Recessed Niche Lights - Powerful and effective ways to brighten up those small special places
UK interiors are changing with homeowners looking for solutions to style and brighten their home in clever, creative and innovative ways, so getting straight to it...
What is a niche light?
Niches are recesses cut into walls to create a small space to display items, in bathrooms they also offer the practicality of providing storage especially in a shower for shampoo and other products. Originally niches were carved in stone to hold precious items, to display sculptures or busts and were often carved with the design of the time. In the 21st century, we tend to think of them as small windows where you can put art, display flowers or simple items like reed diffusers. Add lighting and it becomes a small illuminated shrine for your precious items and an interesting design feature for a plain wall.
18mm Stainless Steel Marker Light - 12v IP68 Use Inside or Out
4 Options£15.50
Stainless Steel Marker Light IP67 - Exterior or Indoor Use
5 Options£24.00
Mini Low Glare Niche Downlight 3.5w Black or White bezel - 220 lumens
4 Options£35.80
Compact 45mm LED Groundlight - IP68 Rated and 316 Marine Stainless Steel
3 Options£40.50
Premium Low-Glare Recessed LED Niche Light - 3 Finishes
6 Options£41.00
Small IP-rated Recessed Wall Niche Light - Suitable for Bathrooms
10 Options£55.00
How do you make a niche?
Creating a niche in plasterboard cavity walls is easier than you think, as long as you have enough depth to make the niche worthwhile. Do speak with your builder to discuss the possible locations and practicalities of building your niche as you may be able to chop into the brick or block behind the plaster to get a deeper niche. Also, consider using blocked-up doorways as a possible place, and areas where voids can be used i.e. under a closed-in staircase.
How can I light a niche?
We are big fans of lighting from above but do consider the possibility of using lights to uplight a niche. It does not always work as lighting from the base up can cause discomfort in places where you will see the light when moving around, but it can be effective at a higher level. Assuming you have decided on your choice between lighting up or lighting down, we need to consider the design and what lights to use. Do not think of using standard downlights; they are too big, are too bright and, whilst cheap, will simply look a bit of a mess. Subtle is the adjective to have at the top of your list. Smaller, compact lights generating a modest 200 lumens (at most).
How many lights should I use in a niche?
We suggest the rule of thirds when lighting niches of 40cm and wider. Divide the length by three and space the lights that distance apart apart i.e. in a 60cm wide niche use two lights 20cm apart. You can of course use linear lights to light the entire length of the niche but most of our clients prefer individual lights, spaced as above as it gives light and shadow in a niche.