You have in your arsenal many effective tools that, when used skillfully, can give your interior the most attractive and interesting look. One of them is a niche, a small recess in the wall. From a design point of view, this element belongs to the category of architectural solutions and directly affects the visual appearance of the room, favorably emphasizing its individual character. A niche in the wall plays a key role in this regard - and therefore the knowledge and ability of how to decorate it beautifully can become your main trump card when creating a bright and memorable room design. We offer a kind of digest of the best design ideas, with the help of which we will simultaneously reveal the main secrets of integrating this solution into a wide variety of interiors.
- 6 benefits of using a niche;
- How to design a niche with your own hands;
- Interior use;
- Interaction with lighting;
- Placement methods depending on the design style;
- Examples of photos in different rooms;
- Conclusion.
Planning stage
There are many techniques that allow you to use even very narrow elements with taste and imagination. Large functional structures are used for cabinets, gaining usable space.
A few recommendations on how to design a niche:
- When arranging, you need to start from the purpose of the living space.
- The size of the niche in the wall depends on the area of the room.
- The color scheme and style echo the overall interior.
- To create a deep alcove, you should not use dark colors.
- To prevent the design from looking tasteless, you should not overload it with decorative elements.
Vases in niches Source roomester.ru
Vertical recesses Source decorationinfo.ru
For rooms for different purposes, appropriate types of finishing are used. They are combined and complemented with LED lighting, mirrors and stylish elements.
Master class: DIY niche frame
There is no point in inserting any cabinet or shelves into a very narrow niche; they simply won’t fit there. The options for covering the back wall are also narrowing; it should be thin so as not to narrow the already shallow niche. Therefore, in this case, paint or wallpaper is used.
BEFORE PHOTO (niche before processing:)
This niche had already been covered with structured wallpaper; the only question that remained was how else it could be refined. And the frame is a wonderful way out of the situation .
Since the door frame and baseboards are made in the same style and painted white, the decision to make the frame for the niche the same came naturally.
AFTER (Niche after treatment):
Necessary materials:
- 2 boards 9 cm wide and 114 cm long (for the inner sides of the frame)
- 2 boards 9 cm wide and 117 cm long (for the outer side parts of the frame)
- 2 boards 9 cm wide and 97 cm long (for the inner top and bottom of the frame)
- 2 boards 13 cm wide and 112 cm long (for the outer top and bottom parts of the frame)
- Wood glue
- Hidden dowels
- Screws
- Drill
- Sandpaper
- Paint and brush
Pine boards were used here.
Make the measurements based on the size of the niche in your apartment.
- The outer side boards and the inner top and bottom boards must be exactly the size of the niche;
- the inner side boards must be smaller than the size of the niche by the width of the boards so that the folded frame fits into the niche.
Design ideas
To fit the structure correctly, you need to place it successfully and arrange it accordingly. The decoration is carried out in the same style with the overall design of the room.
On narrow structures, it would be a good idea to place collectibles, family photographs, vases, figurines, and candles. Closed recesses are best suited for storing clothes, bags and shoes.
Use to place a TV and other equipment. You can easily hide wires and cables and effectively zone the space.
Rectangular plasterboard arch Source th.aviarydecor.com
The shallow structure is used as a decorative element. Paintings, panels and frescoes are placed in it. If you equip the lighting correctly and place a flowerpot or figurine on the ledge, you can make an unusual and spectacular art object out of the recess.
Niches with decorative plaster Source th.aviarydecor.com
An aquarium in a niche always looks elegant and natural. With the help of such details, they create an expressive and light eco-design, giving the room an atmosphere of relaxation and comfort.
Aquarium in a niche between rooms Source design-homes.ru
A recess for an electric fireplace, inlaid with tiles or other impressive materials, allows you to create a warm and homely atmosphere in the room.
Through niches in the wall Source photopia.ru.net
The structure can be used as a bar corner. It is advisable to decorate the shelves with collectible bottles. This original solution will attract the attention of connoisseurs and add gloss.
Alcohol shelves Source crithome.com
Bookshelves decorated with flowers and trinkets will bring an atmosphere of lightness and comfort. You can place memorabilia, photos and stylized decor on them.
Recess in the bedroom Source design-homes.ru
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in interior redevelopment.
For the sofa
An equally original proposal is to use a niche in the living room to install a sofa in it. This could be a miniature model that successfully occupies a place near one of the short walls or, conversely, a chic and oversized product that simply needs a separate zone. Built-in lighting, paintings or photos on the walls, as well as floor vases, floor lamps and other accessories as a complement to upholstered furniture are welcome.
