Modern interior: niche in the wall

Today we will talk about such an element of interior design as a niche. It is increasingly used in our country and is gaining popularity.

Although recently this device was considered completely unnecessary and even inappropriate. Today, this element of interior design is available to virtually every owner of the dwelling or premises. Why does the niche become so relevant and attractive for installation? Nothing surprising, because this detail allows you to create a unique room, as well as the individuality of the owner.

The niche in the wall will add to the interior of the individuality

Many specially leave space for a niche at the time of design. It would seem that what can serve as an ordinary hole, which did not cause such contradictory and so hot feelings of designers? It’s all about fashion trends, excellent functionality and ease of installation. If you can afford it, then why not! In this article, the question will be discussed in a lengthy and wide way: what is a niche in the wall, what opportunities does it open, how to maximize it?

What is a niche in the wall?

A small depression in the wall is called a wall niche. It can be anything: large, small, deep, shallow, to perform a function or simply to please the eye. In addition, horizontal niches visually increase the length of the wall, which is very useful for small rooms. Especially often they can be seen in narrow hallways, where they act as guardians of umbrellas, gloves and other small street accessories.

Niche in the hallway wall

Niches are divided into two types: functional and decorative.

The first serve specific purposes, for example, to install a variety of shelves. They can accommodate absolutely everything from favorite books to kitchen utensils and dishes. For what you would like to use your niche, you need to think in advance, as this will determine its basic parameters. Size, width, height and so on. Another excellent use case will be a built-in wardrobe or sideboard.

Functional niches in the wall

The second – to create certain external effects. For example, in such a niche you can lead expensive for a price or for memories a picture, photos. Put indoor plants or simply decorate with a decorative element. In this case, you do not need to worry about the original manufacture of the niche and its dimensions.

Decorative niches in the wall

Noteworthy is the fact that the projects of the premises increasingly include a niche in the wall, which after the installation is skillfully used by designers, trying to satisfy the client’s requests. If the niche is not provided, you can do it yourself, but you must take into account certain rules and restrictions, otherwise you will have to redo the work many times.

A look into the history

Niches, as an element of the interior, were used in the second century AD. This was done by ancient architects, creating depressions in religious buildings, temples and places where believers gathered in mystical teachings and cults. As a rule, they played the role of grooves in the walls, open to the eyes of people. In them stood various attributes of faith: statues, vases, fonts.

Ancient Roman architects used niches, both in interior decoration and in external walls, like the famous temple of Diana in Nimes. Niches were used to make people wonder and thereby make the cult place even more special. The architect seemed to demonstrate that the room is transformed by magic, that this place is special, capable of causing admiration and worship among believers.

Using a niche in the wall in a medieval interior

There are many examples of the use of niches in Gothic buildings, for example, the cathedral in Wells. And although the era has changed, but the impact on the feelings of people has not gone away. The Renaissance also used this element of architecture in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. At that time, any place for the installation of an art object was valued, and numerous niches in the houses of the rich had this function – they kept pictures, sculptures and other great creations of the creators of that time.

How to use a niche in the wall

Opportunities to use such a convenient detail of the room – a lot. Here only a small list, although the flight of fantasy is unlimited:

– Specially selected built-in furniture.

– Stylishly designed home library.

Building a library in a wall niche

– TV, audio equipment and other home appliances.

– Enclosed linen closet, comfortable and suitable interior.

Closed cupboard in a niche

– Mini-exhibition of photographs, letters or valuable objects of art.

Placement of the collection in a niche

This is a small list of possibilities, limited only by your imagination. It is worth noting that even a niche that is not used in any way expands the space, especially if you have a small apartment. A superfluous place in such a room will never hurt, but quite the opposite – a niche can hold anything, and does not require space for it. Moreover, you can place it absolutely in any room, and even on the balcony.

Varieties of niche structures

1. Bathrooms, racks

Different rooms require a different approach from the architect. In the bathrooms, niches are designed using high-quality brickwork: small “windows” with a groove are made in the walls, which serve as shelves, and later all of this is tiled. Comfortable and pleasant surfaces. The security aspect is also important: if a person accidentally loses his balance and slips in the bathroom, he will try to grab onto such a shelf – and it definitely will not let you down, because the “shelves” in the wall of the shelves are much stronger than usual.

