You don't need a niche if you have a shelf. But you really should have one or the other!

We aren’t trying to decide between a niche and a shelf... not both. We just aren’t sure best place for a niche or a shelf. This bathroom is shared by 3 boys.

I think my options are -

1. off center niche on right wall

2. niche under window

3. corner shelves

4. a wire/glass shelf on right wall

which option will be both most aesthetically pleasing as well as functional?

We have our niche butted up against the corner to the right of our fixtures. It looks great to me. I didn't want my shampoo to be the focus of the shower.

I've never been a big fan of niches: the horizontal surface is a good location to develop a leak. I much prefer a surface mounted shelf as the attachment points are easy to seal. I know many people love their niches, and haven't had problems. But that's my 2 cents....

Since most of your cleaning would be with a scrubber of some type, I wouldn't make the shelf too small or you'll be scrapping your knuckles. :/

Horizontal glass in a kids shower with is a yikes for me, even if it is tempered. I would vote for the niche wherever the shower water is less likely to hit it. Or a wire caddy. I think 10" is plenty for say, body wash and shampoo. Good luck!

Make sure the niche is tall, wide and deep enough to fit large bottles. I use the Neutrogena bodywash that you can buy at Costco, so I made sure all our niches were tall enough to fit those pump containers.

That'd be me.

This bathroom is shared by 3 boys.

I vote niche. I'm not exactly clear on the shower entrance, but IF you have the option of placing it on a side wall /so it's not front-and-center when you enter the shower, I'd go with that option. Remember that kids aren't going to keep pretty bath products nicely lined up like in the below pix ... they're more likely to have a jumble of products in the shower.
If you go with shelves, how long do you think it'll be before one of those boys decides to use the little corner shelves as climbing holds?

I know many people love their niches, and haven't had problems.

That'd be me.

Make sure the niche is tall, wide and deep enough to fit large bottles.

Yes, since your boys may develop different preferences, be sure your niche can hold several of the large pump-top bottles.

With the walls open and the framing exposed, why can't a stud be cut and the opening headered off so you can get a niche the size and location that you want? I did that in my master shower to get a niche with a 36" finished width.

Two shelves, the bottom opening is about 14" tall, the top opening about 11". Large enough for tall bottles, etc. Shelf surfaces slightly pitched for drainage.

because the longest wall of the shower was an outside wall we put our nook on the opposite wall from the fixtures so it would get the least amount of water and be out of the way when showering. it is off center because of where the studs are but closer to the wall. I think it looks great, functions well and I love it.

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I would put the niche on the right wall, even un-centered, rather than under the window. The size you need might depend on just how much soap / shampoo your family uses. I love niches when properly waterproofed, but I wouldn't want them to be the focal point of a shower. Instead let your window be the centerpiece and tuck the functional niche on the side like you'd planned. Glass shelves in a shower, especially one used by children, seems like a bad idea. You don't want someone accidentally breaking or even slipping and grabbing a glass shelf. A niche is awesome because it's tucked out of the way but still provides ample storage.

Moen Grab Bar Chrome 16" Grab Bar with Shelf LR2356DCH · More Info

I am putting a narrow niche beside the plumbing and the corner of the wall because it will be less visible. I don't want the focal point of my bathroom to be a niche with a line up of bottles. But in a walk in shower I put a garb bar with a shelf behind it in the center of the back wall and got plain white bottles for product.

Centered under the window might be nice, actually.

centered under a window may look nice but will remove insulation on an exterior wall. in our northern location where it does get -30 regularly that would be a major mistake. even in hot locations I wouldn't put one on an exterior wall. heating or cooling need to be a consideration

We have the grab bar with shelf and love it. I would only add a recommendation to dill three tiny holes in the shelf, because water does puddle up there.

Do what Mongo CT said - ask the contractor to change it now so you can have a nice big niche centered on the right side with at least one shelf in it. Niches need to be planned for in the beginning stages so the framing can be done the way you want it.

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