A bedroom vanity built as architecture: a plaster arch niche with hidden halo lighting holds an arched brass-rimmed mirror over flat oak drawers and honed marble, while a reeded-glass brass cabinet glows with backlit shelves beside it.
The idea behind it
The nested-curve move — lit plaster arch outside, arched mirror inside — gives the corner architectural weight that no freestanding furniture achieves. The luminous border between the two curves is the design.
Because the niche supplies the drama, everything inside stays quietly excellent: flat oak fronts, honed stone, slim brass. The restraint is what makes the arch read as built-in rather than themed.
Display is delegated to the reeded-glass tower, which blurs bottles into amber texture — decorative from a distance, organised up close, and the room's second glow after the arch.
What you will need
Plaster arch niche, A recessed (or built-out) arch with rounded edges and hidden LED channel.
Arched brass-rim mirror, A smaller arch hung inside the niche with an even glowing border.
Oak drawer unit, Flat-fronted floating drawers sized to the niche width.
Honed marble top, A pale slab with soft grey veining.
Reeded-glass cabinet, A tall brass-framed case with backlit shelves for fragrance.
Boucle pouf, A round pouf on a brass ring tucked beneath the counter.
Eucalyptus in glass, One loose arrangement softening the stone.
Warm LED strips, 2700K for niche curve and cabinet shelves, dimmable.
Steal the look
Step 1
Frame the arch recess 8–12 cm deep and skim with plaster, rounding every edge.
Step 2
Run warm LED strip around the inner curve in a routed channel, light aimed at the niche wall.
Step 3
Hang the oak unit inside at 72–75 cm and fit the marble top.
Step 4
Centre the arched mirror leaving an even 8–15 cm lit border all round.
Step 5
Install the reeded-glass cabinet beside the niche, shelves individually lit.
Step 6
Keep brass to two appearances: mirror rim and cabinet frame.
Step 7
Style with a tray, one bowl and eucalyptus; the arch needs nothing more.
Step 8
Dim the two glows together for the evening scene.
Perfect for
- Bedrooms wanting a built-in feel without full joinery
- Fans of soft, curved, plaster-led interiors
- Awkward alcoves and chimney-side recesses
- Anyone chasing that lit-border architectural glow
Avoid if
- Solid walls make recessing impractical and you dislike the built-out fake
- Your style runs hard-edged and industrial
- You need deep storage — niche drawers are shallow
- LED channels and plastering exceed your DIY appetite
Estimated budget
Budget
Painted plywood arch surround with LED strip, flat-pack oak-look drawers, marble-effect top and a ready-made slim display cabinet.
$350-$900
Mid-range
Plastered stud-wall niche with routed lighting, quality arched mirror, oak unit with honed stone and a brass reeded-glass case.
$900-$3,000
Luxury
Architect-detailed curved plasterwork, bespoke joinery within the niche, marble slab and custom lit cabinetry.
$3,000+
Colour palette6 tones
Ivory Plaster
walls and arch
#F0E8DA
Honey Oak
drawers
#C09A67
Honed Marble
counter
#E6E0D4
Arch Glow
niche and cabinet light
#FFE7C4
Soft Brass
mirror rim and frame
#B08D57
Eucalyptus
greenery
#93A188
Frequently AskedQuestions
Frame a recess 8–12 cm deep in stud wall (or build out the wall around it), skim with plaster rounding all edges, and run a warm LED strip in a routed channel around the inner curve, aimed at the niche wall. The mirror then hangs inside, leaving a glowing border of 8–15 cm all round.
Yes — a plywood arch surround painted to match the wall, with an LED strip behind its inner edge, mounts over an existing wall without routing. It projects forward instead of recessing but reads nearly identical in photos and at night.
Glass with fine vertical ribs that blurs whatever sits behind it into soft texture. On display cabinets it hides visual clutter while still transmitting glow — perfect for perfume or skincare storage that should feel styled, not exposed.
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