Many houses constructed between the early to mid-1900s have a tiny shelf in the wall in the kitchen or hallway. If you reside in an older home, you might have noticed this. If you never really thought about it, you may have wondered about its purpose. Well, there was a specific reason for installing it!
The small shelf where the phone is placed is known as a phone niche. In the past, people used landlines to communicate before cellphones became popular. It feels like a distant memory now. Many homes were designed with only one designated area for the phone. Often, there was a small shelf or drawer near the phone where address or phone books could be kept. It’s quite nostalgic to consider using an address book in today’s modern times!
Nowadays, landlines are no longer common and people rely on cellphones instead. However, if your home still has a phone niche, you can utilize it in various ways! For instance, you can purchase an old phone and use it as a decorative item. Alternatively, you can even make use of it practically. The niche is spacious enough to hold books or other home decor items. Another option is to place several small potted plants in the niche. The possibilities are endless, and the choice is yours!
I really appreciate the convenience of new homes, but I also adore the charming details found in old homes. Our current house is incredibly old, to the point where having a phone niche was unimaginable back then. Does your house have a designated spot for the phone? If it does, I must admit, I’m quite envious!