Bathroom shelf in the recess

The absence of sharp corners is no less important for safety. If we are talking about a large bathroom, it is possible to install a backlight that creates an atmosphere of relaxation. Each trip to such a bathroom is a ritual of relaxation and an opportunity to supplement your strength after a busy day. The main thing is to observe all the rules for its installation. For example, choose non-sliding surfaces and materials that will withstand temperature changes and permanent moisture for many years. Color stability is also an important aspect, so you should only choose a quality tile or another type of cladding.

Storage system for a bathroom in a recess

2. The niche as an element of wall decoration

It is known that in larger rooms it is more difficult to create an atmosphere of coziness. Spacious halls, long corridors, high ceilings – the area of ​​the walls is huge. We feel lonely in the high walls and echoing rooms. It would be like walking in a huge castle. It is felt by any person, it is not necessary to be a professional designer. You can go out of the situation in different ways. For example, use paintings, lamps, lamps. Put them all around. But in the end, we get a decor of the same type, which will catch your eye again, because of the size of the room. The abundance of paintings will turn the house into a gallery, and the excessive use of light will create the appearance of a wide illuminated tunnel. The output is in a combination of different decor elements. It is here that a niche in the wall is needed; it corrects the geometry of the walls, using natural protrusions and grooves. This will make it possible to avoid pronounced monotony and harmonizes a large space.

Niches in the wall as an element of decor

The feeling of “infinity of walls” will be lost, if “rhythmically” to arrange niches with the same finish. You can alternate them evenly, but you can create an effect of the separation of depressions – especially this will be clearly observed with different sizes of multiple niches.

Decorative niches in a wall of different sizes

3. Niches and built-in furniture

For furniture used already laid down by the designer “natural niches”. Therefore, the built-in furniture will have the desired effect only if you do not have any problems with square meters, otherwise you risk not achieving the desired result. Pick up furniture should be with a stock of sizes; that is, furniture should be much smaller. It is not bad to imagine how a person will sit on it, it will be comfortable for his head, legs, hands. Consider the color and material of furniture – also not superfluous. Everything should be combined.

Sofa set in a recess

You can equip a large niche in which even a folding bed can fit. This option is suitable for a small apartment – saving space will be just amazing. But to implement this idea will need additional equipment, one of which is a reliable attachment and mechanism for transforming the bed.

Sleeper in a niche

4. Niches at the head of the bed

The wall, which has a wide double bed, often needs a special approach.

At registration rely on panels from a variety of materials, posters and mirrors. Niche construction is another common way of decoration. In it you can put shelves, which store the necessary things in the bedroom – bed and underwear, cosmetics and much more.

Niche at the head of the bed

5. Niches and built-in technology

Such niches have even their own name – “media niches”, that is, devices in which various techniques are built in: electric fire, musical or video library. Such use is most often present in spacious living rooms created in the style of contemporary or technical minimalism. A combination of functionality and convenience is especially noticeable here.

Media niche in the wall

When you look at this wall, you get the feeling that “everything is in its place”. And what a pleasure you will get from family watching a movie! If you install the audio system in a niche and throughout the room, you will get a very lively sound, similar to the one that is obtained in the cinema.

6. Niche-exposure

Each of us has special things that you do not want to hide from the eyes of the guests. On the contrary, we strive to demonstrate them in the most favorable light: in a beautiful place, well-lit and harmonious with the exhibited things. Whether it’s memorabilia, dear to our heart photo, lovingly kept collectibles. All this is an exposition. And for her, you need to create suitable visual conditions. It is very easy to ruin beautiful things by the imperfection of the place of exposition.

Exposition of photos in wall niches

And niches fit here nicely! They can equip transparent shelves, make them deaf, set up a competent backlight – and here’s the place for a beautiful, eye-catching exposure, ready. These “special” things will look here original and to the place, while not overloading the space, as would showcases or racks, vague attachments or inappropriate “slides”.

Exposure in niches will not overload the space

7. Niches, interior, style

Arched and lancet niches are peculiar to the countries of the Middle East and Asia. They are designed and oriented, in accordance with the color of the main wall, and complemented by lamps. An indispensable element of the styles of rococo, classicism, baroque are arched niche designs with complex stucco, decorated with suitable small statuettes. This interior will be just perfect – both in appearance and design standards.

Classic arched niches

How to make a niche in the wall: tips, rules

If the niche was not pre-designed, it can be created after the fact. Most often for this purpose is used by all well-known drywall. Easy to use material, very flexible for different ideas, and even very inexpensive. That is, almost everyone can create a man-made niche. The blessing of the information on manufacturing of this element – a great variety. You can read special literature, or visit a thematic Internet resource. And it’s best to entrust this matter to professionals, since they know exactly all the subtleties, and have done this kind of thing more than once.

