Enhancing the wall niche in your interior design

A wall niche or cut-out makes a visual break without dividing the space.

When is a wall not a wall?

When it has cut-outs or niches. This is one way to provide a visual break without a solid dividing wall.

Niches are frequently used in modern, open-plan houses to divide traffic and living areas. A wall with cut-outs provides a lighter divide than a solid wall, which can make a space seem smaller.

Floor coverings that help complement a wall niche

The division can be further accentuated with a change of floor surface. There might be cosy carpet in the lounge, with hard-wearing tiles or timber in the traffic areas.

Niches, usually cut-out rectangular, square or round shapes, have a practical purpose too. They make an ideal spot for an ornament or artwork, yet they still provide a glimpse into the room beyond. So three niches linking formal and informal living rooms mean they are separate, but connected.

Save on precious room space with a wall niche

South Yarra decorator Linda Cochrane likes wall units or shelves with boxed cut-outs as room dividers because they make a visual break, yet save valuable space. They fit a TV or books and still provide views to the space beyond. What's more, room dividers are portable and can be moved as often as you feel like changing your look.

Ikea's Expedit bookcase is designed so it can be used with optional plastic storage boxes, so you can store your undies and your ornaments if you like.

A shelf-like niche that's not see-through can be lit from above to highlight an ornament or antique.

Turn your niche into a gallery

A series along a wall in the entrance hall makes an ideal art gallery. Or alternate wall niches and art. Paint the niches a contrasting colour or decorate them with a patterned wallpaper; light them from above and hang your art or photographs between them.

In the bedroom, use them to store glamorous perfume bottles or a collection of jewellery or antique hair brushes.

The ultimate niche is the large one in the living or media room that holds the wide-screen TV and hides all the wiring and messy bits.

Contact an interior designer to find out more about a trendy wall niche in your home: