Jim The Bathroom Guy

If you are looking for the top shelving for a walk-in shower, then look no further. Below are four top choices, how they work, where they trip up, and what you should keep in mind when selecting a bathroom shelf for your next renovation.

The Shower Niche

What it is:
A recessed shelf built directly into the wall cavity of your shower. It’s tiled in, flush with the wall, holding shampoo, soap and other bits.

Why it’s good:

• Very clean, integrated look — no bottles hanging off a wire basket.
• Keeps stuff off the floor or off the edge of the shower.
• Great for smaller bathrooms because it doesn’t protrude much.
• Can be customised in size/shape/material to suit your style

Things to watch out for:

• It adds more grout lines / more complex waterproofing compared with a simple shelf on a wall
• Often needs to be built on an external wall or stud frame home

Jim’s Verdict: Perfect for smaller shower spaces that don’t want to protrude into an already tight shower space or someone looking for a clean finish.

2. The Wall-to-Wall Shelf / Shower Ledge

What it is:
A shelf built along one full length of the wall (or between walls) in the shower—often built with bricks or block under the tiles. It’s sometimes called a ledge.

Why it’s good:

• Provides continuous shelf space for all your bottles, accessories, even a plant if you’re that way inclined.
• Because it spans wall-to-wall, you get more storage area than a small niche.
• It can be built in any bathroom, regardless of the need for an external wall
• Gives a more organic sanctuary feel

Things to watch out for:

• Takes up space: the shelf protrudes about 80mm to 100mm into the space
• More tile work, more potential for grout lines, more maintenance.
• Will affect a shower rail and mixer combo if not installed with good planning

Jim’s Verdict: A very strong option if you’ve got the width and want more shelving. Might feel bulkier, but if done right, it’s classy with the addition of a feature wall above. It allows for the floor to half wall and feature above trend.

3. The Nib Wall

What it is:
A nib wall is a short wall built (bricked/tiled) between the vanity and shower, most often to eliminate a hard-to-clean gap

Why it’s good:

• Clever solution when you have an awkward gap between vanity and shower
• Acts as a shelf either in the shower area, or if you want, it can be a shelf on the vanity side
• When used with a frosted screen, it is great at hiding products from an eye line

Things to watch out for:

• More work: building an extra wall, waterproofing, tiling.
• A custom screen will be required because of the non-standard wall height/edge.
• In smaller spaces it might feel like it “eats” room if you’re not careful.

Jim’s Verdict: Great pick if you have a layout that leads to a hard-to-clean gap or you want the shelf built in neatly. If budget and space allow, it is super practical but added cost with the custom screen.

4. The T-Wall

What it is:
Named for its shape: a half-built wall that runs along the length of the room, often about 1200mm high, with a nib-wall section at the start of the shower. This design gives maximum shelf space and defines zones

Why it’s good:

• Maximum storage shelving built into the structure — you’re not just installing a little shelf, you’re creating a feature.
• Helps define wet vs dry areas in an open walk-in shower layout.
• Adds architectural interest and plenty of shelving room.
• Ideal for big families, multiple generations, with high storage needs.

Things to watch out for:

• Cost will be higher
• Because it’s a large space, big planning is required around other elements
• If you build it too high or too thick, the bathroom may feel smaller or more enclosed.
• Must consider how the shower screen/glass integrates: you’ll need planning to avoid awkward joins or cleaning nightmares.

Jim’s Verdict: If you’ve got the space, budget and want shelving + style rolled into one, the T-Wall is a strong premium option. For smaller jobs, it may be overkill. Full Breakdown Here

Jim’s Recommendation

Below is my quick guide for which one suits which time of renovator.

• Go for the shower niche if you have a smaller bathroom or you are looking for a more subtle style of shower shelving
• Wall to Wall shower shelves are perfect for a renovator looking for a stunning feature wall set-up while also getting a lot of storage.
• If your layout has that annoying gap between the shower & vanity, the nib wall is a smart functional fix perfect for moderate-sized bathrooms.
• Finally, the T Wall is the type of shower shelf you do when you are someone who needs a ton of shelving with practical use.

FOLLOW OUR AWESOME Bathroom INSPIRATION INSTAGRAM PAGE BELOW

Looking for some more bathroom renovations for inspiration. Check out out my Instagram page below with tons of helpful pics and video guides

Instagram @jimthebathroomguy

It’s important to note that all our advice is general in nature and all bathrooms are unique so always speak to your local qualified tradesman for the best advice.