What should I know before I create my own custom bathroom wall niche?

I think the niche came first................
 
I appreciate all the practical points. End of the day, we want to mainly do it for aesthetic reasons as we think it looks nice.
 
You can buy numerous performed niches.

Screenshot_20261005-065932.Chrome~2.jpg
 
These days they don't put soap bars there, they fill them with all sorts of pumped liquid bottles that claim to do different things.
I have a niche in my shower, it has my shampoo, body wash, the wifes, the daughters - we all prefer our own.

It's crammed full so no room for a pot plant :)
 
We've done loads, especially where windows have been bricked up etc. On outside walls it's important to have continuity of insulation.
 
Pre-formed would be fine, that would deal with all the waterproofing issues.

Just as long as it's proud of the surface as shown above, not recessed in with tiles over its faces - then you have a joint that's just asking to become a new drain.

Having said that, its top edge is a potential leak and/or slime trap.
 
should the shelf slope towards the front so water drains out?
 
should the shelf slope towards the front so water drains out?
Yes, but any more than the tiniest bit will make the shampoo and shower gel bottles fall off it.

There's probably an angle at which it will drain but it can still be used as a shelf, but it's a battle against two opposing needs.

I have a shower tray with what looks like horizontal edges. But these do in fact slope inwards. Bottles regularly fall off it, especially when almost empty and they need standing upside down. This is merely annoying as they only fall a couple of cm. But falling off a shelf is a whole lot more annoying and may cause damage.
 
should the shelf slope towards the front so water drains out?
Niches like shower trays have wee bit of fall built in. We do our own with custom built ledges like this. Same with window boards. Always a slight fall to the front edge.
 
I have shower niches in both bathrooms. I wanted a niche and my builder suggested full length niches to avoid cut corners in the shower. They are much easir to fit but should be an integral part of the build. You need to plan for the drainage, electrics and the shower rail positioning

I have some work-in-progress pictures below

I bought the "winged" LED profile (pic below) and had the tiles cut to leave a channel. These lights are controlled by an IR sensor and I used a CCT LED and then set the colour to the right temperature and brightness to be suitable for nighttime

Regards

Tet
 

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I have shower niches in both bathrooms. I wanted a niche and my builder suggested full length niches to avoid cut corners in the shower. They are much easir to fit but should be an integral part of the build. You need to plan for the drainage, electrics and the shower rail positioning

I have some work-in-progress pictures below

I bought the "winged" LED profile (pic below) and had the tiles cut to leave a channel. These lights are controlled by an IR sensor and I used a CCT LED and then set the colour to the right temperature and brightness to be suitable for nighttime

Regards

Tet
Looks great
 
I have shower niches in both bathrooms. I wanted a niche and my builder suggested full length niches to avoid cut corners in the shower. They are much easir to fit but should be an integral part of the build. You need to plan for the drainage, electrics and the shower rail positioning

I have some work-in-progress pictures below

I bought the "winged" LED profile (pic below) and had the tiles cut to leave a channel. These lights are controlled by an IR sensor and I used a CCT LED and then set the colour to the right temperature and brightness to be suitable for nighttime

Regards

Tet
Is that plasterboard?
 

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