How to Make Recessed Shelves in Tile Walls

Install the concrete underlayment for your tile shower according to the manufacturer's instructions. Lay out the shower walls using the measurements from the tile you have chosen so that you can place the shower niche in such a way that the top and bottom of the shelf line up with horizontal grout joints. Mark these two lines with your level and a pencil.

Center the shelf between two wall studs. Use the angle grinder to cut the area out of the wall, using the pencil lines you have drawn on the wall as a guideline for cutting. Save this piece because you will install it on the back of the shower niche later on.

Measure the distance between the wall studs. Cut down two pieces of 2-by-4 lumber with the circular saw 1/16-inch longer than the actual space. This helps you keep the pieces in place while you screw them in, as they are too long to fit loosely and are thus snug.

Place the pieces inside the wall between the two wall studs. Slide the bottom piece down into the cut-out area. You will install underlayment on top of the wood after it is installed, so push the wood down past the actual cut to a distance equal to the thickness of the underlayment, so that when you install the underlayment it is flush with the bottom cut edge of the shelf box. Do the same for the top piece. Screw them in place through the face of the underlayment. Add more screws at a 45-degree angle into the wall studs.

Cover the interior of the shower shelf area with pieces of underlayment. Cut the bottom and top pieces with an angle grinder and install the pieces with the same thinset and trowel you are going to use for your tile installation. Use the back piece you saved from earlier to cover the back. Screw the pieces into the wood (but not the back piece, as the screws will puncture the drywall) and then tile over everything with the rest of your tile installation to create the finished niche.