Bullnose tiles are tiles with rounded edges. Bullnose tiles are usually helpful for wall edges, corners, and frames as they give these edges a more aesthetic look.

A shower niche is a small compartment made into the wall of the bathroom space. This compartment is convenient if you have very little space or are trying to be very minimalist. It’s also just an excellent design.

This compartment is usually covered with tiles to suit your taste. So naturally, it sounds like a perfect use case for the bullnose tile. But let’s look at how to do it without the bullnose.

How To Tile Shower Niche Without Bullnose

Please note that not all tile pieces have bullnose tiles. In this kind of instance, you might have no choice but to create the niche without the bullnose. There are various methods to achieve this.

Caulk The Edges:

The reason some tiles do not come with bullnose tiles is that they can finish the edge. Examples of these types of tiles include glass tiles, tumbled stone tiles, and some porcelain tiles.

You can install this tile up to the edge for a neat and tight finish using masking tape a grout away from the last tile. It is at this point the caulk comes in. What is a caulk? Caulk is a sealant used for uniform surfaces. It’s also used in manufacturing and construction.

Now apply the caulk in the space between the tile and the masking tape. The applied caulk would produce finished edges without the bullnose tile.

Rail Molding:

Did you know you could use other tiles for edge finishing aside from the bullnose? A lot of decorative moldings are available for use as edges. Some of these decorative moldings include pencil moldings, dental moldings, rail moldings, and cornice moldings.

So if you don’t want a bullnose, you can use a rail molding of the same color, a complementary color, or even a different color that suits the aesthetic you want to achieve.

Using A Metal Edge:

If you have a contemporary tile design, you should consider this option. It is an L-shaped metal strip. It is available in different finishes and profiles. It does an excellent job of concealing the edges and giving it a classy look.

Any of the above would help give you the clean and water right finish you want, depending on your preference. You can also use a prefabricated shower niche.

The prefabricated niche comes in various sizes and designs by multiple companies. They come waterproof and well finished; they are considerably easier to install. 

Why You Might Want to Have A Shower Niche

We have touched on this a little in the introduction. But, generally, it can be a pain to find the right place to keep all your necessary items in the bathroom.

The problem can get worse if you have to share the bathroom with others. The usual choice of using a shelf may be too space-consuming. It doesn’t also help that things get messy a lot due to the location, and it can end up being a pain to clean.

If its metal, you then have to consider the risk of it getting rusty. All of these reasons make a shower niche a great option.

Benefits Of Having A Shower Niche

• Like we have already emphasized, it gives extra space for you to store your essentials and the benefits of which you can’t overemphasize.
• It reduces clutter in the shower, making for an organized space that you can appreciate.
• You can make the niche a point of focus in the bathroom. You can fully customize this niche and make it into something eye-catching, classy, and pleasing.

You can do this with colorful or unique tiles at the wall end to match the desired aesthetic of your choosing.

• You can install shelves in some niches. For example, it allows you to share the space with others better.
• You can install the shower niche at any level of your preference, and it can be at multiple positions. So this means you can have your shower essentials in different places where you need them.

Tips And Tricks On Shower Niche Placement

We have seen all the benefits of the shower niche, but you’ll not thoroughly enjoy these benefits if you don’t consider the right factors when placing the shower niche.

Height Considerations

In deciding the preferred height for the shower niche, the considerations usually range between aesthetics and functionality.

The best practice is to, however, consider the functionalities first before aesthetic desires. For example, for infrequent bathroom use, the best approach is to keep things at an easily accessible height.

Another thing to consider is if children will also be using the bathroom. If so, you should find a spot that’s easily accessible to both adults and kids. 

How To Avoid Much Water Dousing

The height at which you place the niche determines the probability of it getting splashed with water often.

The lower part of the shower wall is the part that gets splashed the most, so that implies that the lower you place your niche, the more doused it will likely get. Therefore, it can be a severe concern if you feel that your niche is not waterproof. 

It also means more mess to clean up because of how water can be with soap. If you need to place your niche lower, buying a prefabricated one might be a good idea.

Shelf Height

Another essential thing to consider is the internal vertical height of the niche. What you should think about here are the items you need to store in the shower niche.

For some, just their soap bar is enough; others would want to add a few small bottles of shampoo and others bulky bottles. The size of these will determine the height of the niche required. 

Depending on what you want to store, you might need a custom shelf made to fit into the niche to accommodate your essentials.

Shower Niche Placement

The niche placement is about which wall and where on the wall you want to place your niche. To make this decision, you have to decide whether or not the slot is mostly for aesthetics or if it is functional.

You also have to note the stud bays in your wall. That is, you have to know which stud bays have wiring, drain pipes, etc. The presence of these can limit your options as to the placement of the niche. A disruption of any of those utilities will lead to unwanted costs.

Planning where you want to place your niche can prevent these happenings because, with that in mind, you can install every utility. Otherwise, finding the location of some of these utilities can be difficult without stripping the wall.

Position With Least Likelihood of Moisture

The best place to keep your shower niche to avoid moisture is the wall opposite the showerhead. It is the farthest wall from the shower and the least likely to get wet.

This position is by far the most favorite shower niche position. This position makes sure that your shower niche stays less messy for longer.

Taking all of the above into consideration should help you find the most available placement for your shower niche. Now let’s look at some ways also to make this aesthetically pleasing.

Shower Niche Styles For An Aesthetically Pleasing Bathroom 

Horizontal shower niche:

This is a shower niche with more length than height. You can use this style if you have ample bathroom space.

Vertical shower niche:

This is the opposite of the horizontal niche. It is taller than it is wide. It is the best for smaller bathrooms.

Shower niches that blend in (monochrome):

It could be that you want a functional niche without much interest In making it a standout feature. It could also be that you are minimalist; for any of the above, this design should sit just right with you.

This shower niche design uses the same tile throughout the bathroom such that it seamlessly blends into the background and has an elegant feel to it.

Contrasting shower niche:

This is for those that want to make a statement and draw attention to their shower. Here you use a shade of color opposite to that of the bathroom tiling. So if you have a light shade of bathroom tiles, you should use a darker shade for the niche.

Adding lighting to the shower niche:

Lighting is one of the essential tools in setting a mood or scene. 

Adding hidden lighting to the shower niche can help create a warm relaxing spa-like atmosphere. However, you have to use waterproof LED strips to avoid electrical faults and hazards for this to be possible.

Conclusion

The bullnose tile is quite helpful in finishing edges and framing compartments. Its curved edges make it perfect for this finishing. So it makes sense if you use it to make shower niches. So the question now boils down to how to tile shower niches without using the bullnose tile.

You can achieve it in several ways. You can use some tiles for finishing without a bullnose; also, decorative molds serve the purpose and many more, as we explained in this article. The shower niche is beneficial and can serve as an excellent design statement.