Today we are talking about how to decorate wall niches. Some people love them, and well…..others hate them. There seems to be no neutral zone where this is concerned.
Source: Founterior
Most new construction homes these days, almost always come with at least a couple of wall niches (also known as art niches and wall cutouts).
Source: Houzz.com
Here in the Houston area, wall niches are very common with new construction homes. In fact, home builders sell them as a special feature or an upgrade to the homes they build.
They are often found in the entry halls where there are really high ceilings, or in the living room above the fireplace as a place for the television. In some cases, these niches are a great feature for breaking up a large wall, or a very high wall. But there are those instances where these niches are more of an awkward nuisance, that baffle homeowners. The result is usually that they are left unadorned, or filled with a random arrangement of items that just don’t work.
I have to admit that I am not a big fan of these wall niches myself. Maybe because they are often just drywall cut-outs that are not embellished with moldings like they used to be in the past, or they are filled with fake floral arrangements and random tchotchkes. It could be because they are usually so high up on a wall that you cannot really see and appreciate the art that is displayed in them.
Here is a picture of how wall niches were adorned in the past
Source: Cote de Texas Blog
They were beautifully curved, and finished off with wonderful moldings and casing and used for displaying sculptures and other art. Although these might be a bit formal for the way most people live today, the wall niches of today are the other extreme, with no real architectural purpose. They are simply wall cutouts.
If you have some of these wall niches in your home, and you have no idea what to do with them, I am here to give you some ideas and tips, which will hopefully help you transform them into beautiful, eye-catching features.
- Drywall over them
Source: Cote de Texas
Not because the builder of your home thinks they are so special, it doesn’t mean you have to. If these niches don’t work for the way you live and decorate, cover them over with drywall and blend them into the existing wall space. That’s a better option than forcing them to work
- Give them a function
Source: AtticMag
Source: Cote de Texas
Instead of forcing them to be decorative, why not make your wall niches functional by adding some shelves and making them a functional display area.
- Resist the temptation of fake trailing ivy
Source: Unknown
Whatever you do, PLEASE DON’T do this! Do not add fake ivy, and/or tiny art pieces and objects that result in a cluttered mess. Instead hang some plates using a great wallpaper pattern as a back drop.
Source: RosemaryOnTheTV.com
This would be a great way to decorate the wall niche pictured above. If it is deep enough, add a collection of ginger jars
Source: Chinoiserie Chic Blog
- Add a beautiful mural
Source: Cote de Texas
This can get tacky fast, so be careful with this idea. If you have multiple wall niches all over your house, do not add murals all over. Murals are meant to be a special accent and would lose their value or special-ness if they are done every where. The above picture is a great example of a mural done in a wall niche. Notice that the walls around it almost blend in and become a part of the scenery.
- Add a custom accent piece made to fit the space exactly
Source: Casa Vilora Interiors
Source: Casa Vilora Interiors
I commissioned this custom laser cut wooden wall panel for a niche in my client’s hallway near the entry. As you can see, it fits perfectly in the space. I had it painted in white to almost blend in with the cool light gray color of the walls. That way, it will not stand out too much allowing the pattern to make the statement.
Reina Entry Way Niches
Source: Casa Vilora Interiors
These are custom faux wrought iron pieces I had commissioned for two separate clients a while ago. The niches in the entry way of the first picture were painted with a color two shades darker than the wall color and then the Tableaux faux iron was inserted.
The second picture is a stone fireplace wall with a Tableaux faux iron insert. Care should be taken that you are not applying Tableaux all over your home. It will get to be too much!
See a blog post I wrote about Tableaux incase you need more information.
- Play them up
Instead of fighting the fact that you have these wall niches, why not play them up and make them a big impact in the room? These niches in the first picture were accented with a darker color paint and then styled with tons of books and accents. Notice how the niches pop against the white walls in the rest of the space.
