What is a niche and how to use it in an apartment?

Wall niches are now actively used by designers when decorating space. They allow you to make the room more spacious and attractive, and are also ideal for zoning even small spaces.

A niche is a recess in the wall that is part of the interior. It can be used for different purposes depending on its size and location.

All niches can be divided into horizontal and vertical. The former are much more common. Most often, you can see such niches in hallways and corridors. As a rule, they perform practical functions and are used to store various household items.

Vertical niches are less common. They are usually located next to doors or windows. Large vertical niches are often used to decorate a separate area in a room. It is very convenient to use in small apartments.

Most home and apartment owners prefer to use niches to their advantage. They place both small decor items and large-sized furniture in them.

• Bookshelves. In niches equipped for such shelves, you can store not only books, but also magazines, as well as various decorative trifles. By equipping one large or several small niches for shelves, you can forget about bulky shelving next to the workplace.

• Technique. Very often, niches are used to install a TV, stereo or washing machine.

• Radiator. In many modern apartments, there is a niche under the window for the battery. She looks neat and stylish. If desired, it can be additionally decorated in different ways.

• Furniture. Functional niches are great for large furniture. In the living room and bedroom, such niches are most often reserved for sofas and beds. In the rest of the rooms, cabinets, cabinets or dressers are installed in the alcove.

• Shelves for bath accessories. In a bathroom or toilet, shelves equipped for storing towels or napkins, candles, decorative and care cosmetics will look great.

• Sport equipment. Zoning the space of the apartment, a small sports corner should also be allocated a place. In a deep niche, you can place an abs bench, treadmill or any other exercise equipment. So they will definitely not bother anyone. The main thing is to place all the shells so that it is convenient to use them.

• Mini greenhouse. In a niche, you can place shade-loving plants in pots. Keeping them high will protect the flowers from pets as well. And also on such shelves you can store vases with freshly cut fresh flowers.

• Aquarium. In a large apartment in one of the niches, you can also arrange a beautiful aquarium. Such a stylistic solution is perfect for a room decorated in eco-style.

• Paintings, stained-glass windows, drawings. An original accent in the form of a large panel or a picture in a niche will look beautiful on a plain wall. And also in the alcove you can place a large printed photo or several significant pictures in frames.

When designing niches, you should adhere to the following rules:

• carefully select the color scheme;

• use good artificial lighting;

• stick to one chosen style;

• if necessary, divide the space into several compartments;

• do not use too dark colors when decorating an alcove;

• do not clutter up the free space with a lot of decor.

The design of niches largely depends on which of the rooms in the apartment they are in.

Practical vertical niches are usually placed in the corridor. Since this is usually the first space that anyone who enters the apartment sees, it should be well decorated and practical.

Niches in the hallway are most often set aside for shelves, or cabinets and cabinets are installed there. And also mirrors are often placed there. If you use the free space correctly, then there will be a place for storing outerwear and shoes, and for various decorative little things that will make the room more comfortable.

When decorating niches in the corridor, it is worth using soft muted tones. An excellent option is shelves finished with wood or decorative plaster. For added convenience, it is worth using a backlight that gives a soft diffused light.

Many interesting ideas can also be realized in this room. Most often, in a free niche, designers prefer to equip a recreation area. It is quite possible to install a sofa in an open space. And also in the large recess you can place a real or electric fireplace. This will immediately make the room more comfortable.

Arrangement of a workplace in the living room would also be a good idea. In a small niche, a small table with a computer and shelves for storing working documents will fit. It is best to choose this option if there are windows next to the niche. And also a small workshop can be placed in a niche.

Niches in the bedroom, as a rule, are used to arrange a berth in them. A large bed fits perfectly in the wide recess. The room with this arrangement of furniture seems more spacious and large.

Often in bedrooms, several small horizontal recesses are created above the bed. They can be equipped with decorative candles, cosmetics and other little things that are used in the evenings.

An interesting design solution would be the design of a decorative niche of an unusual shape opposite the bed.... It will look great without inner filling. You can decorate the niche space with lights or garlands. The author's drawing or a large painting in a massive frame will also look beautiful there.

As a rule, niches in the kitchen are used to store all the utensils necessary for cooking. There you can place beautiful dishes, crystal glasses or tea sets. If the niche is hidden, containers with cereals or spices can be stored on the shelves. So they will always be at hand.

Decorative niches with interesting designs are usually located next to the dining area. Various vases and small figurines will look beautiful there. Lovers of good alcohol can arrange a place to store their favorite drinks in the kitchen. The main thing is that they are reliably protected from sunlight. If desired, you can even install special shelves for wine or any other type of alcohol in the recess in the wall.

