Lucy Collins
I'll show you how to build recessed bathroom shelves or a wall niche between the studs. Make adjustable shelves with an easy-to-use shelf pin jig, so you can customize the space to fit your needs.
I wanted to reclaim some of that space in our bathroom remodel by creating a wall niche next to the sink for pretty toiletries. Building recessed bathroom shelves is easier than you think, and gives you convenient storage without taking up any floor space!
During the bathroom demolition process, I removed a mirror from this weird angled wall above the vanity. There's no medicine cabinet, so I decided built in bathroom shelves would be perfect in this spot.
Check out how I built these game console shelves that are recessed in the wall below our TV! Purchases made through these links may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can save yourself a lot of trouble by buying a premade recessed shelving unit and skipping the next few steps.
Consider using ¾" plywood if you're making bigger shelves or plan to put heavy things on them.
Apply wood glue to the ends of the vertical pieces, and attach the top and bottom with brad nails. It was at this point that I realized that the left stud wasn't installed straight in the wall!
If you're making a bigger recessed shelf that will be holding a lot of weight, use screws instead. To cover up the cut drywall and plywood edges, you'll want to find a thin moulding that coordinates with the other elements of the room.
The trim I found at Home Depot is almost an exact match to the detail on the inside panel of the cabinet doors I'll be installing on the vanity. Apply wood glue to the back and angled cuts, then nail them to the plywood shelf edges. I painted the shelves a few shades lighter than the wall color for a subtle contrast. These recessed shelves aren't very big, but it's a great spot for displaying my favorite soaps, lotions and bath accessories!
The giant hole from my overly aggressive chiseling was patched up with the drywall cut out for the shelves. The damaged drywall paper was sanded down, then coated with GARDZ Problem Surface Sealer.
This stuff is great for strengthening ripped drywall paper or gouges that are crumbling. I had some leftover cement backer board from building my fireplace hearth, so I pieced together enough to cover the vanity. This was attached to the plywood top with thinset mortar and 1 ⅝" backer board screws.