Pros and cons of options
It is advisable to use one or more narrow structures located asymmetrically. In order to create an interesting interior, you can use not only decorative, but also completely functional recesses used for storing things. If you beautifully arrange cute little things on the shelves, stacks of neatly folded clothes, several books, trinkets, the room will look atmospheric. But the abundance of closets, solid shelves filled to the brim with things, looks tasteless and sloppy.
Pros of placing cabinets and shelves:
- Possibility of obtaining storage space.
- Economical use of usable space.
- A special flavor in the interior of the room.
Minuses:
- Built-in modules are limited by the dimensions of the recess.
- The need for frequent cleaning due to dust settling on open surfaces.
An empty wall in the bedroom can be decorated with a shallow design. It will be not only convenient, but also original. This is a fashionable, but not hackneyed option for creating an interior. Typically, recesses are made at the head of the bed. Additionally, there are convenient shelves and built-in lamps. If everything is put together correctly from a design point of view, the sleeping area will take on a truly magical look.
Niche in the work area Source design-homes.ru
Advantages of an alcove bed:
- Visual zoning of space.
- Getting a cozy private corner.
- Additional darkening.
Features and advantages of a winter “refrigerator” under the windowsill
The location for the kitchen cabinet was not chosen by chance - this section of the wall under the window has the lowest temperature in the room in winter.
There are many benefits to having an extra refrigerator.
The advantages of a winter closet include:
- Multifunctionality, rational use of a small area. Kitchens in Khrushchev-era apartment buildings are quite modest, so the issue of saving space is especially acute. A cabinet under the window in the kitchen allows you to store supplies of cereals, canned food, and homemade preparations.
- Low temperature, including in the summer heat. Thanks to the design and placement features, the space under the window opening always remains cool.
- Possibility of redevelopment. If you don't need the cabinet as a place for food, it can be easily converted by installing a heating radiator or regular shelves for dishes.
In Khrushchev-era buildings, the window sill is not only very wide.
The only drawback of the cabinet is the low thermal insulation. With the onset of cold weather, heat leaks due to too thin doors. Therefore, if you decide to remodel, you need to take care of insulation using thermal insulation materials.
The niche under the window can be converted into an additional wardrobe.
Flaws:
- The space requires the creation of artificial lighting.
- Air exchange in the recess is reduced.
- Cleaning is complicated.
Functional and spacious shelves Source roomester.ru
The planes of the niche are used as a stand for equipment. The designs reduce the usable area, so they are only relevant for large rooms.
Recesses are well suited for the kitchen. They serve as stands for dishes, spices and cans of bulk products. A good idea would be to place narrow niches in the hallway wall or along the stairs. It is advisable to make several asymmetrical decorative elements and provide them with lighting.
A living flower on a niche shelf is an excellent solution Source strojka-gid.ru
Modern bedroom Source strojka-gid.ru
Examples of photos in different rooms
As we have already found out, you can beautifully decorate a recess in the wall in almost any room, even if its functionality is very limited. We invite you to see this with your own eyes.
Bedroom
Living room
Kitchen
Hallway
Bathroom and toilet
Niche made of cabinets
This option is good for a room of modest size. It significantly saves space and allows you to use it to maximum advantage. Typically this structure is built around a sofa or sleeping area. If you use a folding bed and functional cabinets, the space savings will be significant.
Large functional niche Source remontbp.com
The design of closed cabinets does not burden the interior; it looks laconic and restrained. It limits the bedroom area, creates a cozy alcove and organizes a convenient storage system.
In the attic niche
The attic area is usually small, and the shape of the ceiling limits design possibilities. To ensure that a room with a complex configuration does not lose useful space, it is necessary to position the structure correctly and not oversaturate it with decorative elements. Everything should be simple and functional.
Attic decoration Source peredelka.tv
Such a room must be carefully designed. Then you will be able to effectively manage the available space, giving it maximum functionality and integrity.
Interesting solutions
True connoisseurs of luxury place aquariums in niches. These can be either single glass squares or entire glass structures.
If it is beneficial to highlight the underwater world, then such a corner will become a real relaxation area after heavy emotional stress or physical stress.
- A bar is set up in the niches. Alcohol and more are placed in such recesses.
- They are decorated with a beautiful set of electric lamps.
- The space is decorated with flexible clinker or mosaic.
Very often they decorate the bar with antique putty so that the bar looks not only appetizing, but also solemn.