The second picture is a wall niche along a long hallway from the entry. Accenting with a red metallic paint makes it a feature wall, in addition to the beautiful vignette.
- Turn it into a plate rack
Plate Rack
Plate Racks
Source: Pinterest
I am a big fan of plate racks. They are so full of character and quite functional as well. Converting a wall niche into a plate rack is a great way to display a beautiful collection of plates, mugs or glasses. If your niches are in an area where it makes sense to, that is a wonderful way to go.
- Add interesting accessories
Things like urns, finials, art and sculptures arranged in groupings can make your wall niches feel like they belong. Keep the scale of each piece compared to the size of the wall niche in mind, if you decide to go this route 
- It is ok to add a vintage mirror
Vintage Mirror
Trumeau
Trumeau Mirror
Trumeau Mirror
Depending on the location of your wall niche, you can either convert it into a trumeau mirror or add a vintage mirror. The foyer or dining room are great areas to add a mirror. You can cover the niche altogether with a wall mirror, or add one that fits almost perfectly into the recess of the niche.
Trumeau mirrors are a fairly easy weekend DIY project if you like that idea as a solution to your wall niche problem. I have a great client that actually made one all by herself, and in her own words she is “not very crafty” at all. I don’t have a picture but it was so well done, I thought she unearthed it at a flea market in Paris.
- Make them symmetrical
If you have a wall niche that is asymmetrical, especially on a main focal wall, try camouflaging that fact by creating the illusion of symmetry. The above picture is a great example of an asymmetrical wall that could use some help.
One way is to add a second recessed wall niche to the left, but that requires some construction work. You could also build a wall shelf mimicking the niche to the right and then mount it to the surface of the wall on the left. That also requires some construction. A simpler way would be to add a piece of furniture that is a similar height and scale to the niche on the right. It cannot be too deep.This could be an armoire or bookcase. Then accessorize them in a similar way.
The picture below shows how well symmetrical wall niches work on a wall that is a focal point.
So I am very curious to know, how many of you are the proud owners of wall niches? How have you decorated them? Were you at a loss as to what to do, or was it easy for you?
Please leave me a comment below.
If you are struggling with your wall niches, feel free to comment below with a question, or send me an email and I would be happy to help.
I am well aware that seems to be a big issue for homeowners, so don’t be overwhelmed!
I hope you found some great ideas, tips and inspiration to addressing the great wall niche conundrum.
Have a marvelous Monday!
Be Inspired!
Veronica Solomon, Casa Vilora Interiors
VeronicaSolomon.com
My very first apartment had the most amazing built in hutch and back then, I had no idea what to put in it to make it look pretty like the ones in your pictures. Too bad I didn’t know you 15 years ago!
Haha! Thanks Robin! A built in hutch sounds wonderful!
I actually have wall niches just like these in our living room and you have just given me some great ideas on how to decorate them.
Great! I’m glad it was helpful to you!
When I lived in Brooklyn, we had a wall niche and I had no idea then what to do with it. Now, I don’t have one and you have given me lots of ideas. Go Figure!
Haha! Isn’t that how life is
I haven’t looked at new construction in a while, but I’m excited that these are a part of the designs now. They would be so much fun to accessorize, and your ideas rock!
Thank you Liz! They can be indeed be a great feature. Some builders however give no thought to their placement sometimes and then they tend to work against the room’s decor
I love wall niches – that can be so dramatic and really make a room pop. Thanks for your great ideas!
Love those ideas. Our current house is a bit on the plain side. Makes me wish I had a couple wall niches so that I can use some of your ideas.
Wall niches are great for decor. I like your ideas here.
I agree that wall niches can be a blessing and a nightmare!
I love your ideas, especially the carved wood, iron, and the plate racks! I agree that niches can look cluttered if you put a lot of little items in it. Great post! 
I don’t have too much experience with wall niches. I have never had any so I’ve never thought about it. I do love the look of wallpaper as a backdrop and then beautiful white plates placed on top of it.
