Raise your hand if your morning routine involves navigating around shampoo bottles perched precariously on the tub ledge, body wash and conditioner piled in a corner, or the sad caddy hanging from the shower head. It's as annoying as it gets, and it's ugly, too. The thing is, when you're renovating your bathroom, it's easy to let this predicament slip your mind as you peruse pretty new tiles and fixtures. But we're here to tell you: Don't get distracted. Ask your contractor to incorporate a shower niche for storage —it will be the best decision you ever made. "I always include shower niches in our shower designs," says San Francisco–based decorator Katie Martinez , whose chic nook is featured here. "I like a taller lower shelf for shampoo and conditioner, and a smaller shelf on top for soap and a razor."

Now, for even better news: According to Michael Kavin, the CEO of Kavin Construction in California, the cost for a shower niche is minimal, if not completely free . "Unless you are framing a huge niche, the typical niche is between a two-by-four stud, approximately 14 inches wide, with only two wood horizontal blocks to define the niche. (If more storage space is needed, the niche can be framed twice as tall, with a glass shelf across the middle.) Most framers will not charge for such a minimal framing task," he says. "The tile sub-contractor may also waive costs, or may charge approximately $150 to tile the inside and make the outside corners of the niche attractive." Count us in.

Just make sure to carefully plan the placement, warns Martinez. "The tile pattern should line up and the location should be thought through," she says. "I prefer to keep the niche tucked away if possible—not in one's direct line of site when you're looking at the shower—just in case your shower products aren't super beautiful." With all your stuff under control, even Mondays are bound to start off on a good note.