Bed in a niche
It will help to create a functional and cozy interior for an apartment in the form of a studio or one-room apartment. An alcove, complemented by drawers for bedding, will allow you to avoid purchasing massive furniture pieces. Built-in bed models:
- Regular fixed beds of small width. They are not removed or folded.
- Transformers are equipped with a lifting or sliding mechanism. For the day, the linen is put away in a drawer or closet, and the bed module is transformed into a table and seats.
Podium bed options have a monolithic ledge on which the mattress is located. Beautifully designed, they have a very aesthetic appearance. Suitable for apartments with a large area.
Modern bedroom design Source orgstek.ru
The bunk bed in a niche is a comfortable and ergonomic design. Forms a compact sleeping place, allowing you to significantly save the usable area of the room. When properly decorated it looks very nice.
Good idea for a bunk bed Source editorial-ink.us
To unload the room as much as possible, you need to use a horizontal or vertical folding bed. Due to the fact that the outer side of the product matches the color of the cabinet finish, when assembled the model merges with the surrounding surface.
Wardrobe with pull-out bed Source underpassbar.com
Instead of a window there is a niche. For history. How to turn a window into a bookshelf?
Well, this is probably not a very relevant post. Let's define it this way. For those who don't read Yulin So, there was an extra window. Julia wanted to make bookshelves out of it. I think she thought everything was simpler. Cut out the shelves and insert into what you have. But in the end, she and I decided not to look for easy ways. The window had to cease to be a window, and the niche had to take on a slightly different shape. This is where it all started:
So that the slopes are not drop-down, but form a right angle with the wall area, I install a profile. I recess it into the niche to the thickness of the drywall. There wasn't enough for the top profile. Okay, let's install the block.
I sew up the slopes with pieces of drywall. There are very small pieces on top. No problem, we'll putty it.
I cover the window and profiles with plaster. Everything is made from scraps, see? Yulia was trying to buy a sheet and not fool her, but there was no drywall in the nearby stores. And well, we used everything that was a shame to throw away. 
This is how it happened:
After the first layer of putty:
I install the perforation angle. On the left you can still see it, but on the right it has already been puttied.
Prepared. You can glue wallpaper. The plan was to cover everything with green.
There was only enough wallpaper for the side slopes.
But I found a water-based emulsion. They used it to paint the upper slope and what used to be a window. The shelves were cut from an old bookcase. And this is great, because they turned out with one beautiful (trimmed) edge. This is the kind of book niche that has emerged.
And Julia quickly filled it out.
That's how it is. I don't think it worked out that way, huh? How do you like it?
Decorating a small niche
How to design a niche if it is shallow? If it is so narrow that it is impossible to insert shelves, then it is advisable to use wallpaper or paint to decorate the surface. Narrow structures above a sofa or bed are decorated with photographs, books, souvenirs or other stylized decor.
Hall design Source luxhome.pp.ua
Location options:
- If you need to divert attention from the heating radiator, then make a recess under the window. You can also organize storage space under the windowsill.
- Corner design is used when there is a shortage of free space, and when the room has a complex configuration.
- Placing a niche in a false wall will add unusualness and individuality to the interior.
- Recesses located above a bed or sofa make the room more organized and elegant.
Niches in the kitchen Source roomester.ru
Bright interior accents Source happymodern.ru
Shallow niches in the wall will decorate the living room interior if you give them an original shape and equip them with lighting. Place flowerpots with flowers and decorative candles. Place family photos, souvenirs and books on the built-in shelves.
High-tech interior with niches Source strojka-gid.ru
What rooms are niches suitable for?
You will be very surprised, but we can say with confidence that a niche as a decorative element is suitable for absolutely any room . For the hallway and living room, for the bedroom and children's room, for the kitchen and bathroom, and even for the home office or balcony! If you want to make your room unique and original, feel free to use niches . This does not have to be a large niche covering almost the entire wall; it can be several small or many small niches used exclusively for decoration. Equipped with multi-colored lighting with beautiful candles inside, even such niches will create an indescribable mood in your home.
Don't be afraid to experiment with shapes and sizes, just
follow the proportions and sensibly evaluate the available space, and you can easily achieve the desired effect. And of course, do not forget about the material from which the niche is made. It must correspond to the microclimate of the room in which it will be located. For rooms with high humidity - moisture-resistant materials. For the remaining rooms, choose any materials to suit your taste.
Options for decorative finishing of a niche
To design a niche in the wall, different building materials are used. Set up lighting in the form of sconces, spotlights or colored LED strips.
