How to Build a Wall Niche

A simple and elegant wall niche can be made from basic wood items found at your local lumber yard. With the use of a good-quality scroll saw, build yourself a small decorative and functional niche that can fit right between the framing members of your wall. Display items that are especially important to you with this piece of shelving.

Things You'll Need

• Carpenter's glue Finish nails Saber saw Miter box A clear finish 1-by-4 and 1-by-6 wood stock of a clear wood (no knots) Small claw hammer Utility knife Sand paper Wood clamps

Instructions

How to Build a Wall Niche

1. Open a spot in your interior wall where the niche will go to ensure that you know the exact width between the wall studs. In a new house, the framing members should be either 13 inches or 21 inches apart. Cut through the sheet rock to make certain this measurement is correct.

2. Build a basic box with 1-by-4 clear fir or some sort of comparable wood. Choose a length and cut two pieces, add two pieces cut to the width of the opening on top and add a piece of high-quality, 1/4-inch plywood as backing. This will be your basic box, but there will be some decorative cutting to enhance the final product.

   From a 1-by-6 piece of fir, cut a curved bottom piece. For a 13-inch wide box, cut a piece 17 inches long that is square on both ends. With a sable saw, cut a large gradual curve that begins midway on one side and proceeds to a point 3 1/2 inches up each side toward the front.. Draw the curve first and then cut it with a saber saw. From this point on the side notch
   the board 2 3/4 X 3 1/2 inches. Cut this rectangular notch on each corner so the piece slides right into the box and rests on the bottom board of the box.

   Then cut a squared piece of 1 X 4 fir to go underneath the curved bottom, where it will serve as decorative trim. You can even cut a pattern along the bottom if you like. Sand and add both these pieces to your box.

3. Install the box in the wall opening so that the original four pieces of the box are flush with the edge of the sheet rock. Finish nails can be used to nail the two sides into the wall studs. Set the nails and fill with putty.

4. Cut a curved piece for the top. This, too, should be cut from 1-by-6 clear fir, and make it 15 inches long. Draw a curve from the center point along one of the edges all the way to the far corners, and cut this shape with your saber saw. Center and nail this piece to the top of the niche as trim.

5. Rip some boards at the width of 1 3/4 inches--these will be your side pieces of trim to the niche. Cut again to length, sand thoroughly and nail with small finish nails to the niche.

6. Add your finish of choice.

Tips & Warnings

• When creating a curve or design, make several drawings on the wood with a pencil before making the final cut.

• Be careful when using the saber saw. It is best to secure the piece of wood in a clamp before you begin cutting. Don't install a wall niche on an exterior wall--it may create a cold spot during the winter.