In the working area, niches are usually reserved for built-in appliances, for example, a dishwasher or microwave... In a large alcove, it is quite possible to place a refrigerator or wardrobe. If possible, equipment and furniture should be selected by size.

In one-room apartments, niches are often used for storing things. You can equip them as a pantry even in an ordinary "Khrushchev". This will significantly save free space in the hallway and in the kitchen. On the balcony you can arrange:

• pots with flowers or seedlings;

• canned or other stocks of food that do not spoil for a long time;

• seasonal shoes or clothing.

If desired, the site can be closed with a beautiful sliding partition. And also in a neat niche on the balcony, you can install a closed cabinet, a rack or a small cabinet for storing things. This will protect all the necessary things from dust.

A small open niche in the toilet can be arranged above the toilet, next to the sink or mirror. If the bathroom is combined, it is often located next to the bathroom for storing cosmetics.

To visually increase the space, when arranging it, it is worth using a light finish. The dimensions of the indentations should not be too large.

The main feature of a children's room is that, as a rule, several main zones with different functionalities are combined there at once: a bedroom, a play area and a work area. Different niches help to separate them from each other.

They can accommodate a bed, arrange a place for classes or games. To store clothes and other little things in a niche, you can place a small wardrobe or chest of drawers. Closed shelves are also a good option.

The decoration of niches, as well as the choice of furniture and decor, completely depend on the age and hobbies of the child. When decorating a children's space, you can safely turn on fantasy, using plots from cartoons or fairy tales as inspiration. You can play with your child's favorite story in different ways.

Open niches can be decorated if desired. For this, various additional elements can be used.

• Sliding door. Such a door can turn a niche with shelves into an alternative to a wardrobe. This option is great for a hallway or bedroom. In small spaces, it is recommended to use mirrored doors. This is one of the easiest ways to visually enlarge the space of a room.

• Curtain. As a rule, fabric or plastic curtains are used for decoration. It is desirable that such a decorative element fit into the interior of the room.

• Swing doors. This type of decor is usually seen in the kitchen. The doors open easily and do not interfere with anyone.

• Glass. If the niche is used to store any things, it can be closed with glass. This will protect the interior from dust.

Many also prefer to decorate niches themselves with various finishing materials. To decorate an alcove in any of the rooms, you can choose one of the popular options.

• Wallpaper. This is one of the most affordable options. The selection of wallpapers is now very large, so everyone can find a suitable shade and texture for themselves. Most often, plain wallpapers or materials with simple patterns are used for decoration.

• Tile. This kind of finish is most often found in a bathroom or kitchen. A time-tested option is calm tile shades that look good both in a bright room and in a room decorated in bright colors.

• Brick and stone. Natural materials are now very popular. Therefore, they are perfect for decorating a modern apartment. Decorative stone or brick goes well with wooden furniture and natural fabrics.

• Wood. Clapboard or wood paneling is also well suited for decorating open niches.These materials are distinguished not only by their attractive appearance, but also by their high quality and environmental friendliness.

• Decorative plaster. This is one of the easiest ways to design niches of any size. The material is practical and time-tested. Using it, you can create different textures. The color of the niches finished with plaster can coincide with the shade of the walls, or it can differ from it.

When planning the design of one or more niches in your apartment, you can use ready-made examples as sources of inspiration.

There should be nothing superfluous in the recreation room. Therefore, niches in the bedroom, as a rule, are used to store the necessary things. For the convenience of the owners of the apartment, the space above the bed can be filled with books, scented candles and boxes for storing cosmetics and other trifles.

In the hallway or living room, horizontal open niches will look great. To emphasize the selected area, the shelves in a bright room should be trimmed with dark wood. They are suitable for storing a large number of things. But so that the room does not seem smaller, do not clutter them too much.

To make the room visually spacious, niches should not be highlighted with a dark color. The living room, decorated in white, looks modern and stylish.

Themed decorative elements will help create a cozy atmosphere in the room. Stylish functional firebox will look beautiful next to an artificial or real fireplace.

If the apartment has enough space, a niche in the room can be arranged as a dressing room. Made in light colors, it will perfectly fit into the interior. There is enough space both for hangers with outerwear, and for drawers and shelves for shoes. This alternative to wardrobes can be placed not only in the bedroom, but also in the hallway.

Shelves with a collection of alcoholic beverages will also look good in a niche. They can be placed in a niche that occupies the entire free wall. For convenience, the shelves should be combined with closed pedestals. On top, you can place beautiful glasses and bottles. Below there is a place for the rest of the dishes and household items.

An empty niche is a great place to fulfill your creative fantasies. The main thing is to use it wisely and not forget to decorate even the most ordinary shelves beautifully.