Why high-end shower storage is a no-brainer when it comes to luxury bathrooms

Stylish shower niches in metallic finishes, with integrated lighting and innovative column storage make the upgrade from basic to luxury an easy option for consumers – Sally Smith finds out more about the products on offer.

The rise in wetrooms and frameless enclosures is driving the demand for storage solutions that are an intentional part of bathroom design, adding luxurious elements to the shower set up and more importantly complementing the bathroom brassware.

"Recessed niches have gone from a nice-to-have to one of the most frequently requested items on a shower spec sheet. Customers are looking for a niche that matches the brassware – rather than treating it as a purely functional item – elevating a bathroom from ‘fitted’ to ‘designed'," says Stephen Maguire, director of Crosswater Group product. "Designers need to have the storage conversation with clients at the same time as they're specifying the shower valve and enclosure, not after the walls are tiled and it's too late. LED-lit versions have moved from novelty to a popular spec, adding both practicality and a sense of luxury," he adds.

Consumers are increasingly looking to keep bathrooms uncluttered, so integrated shower storage is key to achieving a hotel-inspired space. 

Ben Bryden, interim MD at RAK Ceramics UK, agrees. "Shower spaces are much more design-led – homeowners and designers are looking beyond traditional baskets and shelves towards solutions that feel like a considered part of the overall interior. Finishes such as Brushed Brass and Nickel and Matte Black allow the niche to become part of the bathroom's wider material palette."

Integrated LED illumination can turn functional storage into a design feature and help create the layered lighting associated with high-end bathrooms.

"The range of sizes and shelf configurations now on offer allows the designer to think practically about what needs to be stored, from everyday toiletries to larger bottles and decorative objects," says Bryden.

The latest ingenious shower storage solutions offer customers the option to retrofit, to upgrade and declutter without the need for a built-in niche.

Tanna Molyneux, product manager, Bathrooms to Love by PJH, says: "Storage is an important design consideration especially with the typical space challenged UK bathroom. It’s all too easy to overlook the showering zone. Innovations are continuously being developed, such as a wetroom storage column – our Iconix storage shelf has been designed to integrate seamlessly into wetroom profiles, this smart, vertical solution is compact, practical, stylish and multi-functional – with 5 neat shelves to house toiletries and a handy robe hook to the exterior.”

David Osborne, CEO of Roman, says: "The launch of our Hanging Niche offers all the same benefits of recessed niche but without any installation – a perfect retrofit for a contemporary storage solution. The design features a large internal shelf, providing ample space for storing shampoos, conditioners, shower gels and other bathroom essentials. In addition, the niche incorporates 4 integrated robe and towel hooks, helping to keep showering spaces organised and clutter-free."

There are always more traditional options available to easily add a luxurious touch to a shower as Nicholas Cunild, MD for Swadling Brassware, explains. "We’ve always taken the view that a single, beautifully engineered glass shelf, properly co-ordinated with the style and finish of the shower screen or enclosure at the design stage, does more for a bathroom than a shelf full of storage add-ons. Get the design, finish and positioning right – within easy reach, but out of the direct spray path – and a single well-placed shelf will outperform a cluttered solution every time, both aesthetically and in terms of long-term cleanability."

Bespoke recessed niches and built-in corner shelving are still popular, as are concealed storage systems behind the shower wall or within a built-in ledge.

Tammy Lane, interior design partner for Flair Showers, adds: "I particularly like a wide, wall-to-wall, low-profile niche with 2 or 3 levels rather than a single deep shelf. It keeps bottles off the shower floor and gives you somewhere for everyday products without adding visual clutter. I also like to consider the finish carefully – porcelain or stone is easy to maintain, while a teak insert can add warmth and stop smaller bottles sliding around."