Niches on the wall made of plasterboard Source dekormyhome.ru
Materials for niche design:
- Wallpaper. They are used more often for shallow structures. With their help, you can give the room a modern look or add a vintage touch.
- Laminate. Practical material with a wide range of colors.
- Tile. Used for small asymmetrical niches. Depending on the color and structure, it will bring asceticism or freshness, and will help to place bright accents.
- Stone or brick. Suitable for creating a bold, unusual interior. It will help to zone the space.
- Decorative plaster. Enlivens the atmosphere, adds elegance and aesthetics.
- Tree. Eco-friendly material with good aesthetic and performance characteristics. Presented with lining and wooden panels of different types of wood.
Decorating a niche with brickwork Source kakpostroit.su
Beautiful decoration of the hallway Source repaireasily.ru
A recess in the wall will be an alternative to a wall painting or fresco; you can place indoor plants, candles or stylized decor on a flat surface.
Niches-shelves in the wall Source stavlib.org.ru
If you paint the recess to match the walls, it will not stand out from the general background. If you want to focus attention on it, you need to choose a contrasting shade of paint. An inscription or graphic looks good in a decorative niche.
Shelves or a cabinet will add practicality to the design. You can put a wardrobe in a large niche. Place candles, souvenirs, photos, books on narrow shelves. The bedroom design will be complemented by soft lighting in the depths of the alcove. A good idea would be a corner with soft seating for drinking tea or reading. In the latter case, you need a bright lamp.
Dining place in the kitchen Source baneproject.com
A niche in the bathroom can be decorated with a mirror and equipped with side lighting. Place beautiful bottles, shells, candles and things on the shelf that will help create a marine-style interior.
Japanese-style bedroom decoration Source topdom.ru
Placement methods depending on the design style
Currently, it is encouraged to place several recesses in one room at once - of course, if its dimensions allow this.
They can be placed:
- symmetrical to each other;
- asymmetrical;
- combined.
The latter option is still rarely used in design projects, although it accumulates the strongest decorative potential. Symmetrical
located niches are a sign of an interior that has been carefully designed to the smallest detail, in which there should be no surprises.
The dictates of strict geometry are more suitable for modern design styles: loft, contemporary, Scandinavian minimalism
. Calibrated lines, absence of any curves, brevity and effectiveness in one bottle.
The reasons for such popularity of such architectural solutions lie in their applied nature: in the design styles mentioned above there is no room for anything superfluous - every detail of the interior must be justified, every square meter must be organized.
Space optimization as one of the trends of not only this year, but also next year in action. Sequentially placed recesses in the wall and in the classic format feel quite comfortable, but this is rather an exception that directly confirms the rule. As for asymmetry
, it usually characterizes interiors in
Provence, shabby chic, and vintage styles
.
There is a predominance of forms rounded at the top and framing. An interesting detail: most often, paintings, family photos, archaic vases and other objects
, which directly hint at the taste preferences of the owner.
Niche in the interior of the hallway
Even a small hallway can be successfully decorated with narrow structures. Decorate with hooks for clothes, baskets for keys, shelves. Recesses of different sizes with soft lighting, located asymmetrically, will help create a dynamic interior. Decorating a niche in the wall:
- Wardrobe for things
In the hallway, a recess is most often used for practical purposes. A simple crossbar or wardrobe, shelves for things and a minimum of decor. This will help avoid overcrowding and clutter in the room.
Design of a dressing room in the hallway Source topsrestructuring.com
- Hanger for a large family
Dark panels and simple hooks are more practical than light trim. Emerald green or brown will perfectly hide minor scratches and stains. An interesting design solution would be steel hooks.
Hanger with mirror in the hallway Source glomart.ru
- Illumination in a niche
In the hallway, side lighting looks advantageous; it is more comfortable and soft. For example, you can run an LED strip along the edge of a niche.
Niche from a window opening Source krovati-i-divany.ru
- Storage area
When creating space for storing things in drawers and baskets, you need to reserve space between the shelves. This will make it more convenient to remove the baskets and put them back.
Hanger in a niche Source belnovosti.by
- Cozy corner
A niche in the hallway wall can be used for a soft seat. Decorate with pillows and lighting to make reading comfortable.
Hallway in modern classic style Source pinterest.com
- Space for accessories
If the recess was not planned, but arose due to an unsuccessfully located wall, then it is better to occupy the space with open shelves. A narrow closed cabinet will not decorate the interior, so it is advisable to make shelves and add color accents.
A way to decorate a hallway in an apartment Source cdbos.rickyhil.com
Solution for a large hall Source gipsokarton-blog.ru
