A shower niche looks like a small decorating choice: make a recess, choose a tile and add a shelf. Behind the finished surface, however, it is a change to the wall’s water-control details. Its corners, base and connection to the surrounding shower wall need a complete plan.
Begin with the wall itself. Ask the installer whether the proposed location conflicts with pipes, cables, structure or an exterior-wall assembly. The prettiest position in a drawing may be difficult to build properly. This check belongs before cutting an opening or ordering a recess to a fixed size.
Ask for the detail behind the tile
A useful proposal identifies the waterproofing products and shows how the niche joins the rest of the shower. For example, Schluter’s prefabricated niche information describes a component intended to be integrated into its waterproofing system. A waterproof component does not by itself explain every joint in a completed installation.
Ask how internal corners, changes of plane and the perimeter connection will be treated under the selected manufacturer’s instructions. Also ask how water will leave horizontal surfaces. Do not substitute a generic bead of sealant for a detail required by the system. Local construction requirements and the actual wall assembly still need to be addressed by the person responsible for the work.
Then test the dimensions with the objects you use. Stand your tallest bottle beside a full-size paper outline. Allow for the finished tile thickness and shelf position, not just the rough opening. Consider whether a pump can be pressed comfortably without hitting the upper edge.
Tile layout comes next. Check where cut edges will fall, which trims are proposed and whether a small decorative tile introduces awkward corners. A slightly adjusted niche size may give a calmer finish without increasing complexity.
Before tiling hides the work, request photographs and the relevant product details for your renovation record. Those records do not certify the installation, but they make future questions easier to answer. A successful niche should be useful every morning and understandable behind its attractive surface.