LED shower niche lights
LED SHOWER NICHE LIGHTS
Good shower niche lighting is the detail people notice first in a renovated bathroom. It is also the toughest place for a light to live: steam every day, direct water, cleaning products and dimensions that differ from one niche to the next. Our answer is the #86 aluminum profile with an IP67 waterproof LED strip, cut to the exact width of your niche and delivered ready to recess. Nothing to cut on site.
The #86 profile: a line of light recessed into the tile
The #86 profile is our main solution for lighting a niche. It can be surface-mounted or recessed into a groove, and recessing gives the best result: flush with ceramic, porcelain or natural stone, the profile disappears and all you see is the light. Its opal diffuser completely hides the LED dots and gives an even glow across the full width. It takes IP67 LED strips, and its anodized finish resists corrosion, constant moisture and chlorinated cleaners.
The #85 profile: surface mounting when recessing isn't possible
Tile already installed, a shallow niche or an unusual layout: when recessing is not an option, the #85 profile takes over. It fastens mechanically to the back or the sides of the niche, without touching the existing tile. Its directional light emphasizes the depth of the niche and creates a play of light and shadow across the texture of the tiles. Like the #86, it is cut and assembled to your dimensions.
IP67 or IP65: why the rating matters so much in a shower
In a shower, the protection rating is not a footnote on a spec sheet. IP67 describes a fixture that withstands water spray and immersion up to 1 m for 30 minutes. An IP65 strip, protected against water jets, can work in a light-spray zone well away from the shower head. At the back of a niche, right in the flow of water, IP67 is what we recommend.
Our IP67 LED strips handle continuous steam, cleaning products and the daily hot-and-cold cycles of a shower. Housed in one of our aluminum profiles for LED strips, they form an assembly designed for the wettest room in the house.
Where to place the light in the niche
The rule is the same as for any beautiful niche: light the surfaces, never the eyes. The placements that give the best results:
- At the back of the niche: a recessed #86 makes the whole back wall glow, as if the light came out of the tile.
- Along one side: a vertical line grazes the tile and brings out its relief.
- At the top of the niche: the light falls onto the bottles and the shelf, with no glare.
- On existing tile: the #85 surface-mounts without demolishing anything.
In every case, the line runs from one edge to the other. A light that stops short of the corner is noticed right away, and that is what a custom cut avoids.
2700 K, 3000 K or 4000 K: which white for the shower
For a spa feel, we recommend 2700 K to 3000 K: warm, soft light that helps you unwind and brings out ceramic and stone. Neutral 4000 K white makes sense if the shower is also used for precise grooming such as shaving. CCT strips spare you the choice: 2700 K for the evening bath, 4000 K for the morning shower. Aim for a colour rendering index (CRI) of 90 or more so skin tones stay natural.
Ordering custom shower niche lighting
The easiest way is our custom design tool. You enter the width and height of the niche, then choose the profile (#86 or #85), the strip (fixed colour or CCT) and the finish, anodized silver or black. Our shop cuts the profile, inserts the strip at the exact length and ships it with its power connector and instructions. The tool takes no payment: it sends you a detailed quote.
That shop assembly matters, because a shower wall is a permanent installation. With our custom manufacturing, you receive a finished, tested fixture, approved cETLus, whereas parts put together on the job site do not make an approved fixture. Unsure about a measurement? Contact our team before you order.
Redoing the whole bathroom? See our LED shower lights, our LED wall niche lights for niches outside the shower and, for the relaxation room, our LED sauna lights.
Technical tips for shower niche lighting
Plan the light before the tile. The #86 is recessed and its wire has to be run before the wall is closed, while the niche is being built.
In the spray, it has to be IP67. IP65 only suits light-spray zones well away from the shower head.
The transformer stays out of the shower. It goes somewhere dry and accessible, and only the low-voltage wire reaches the niche.
Measure the finished niche. Give us the inside width once the tile is installed: that is the dimension used to cut the profile.
Have an electrician make the connection. In Quebec, a permanent installation falls to a contractor holding an RBQ licence.
LED Shower Niche FAQ
Can you put LED lights in a shower niche?
Yes, as long as you choose an assembly made for water. The #86 profile with an IP67 LED strip is designed for constant humidity, steam and direct spray. It is built to the width of the niche, then connected to a transformer located outside the shower.
What precautions should I take in a tiled shower to stay compliant and watertight?
First, an IP67 strip in an anodized aluminum profile. Second, a wire route planned before the tile, with the transformer in a dry, accessible spot. Third, a fixture assembled in a shop rather than on site, connected by an electrician holding an RBQ licence.
Profile #86 or #85: which option is best?
Choose the #86 if you are building or redoing the niche: recessed, it shows nothing but light. Choose the #85 if the tile is already in place or the niche is shallow, since it surface-mounts. Both are ordered cut to your dimensions.
What does shower niche lighting look like?
It looks like a continuous line of light, with no visible dots, that makes the wall of the niche glow and brings out the texture of the tiles. With a recessed #86, no housing sticks out. Send us the dimensions and a photo of your niche, and an advisor will tell you which mounting style fits.
Can I change the colour of my shower niche lighting?
Yes, with a CCT strip, which shifts from a warm 2700 K to a crisper 4000 K for morning grooming. If you prefer simplicity, a fixed-colour strip in 2700 K or 3000 K gives the spa feel most people are after.
