The paper presents experimental facts indicating the possibility of controlling the habitus of microcrystals, which are structural units of electrodeposited nickel coatings. The introduction of additives (inhibitors) into the electrolyte of a certain chemical composition affects on the evolution of individual crystallographic facets of growing microcrystals and initiates the growth of microcrystal facets with a certain crystallographic orientation. This leads to the production of a nickel coating mainly consisting of microcrystals containing disclination-type defects and exhibiting pentagonal symmetry.