Niches from plasterboard in the wall

Creating a niche begins with the design of the plan, if the professional is doing it. It is important to remember that when creating a niche in the wall, you yourself at least need to make a whole series of sketches with a pencil, since without it nothing good will come of it. In terms of such nuances as: the parameters of the walls, the location of furniture, sockets, heating. The more accurately you make the measurements – the less likely the work will be reworked.

Design a niche in the wall

In plan, it is necessary to take into account the thickness of the profile; remember that household appliances that you want to put in a niche – take a certain place, count it with a margin, because the devices require cooling and / or supply of communications. Also, one should not forget about such a parameter as strength. The larger the profile, the greater the strength of the structure.

If your plans also include the installation of light devices – take into account the necessary safety rules, any lighting can become very hot.

After making the drawing, the maximum detailed projection should be transferred to the wall itself, indicating the marking of all the metal parts of the frame. If there are noticeable irregularities on the wall, use polyurethane foam tape, it will allow you to achieve the maximum tightness of the metal profiles. And it is even better to align the niche installation area in advance so that many troubles can be avoided. In addition, plaster is a reliable way to strengthen the wall, as well as the future niche.

The construction of a metal frame for a niche in the wall

Based on the marking, a metal frame is assembled, after which the drywall is mounted. The next stages are puttying and painting. If the plan was thought out in detail and the place is used with a reserve – further problems should not arise. Give it time, because it’s better than to deal with reworking. But it is better, of course, to entrust this matter to specialists.

Final alignment of the niche surface

Color solution

The most common method is to paint in the same color with the wall, although sometimes colors of lighter shades are used. Many begin to experiment with flowers, falling into the trap: dark tones create the impression of a “hole” on a light wall. Designers recommend to adhere to light colors of a paint, and to search for the color decision, avoiding excessively dark colors. A small niche is best painted with a few tones lighter than the wall. Then the items in it will look more refined and elegant.

A niche for television equipment or an aquarium requires the same color as the wall as a whole. The benefit of the light, which will be inevitable, will allow the niche to play with new colors.

Decorative niches in one color scheme with a wall

If you have a desire to decorate the kitchen with niche shelves – try to make them as picture frames. It will look very impressive, but it’s warm and cozy. For the kitchen should also make a more solid construction, as the hostess may need a place for heavy kitchen utensils: pans, goose fries, pans and so on.

Functional niches in the kitchen

Dangers

You can not avoid the topic of error and security. If the layout was conducted ineptly and unprofessionally, then at the exit we are waiting for a frame that looks ugly and does not meet expectations.

• The wrong color will create a visual pit, for which the view will cling.
• Inaccurate markup will not reduce a large space, but only crush it, creating a skewed appearance.

But these errors can be corrected if we alter the wall niche, given the previous experience.

Much worse if safety is not observed. If there is video and audio equipment in the niche, if it is filled with lighting fixtures, if there is a gas stove or other equipment in it, it is possible to regret cruelly that there was a disregard for safety precautions and elementary rules for the use of household appliances. All this should be taken into account before the creation of a plan on paper. You should take this issue seriously, because the consequences can be catastrophic. This is especially true for housing in apartment buildings. It should be remembered that you can suffer from substandard work not only you, but also neighbors.

Conclusions – the correct creation and use

Of course, niche structures in the wall are now experiencing a second birth. And it’s not surprising. Thanks to new functional and accessible materials, anyone can use a niche for the special places of his home.

Whether it is a place that obviously loses to the general interior, “empty seats” or, on the contrary, require special treatment.

The niche will correct the geometric inaccuracies of the layout, allocate and decorate the necessary space.

With the help of a niche in the wall you can allocate the necessary space

Well-used, niches in the wall are complemented by a number of effective tools of architects, designers and people who understand the interior.

Knowing all the small tricks and aspects of such a thing as creating an ideal niche, you will be able to increase the functionality and appearance of absolutely any room and space. The niche can also be installed in the office – it will be an excellent assistant and help to put a lot of things that are usually stored in bulky cabinets.

Niches in the interior of the office

Make the room more spacious or, conversely, only the niche can be filled. This feature of this part of the interior is very rare, therefore it is necessary to use your opportunity.

Put your dreams and desires into a new niche, and enjoy the excellent result.

Photo gallery – niche in the wall

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Author: Mikhail Bond