Expert: Richard Taylor, AIA - 12/27/2009

Question
I am finishing my basement and will be installing a wall and making a right hand turn at the bottom of the stairs.  I would like to put in an art niche in that wall to give some visual drama as you get to the bottom of the stairs.  Will use 2x6 on the wall to provide some depth to the niche.  I'm thinking the niche should be just slightly narrower than the width of the stairs going down to the basement.  Questions - what are the best dimensions for the niche and how far should it be from the floor? Current dimensions:
width of the stairway - 41"
ceiling height in the basement 8'9"
distance from the last stair to the proposed niche wall 64"

Answer
Dave - thanks for your question.

I like your idea, it will create a little drama as you descend.  I wonder, though, if 2 x 6 is deep enough - you have plenty of room to make it deeper.  You should have a deep enough niche to hold a vase, and ideally, to place a recessed light in at the top of the niche - 8" would be  better.  A small halogen fixture would work, but you need to check on what dimensions you need for the light before you lock in the depth of the wall.

You should also consider making the niche less wide; you want it to appear as a cut out of the wall - so you need to visually establish the solidity of the wall first.  Generally, the niche should be about two thirds the width of the wall...so if the wall is 41" wide, the niche should be about 28" wide.

The bottom is best at about 30" off the floor, and the top at about 80" so it will more or less align with door and window heads.  But make sure you think first about the art you're planning to hang, and size the niche for it (that overrides all my previous advice!).

Hope this helps!

Richard Taylor, AIA
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