Put a twist on a standard structure
Niches can serve several functions at once. While the designers of this bathroom could easily have installed any kind of window, the peppering of niches they have chosen allows in plenty of light while maintaining privacy, and creates an interesting feature wall and handy storage. Talk about multi-functional!
Niches can serve several functions at once. While the designers of this bathroom could easily have installed any kind of window, the peppering of niches they have chosen allows in plenty of light while maintaining privacy, and creates an interesting feature wall and handy storage. Talk about multi-functional!
6. Reference other features in the house
The recessed shelving in this room visually breaks up a plain white wall and adds depth to the space. The shelves are also a nice way to tie the room together, as they reference the wood used in the rest of the house.
This works with other materials, too. Why not paper or paint the back of a niche with the same wallpaper or paint used elsewhere?
The recessed shelving in this room visually breaks up a plain white wall and adds depth to the space. The shelves are also a nice way to tie the room together, as they reference the wood used in the rest of the house.
This works with other materials, too. Why not paper or paint the back of a niche with the same wallpaper or paint used elsewhere?
7. Create a hideaway
Sizeable niches can make cosy spots in which to curl up with a book and a cuppa, and they’re a great way to observe the goings-on of the house from a cosy vantage point.
A niche like this creates extra seating and storage options in otherwise dead space. Accessorise with plenty of cushions and soft lighting for an extra-comfy burrow.
Sizeable niches can make cosy spots in which to curl up with a book and a cuppa, and they’re a great way to observe the goings-on of the house from a cosy vantage point.
A niche like this creates extra seating and storage options in otherwise dead space. Accessorise with plenty of cushions and soft lighting for an extra-comfy burrow.
8. Maximise storage and surface space
You can never have too much storage space, especially in a small room. Recessed niches like these can be anything you want them to be: bookshelves, places for flowers and collectables, shelving for clothes, spots to display jewellery, or even hanging space if your niche is large enough.
You can never have too much storage space, especially in a small room. Recessed niches like these can be anything you want them to be: bookshelves, places for flowers and collectables, shelving for clothes, spots to display jewellery, or even hanging space if your niche is large enough.
9. Install where normal storage solutions just won’t do
Do away with shower caddies and bottles strewn around with a simple niche. Shallow ones are ideal for bathrooms, as you don’t want the trouble of rearranging your bottles every time you reach for one in the back row.
TELL US
Do you have niches in your home? How do you use them? Please share your thoughts and photos in the Comments section.
MORE
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Clever Lighting Ideas You May Not Have Thought of Yet
Do away with shower caddies and bottles strewn around with a simple niche. Shallow ones are ideal for bathrooms, as you don’t want the trouble of rearranging your bottles every time you reach for one in the back row.
TELL US
Do you have niches in your home? How do you use them? Please share your thoughts and photos in the Comments section.
MORE
How to Gain Valuable Space in Tiny Bathrooms
Nifty In-Between Nooks for Extra Living
Clever Lighting Ideas You May Not Have Thought of Yet
Under-stair areas are often neglected or are filled with cleaning products and old shoes. The designers of this space have ingeniously turned this dead area into a design statement that increases the storage capacity of the kitchen and squeezes in a little admin desk, too.
If your under-stair area is in your living room or hallway rather than your kitchen, a home office might be more appropriate.
How to squeeze in a home office anywhere