I have built-in bookcases, although I know they are technically not wall niches I did have a difficult time deciding how to decorate them. In the end I threw some books on them and a bunch of decorative things.
We had one of these areas at our hold house and it never got decorated because I could not figure out what to do with it. Wish I had seen this when we were living in that house. It all looks so simple yet elegant.
These are some really great tips. I don’t have an niches really but I did have a kind of built in entertainment center. Ignore the kitchen which was pre-makeover in the photo but you can see it here http://www.pinterest.com/pin/147844800239298522/
These ideas are wonderful. I especially love the mural one. It looks so beautiful and elegant.
I’ve always loved the look of the cut-outs! They’re so elegant and practical. Can’t believe how creative people are with them… the book one you showed us in the post was amazing!
Beautiful I love the art work and the plate idea, any suggestions for mantles.
What some beautiful ideas, I adore the angel wings I quite fancy some of those for my wall
x
I’ve never had a wall niche. When I have seen them they were usually in businesses, I don’t recall seeing one in a home.
These are really great ideas that I’m going to share with clients who have these.
Those are really great designs. We are working on the area around our fireplace.
This is great timing! We are moving soon; and most of the houses we have looked at have these wall niches! So this is going to come in handy very soon. -Amber
I think it would be nice to have these in the house. It looks like an easy way to keep things fresh.
I like the idea of using wall niches as a plate rack. We don’t have wall niches, but if we did I would rather do that than try to make them artsy!
WOW!! I learn something new every time I come through your blog! I think a lot goes into measuring to perfection here.
I have these in my home and appreciate the ideas!
I as well have these in my 90′s home and are such a pain. What a great post!
You have some wonderful ideas. I’m not a fan of niches and so glad my home doesn’t have any.
A lot of lovely ideas and pictures here to inspire me!
First of all, I’m loving your blog. First time here. I have no wall niches in my really old house but I wish I did…would add a bit more character and I love your ideas. Beautiful.
Thanks Kristen and welcome! Hope you will keep coming back
No wall niches here! In the past I’ve always found them awkward to decorate. It’s like a forced accent whether you want one there or not!
Pretty! I like wall niches, but we don’t have any. We have a shelf that spans an entire wall of the living room, though, and it’s the bane of my existence LOL I have the hardest time decorating that thing…
I think those niches would be awesome in my home! Too bad I don’t have any, boo!
I love these designs! You have such fabulous ideas Veronica:) My favorite one was the bathroom that has the green and brown tones with the gorgeous wall painting of the forest:)
I am very fond of all of these, especially the mirrors. I wish my house had niches, but unfortunately, I don’t even have one! When I look at purchasing houses, I will definitely look for one that has atleast a couple wall niches.
I think wall niches give homes a lot of character. Our home in California had several but our home here in Iowa has none! Great ideas!
I love your ideas – I had zero ideas on these stuff but I have always wanted to do decoration of things inside the house – that would be hopeless for me, lol. thanks for this!
Those are wonderful wall niches! I thought wall niches are only at churches and other historical places. Its looks awesome if it installed it on living rooms and kitchen.
I love the niche with the lighting and the Chinese writing. Your such an inspiration to redecorate the house. I have started on my office. Great work Veronica.
What great ideas! I can’t wait to move and be able to start decorating more!
I love the plate wall. I wish I could decorate as well as these homes are.
Those are great ideas for decorating wall niches. I wish we had some, I think they look so good.
We don’t have any of those in our home, but I have always wondered how people would decorate them when I have seen them in new, non lived in, homes. We do have a high foyer wall that we can’t decide what to do with, though..
I don’t have any wall niches, but if we ever end up in a house with them, I’ll know better about what to do with them.
I’d love to have a niche when I make my own home. I’ve been to an architect friend’s house, and their niche saves space for other things!
That’s true. They can be functional spaces