The Reason Some Houses Have Small Shelves Built Into Hallways

If you live in an old home, or really any home built during the early to mid-1900s, there may be a little shelf built into the wall in your kitchen or hallway. You may have thought nothing of this, or you may have wondered what this was put there for. And yes – it was put there for a reason!

That little shelf is called a phone niche. Before cellphones, people used landlines to communicate. Doesn’t that just seem like so long ago now? Many homes were built with one phone niche which would house the telephone. Many even had a tiny ledge or drawer above or below the phone to hold address books or phone books. Even the concept of an address book seems so ancient now!

Nowadays, most people have done away with their landlines and only use cellphones. But if your home has one of these phone niches, you can use it in different ways! You could buy an old-school phone to place there for decoration (or actually use it, if you so desire). You could stack books or other decor objects in there. Or you could even arrange a bunch of little potted plants in the niche. The options are endless and totally up to you!

Although I love the convenience of new builds, I love the little hints of character that exist in old homes. We live in a very old home, but it’s so old that the concept of a phone niche was many years in the future. Does your home have a phone niche? If so, I’m quite jealous!

Related Posts

The Biker Who Hit My Son Visited Every Day—Until My Son Finally Woke Up and Spoke One Word

The Biker Who Hit My Son Visited Every Day—Until My Son Finally Woke Up and Spoke One Word

The first time I saw the man who hit my son, I wanted nothing more than for him to disappear from our lives. My twelve-year-old boy, Jake,…

Mocking the Court, a Teen Thought It Was a Game — Then the Judge Ruled

Mocking the Court, a Teen Thought It Was a Game — Then the Judge Ruled

A Quiet Town Shaken On the morning of October 15th, Cedar Falls, Iowa, felt ordinary. Kids rode bikes, neighbors chatted over fences, and crime rarely went beyond…

Beyond the Waves – The Untold Story of Maris Ellington and the Tragedy That Changed Marine Entertainment Forever

Beyond the Waves – The Untold Story of Maris Ellington and the Tragedy That Changed Marine Entertainment Forever

It was supposed to be another day of wonder and excitement at Ocean World — a place where families gathered to witness incredible displays of intelligence, teamwork,…

BREAKING: At least 4 people shot near Howard University during Homecoming celebrations

BREAKING: At least 4 people shot near Howard University during Homecoming celebrations

WASHINGTON, D.C. Chaos unfolded Friday night near the campus of Howard University, where at least four people were shot during a frightening outbreak of gunfire on Georgia…

Bride’s secret words in her vows changed everything

Bride’s secret words in her vows changed everything

Being a priest for more than twenty years, I believed I have seen it all — fainting bridesmaids, grooms forgetting their wows, and even in-laws getting into…

Rest in peace Jessica Joven dies after undergoing!

Rest in peace Jessica Joven dies after undergoing!

The city was left reeling on Monday evening after the tragic death of 20-year-old Mariana Gómez, who was fatally struck by a stray bullet during a violent…