# Purpose of a bathroom niche? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 5, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276 "2024-08-05T18:08:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/1 "2024-08-05T18:08:44Z")
I’ll see if I can figure out how to upload a photo, but in the meantime, I’ll see if I can describe what I’m talking about. In the downstairs bathroom of one of my niece’s home, there is a rectangular niche in the wall between the mirror and the toilet. The niche measures approx 4" wide and 12" tall, and is approximately 6" deep. The interior of this tall, narrow niche is wallpapered, and there is nicely done wood trim around it. I mean, it was well done, not a hack job. And inside, near the top of the left side there is a 3-prong electrical outlet. This is what I would call a 3/4 bath. Open the door and the shower takes up the wall to your right, the wall to your left has a vanity and toilet. There is a mirror above the vanity the same width of the vanity. This niche is pretty much positioned right between the mirror and toilet, maybe 8" above the vanity surface. So, what the heck would you want to plug into a tall narrow niche like that? Someone who wants a dedicated spot for a curling iron? In case context helps, this is a totally middle class split level in a totally middle class neighborhood in a Chicago burb. Probably built in the early 60s. No idea to what extent the lower level was remodded before my niece bought it 5 or so yrs ago. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/2 "2024-08-05T18:24:12Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > So, what the heck would you want to plug into a tall narrow niche like that? Someone who wants a dedicated spot for a curling iron? or electric toothbrushes? (I’ve never seen what you describe) ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/3 "2024-08-05T18:27:40Z")
It’s where the three seashells go. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/4 "2024-08-05T18:35:02Z")
Is the plug close enough that you could easily plug in your phone while you’re on the toilet? That was just my first thought for a stand alone plug between the vanity and toilet. I have no niche, but I do have a plug near the toilet that I use for this reason. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/5 "2024-08-05T18:41:23Z")
[Moderating] > [@Kron](#): > > It’s where the three seashells go. We ask that people hold off on posting joke answers in FQ until there’s been at least a serious attempt by multiple people at giving the factual answer. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/6 "2024-08-05T18:53:56Z")
If it was built in the early 1960s there would be no need for an electrical outlet for a phone, but there would be a need for a phone jack which the OP doesn’t say is present. I’m thinking maybe it’s a spot for an electric razor but that doesn’t make a lot of sense and I’ve never seen anything like that in a house. Electric toothbrushes existed in the early 1960s but were not common. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/7 "2024-08-05T18:59:34Z")
No phone jack, and yes, the home (and presumably the niche) predated cellphones. Electric toothbrush is a possible answer. I’ve got no idea what 3 sea shells means and why it would be funny. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/8 "2024-08-05T19:10:43Z")
What’s on the other side of the wall? Maybe it just makes sense architecturally some how. I’ve never seen it either. It sounds too small to store stuff like hairspray ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/9 "2024-08-05T19:20:35Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > approximately 6" deep > [@Voyager](#): > > What’s on the other side of the wall? 6 inches is absurdly deep for a stud-build wall. There must be a void on the other side. This may have been for an inset medicine cabinet (since removed). Some old ones did have an electric outlet at the top, powered by the lighting circuit. Never mind, 3"-4" wide is absurdly narrow. Electric toothbrush is almost the only thing that would fit there, and that’s a dang weird thing to build a niche for. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/10 "2024-08-05T19:20:36Z")
That’s a good question. Further down that hall is a room - not sure if there is a closet such that it is considered a bedroom, but they use it as a weight room. There might be a closet between the bathroom and that bedroom. I shoulda thought to look. I would think the depth of this niche exceeds the width of an interior wall. I said 4" wide, but on my phone it measured closer to 3.5". So it really is too marrow to be easily removing and replacing anything that wasn’t really narrow. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/11 "2024-08-05T19:27:18Z")
Unsuccessful attempt to link photo. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/12 "2024-08-05T19:35:19Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > 6 inches is absurdly deep for a stud-build wall. There must be a void on the other side. Bathroom walls are often framed with 2x6s to leave room for supply and drain pipes. Still not an explanation for such a niche. @Dinsdale, what’s on the other side of the wall? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/13 "2024-08-05T19:36:46Z")
I’ve proven myself incompetent at posting photos to various sites in the past. If anyone is curious enough and good at posting pics, feel free to IM me with your email and I’ll email the pic to you. > [@TriPolar](#): > > @Dinsdale, what’s on the other side of the wall? As I said before, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/14 "2024-08-05T19:51:37Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Never mind, 3"-4" wide is absurdly narrow. My first thought was “lava lamp” for mood lighting, but that’s way too small. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/15 "2024-08-05T20:18:39Z")
Seems like the outlet was installed backwards in the wall on the other side of the niche. Intentionally I’d think, but some houses you can expect anything. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/16 "2024-08-05T20:52:01Z")
Space for a thin vase and flower? Or, potpourri? ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/17 "2024-08-05T20:57:38Z")
The possibilities are endless. A space for a small in-wall heater? A place for a night light? Radio? Heated potpourri holder? Possibly there was something hardwired at that point (towel warmer or the aforementioned heater) and when is was removed instead of leaving a blank wall plate someone decided to make it a niche. People are strange. My house (built in 2000) had an electrical outlet and a phone jack next to every toilet. Somebody really didn’t want to miss a call. I removed all the phone jacks. There was a built in entertainment wall in the family room which had in-wall wiring for four VCRs (wiring was labeled VCR1 through VCR4. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/18 "2024-08-05T21:01:08Z")
How wide is the vanity? Is there room on the vanity counter for such things as electric toothbrush or Waterpik? Are there any other plugs around the vanity that could be used for those kinds of things? Could you hang a hand-held hair dryer in that space? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/19 "2024-08-05T21:06:21Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Space for a thin vase and flower? Or, potpourri? But then, why the outlet? > [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > The possibilities are endless. A space for a small in-wall heater? A place for a night light? Radio? Heated potpourri holder? I’d be interested in seeing such devices that warrant a space of those specific dimensions. I note, there is another 3-prong outlet immediately below the niche. So, is someone wanted a plug in device, it would have been easier/cheaper - tho less custom-appearing - to install a shelf. This niche is done so nicely, that is suggests a specific need. And, according to the hosts - not one of the many persons who have been in their house has figured it out. > [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > How wide is the vanity? Vanity is not overlarge, but plenty of space for pump handsoap bottle. This is in the lower level of a tri-level. while there is one room/bedroom on that level, otherwise it is family room and utilities. The 4 main bedrooms are 2 levels up. So it is kinda odd that - even if the lower level room were used for sleeping, it isn’t as tho this is a master bath or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276/20 "2024-08-05T21:15:01Z")
I’m going with a custom item the previous owner needed. Maybe a medical device? At the moment I can’t think of one. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-a-bathroom-niche/1005276.md?page=2)