Decorating Guides
Micro Design: Neat Little Niches
Turn that cubby into a mini gallery for art, flowers or curated storage
Until very recently, I associated wall niches with medieval castles, where one places the candelabra while ascending the dark stone stairs. So you see, I’m a little dated. I’ve always lived and worked among pre-war structures — those built before the first world war — where architectural details come in the form of ornate crown and base moldings, chair rails, waincotting and the like. But living in Austin, where there is plenty of older housing stock and tons of new construction, I’ve been introduced to (what appears to me as) some builders’ answers to architectural detailing: the wall niche.
In addition to old house-dwelling, I maintain a lifelong status as a small-space dweller. As such, dedicating areas exclusively for decorative object showcasing has been a foreign concept to me. But, now I have clients in larger suburban homes and I’m faced with wall niches — and what to put in them so they remain tidy and tie in with the rest of the home.
In addition to old house-dwelling, I maintain a lifelong status as a small-space dweller. As such, dedicating areas exclusively for decorative object showcasing has been a foreign concept to me. But, now I have clients in larger suburban homes and I’m faced with wall niches — and what to put in them so they remain tidy and tie in with the rest of the home.
Fill a niche with a beautiful vase and a sculptural arrangement of flowers. The use of flowering branches brings even more life to this bright, airy space, which is already chock full of lovely architectural detailing.
Make a collection of objects look even more special by giving them their own backdrop. The designer did a wonderful job of calling subtle attention to this niche while keeping it within the monochromatic color scheme of the rooms. Well done!
Small kitchens are rife with opportunity for creative storage solutions. I love how this potentially awkward leftover space became the perfect storage area for pertinent cookbooks! The bindings add a nice dose of color to a toned-down scheme.
Well-coordinated spices are the way to go in kitchen — especially smaller one, where every inch counts and everything is on display. Carving out a little spice niche is a wonderful idea. This one employs a library ladder, which brings some excitement to the everyday task of cooking and cleaning up.
This well-kept bathroom niche is the perfect combined showcase for fresh towels and decorative objects. The sparseness keeps the overall look neat, while the monochromatic treatment makes it all feel clean and modern.
This lovely kitchen is full of niches, thanks to outstanding architectural details. Is that stove area carved out of a fireplace?
This design takes advantage of an opportunity to display family photos in a modern setting. The dark color of the niche contrasts the wood paneling and coordinates with the television, creating a subtle play of rectangles and keeping the space uncluttered but warm.
This is a well-styled niche: The accent wall accentuates the silhouette of the wall detail, and the skirted table, tall lamp and art are well-proportioned. Something tells me a bit of storage was snuck under the skirt, too. Clever!
A niche at the end of a long hall is the perfect opportunity to make a splash.
Add lighting to niches to accentuate art. Contrasting shelves that peek out a bit from the wall another layer of texture to this room while accentuating the figures.
Fill a niche with books, but don't neglect the composition. Design the layout of your books for maximum impact, so your book niche looks planned, organized and aesthetically pleasing. The addition of paintings and sculptures creates a lovely, curio-filled niche!
Niches in dining areas can be perplexing. They’re usually not big enough for additional seating, due to the change in width, and they seem to beg for something special to happen in them. Dropping in a buffet and a mirror or some artwork above is a great solution by adding interest and function.
Next: See more neat ideas for niches
Next: See more neat ideas for niches