Interior Obsessions – the Niche

Last week’s look at window seats led me to another type of hidden space within the home, the niche. A standard niche could be any area carved out of a wall surface, often just a shelf, but niches can be so much more. Niches can hide reading areas, office desk space, even beds. They are a great way to use the leftover spaces under stairs, above a floor level change, or at a low roof area. You may not be able to use that space for a full-height room, but putting the right niche in that space can turn it from extra to useful space in a snap.

One great way to do achieve this is to convert a closet area. My home office has its desk area set into what was a guest bedroom closet. And building out the face of a closet area can create a niche that is deep enough for a bed, a great way to open up what would otherwise be a really small room. Niches can even be closed off to become a private little getaway area. Don’t underestimate the power of tiny spaces!

(above) Thick Wall Reading Niche

Bed Built into Wall Unit + Reading under the Roof

Bed Set in Room End

Trimmed-out Bed Opening + Raised Bed Alcove

Step-up Bed Niche

Amy wrote this post. She is the designer and owner of FormFire Glassworks, where she creates modern lampwork glass beads and jewelry, and by day designs custom homes for a small firm in Southern California. You can follow her twitter @formfireglass.