How Deep Should A Window Seat Be

Interior Design

All Yous Need to Know Almost Window Seats

Create a comfy zone that lets you stay warm while gazing at the outside world.

All You Need to Know About Window Seats

Photo: istockphoto.com

When it comes to coziness, nothing compares to a window seat. Nestled against the glass, bordered on both sides by narrow walls, and amply supplied with cushions and pillows, these benches offer comfort and relaxation while providing a view to the exterior globe. If the idea of curling upwards with a good book or a seize with teeth to swallow in the warmth of a window seat has you longing to add ane to your home, keep reading. We'll let you lot know how to create a wonderful window seat—on simply about any budget.

Whence the Window Seat?

The popularity of the window seat is nil new. The commencement ones—pocket-size, ornate, backless sofas positioned in forepart of alpine multi-paned windows—were all the rage amongst the elite during Britain's Georgian era (1714 to 1830). They boasted tufted seats upholstered in luxurious fabrics often chosen to friction match the draperies of parlors and sitting rooms.

The timeless allure of a comfortable spot in front of a window isn't limited to that British period—classical, contemporary, and even rustic American architectural styles all make utilize of window seats. Those built into homes today are perhaps even more appealing than their predecessors, because they're often set into recessed alcoves, bringing a greater sense of privacy and security.

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Pattern Details

When designing your window seat, contain details that make it feel warm and welcoming. The following design and décor suggestions
volition help get the creative juices flowing.

All You Need to Know About Window Seats

Photo: istockphoto.com

Consider calculation drawers or cubbies under the bench to stow books, toys, sewing, or other items. You can as well sneak in storage with recessed shelving on the inside of alcove walls. It'southward convenient to accept things you'll use while sitting at that place handy, simply with storage at a premium in most homes, that area beneath a window seat shouldn't go to waste.
Don't skimp on the stuffing. A seat absorber should be a minimum of three inches thick, and you lot'll want to add large pillows if you programme to sit down sideways and lean dorsum confronting one wall. Bolster rolls are bang-up additions to the sides.
Enhance the appeal of the window seat with a bulkhead—a dropped (lower) area of the ceiling. Bulkheads over window seats are oft arched for a secluded feel, but they tin can likewise run direct across from one side of an alcove to the other.
Trim a built-in window seat with molding that matches the rest of the room for cohesion—you lot don't want the seat to wait like an afterthought. Apply the aforementioned baseboard around the bottom of the seat and paint or stain the wood to match. Matching the fabric of the window seat cushion to pillows or draperies besides unifies the look.
Install a deep windowsill. A sill that'southward eight to 10 inches wide offers additional room for books, potted plants, or vases.
Attach built-in benches forth the window side of a breakfast nook to serve as informal seating for ane side of your table.
Install blinds or light-blocking curtains that can be airtight during the hottest role of the day if you have a south-facing window.
Imitation a seat. Tin't manage a built-in alcove? Create the snug allure of a window seat with smart decorating techniques. But placing two alpine objects, such as bookshelves, cabinets, or highboys on either side of a window, and positioning a bench or even a sturdy cedar chest in between, volition bring the feel of a window seat to a room.

All You Need to Know About Window Seats

Photo: istockphoto.com

Cost Considerations

The toll you'll pay for a new window seat varies widely, based on size, material, and whether y'all build information technology yourself or hire a carpenter. A bones, professionally installed v-foot window seat in a recessed apse will run you lot between $two,500 and $three,500 and get you lot a painted unit made from finish-grade plywood; expect to pay an additional $300 to $1,500 for stained hardwood. When you start adding custom features and intricate trim, such every bit congenital-in bookcases, electrical outlets, and reading lights, you could easily pay up to another $1,000.

Edifice the window seat yourself will salvage you a substantially. The unproblematic five-pes window seat described in a higher place will run approximately $250 in materials for painted plywood and $500 to $one,000 for hardwood. Installing pre-made cabinets for the seat volition save yous some labor, but will add another $100 to $350, depending on the cost of the cabinet. Of grade, if yous rearrange tall furniture to create a simulated alcove and use Aunt Mary'southward cedar chest for the seat, you'll just be out the cost of the absorber and pillows.

DIY Tips for Building Your Own Window Seats

If yous're someone with finish carpentry skills, you should be able to construct and trim out a DIY window seat you'll be proud of as the room'southward focal betoken. Window seats are normally scratch built from hardwood or plywood, but pre-made chiffonier bases and benches can likewise get yous a nifty wait. Proceed the following tips in mind to get off to a practiced first.

The height of the bench should non exceed the bottom of the window. If it'due south any higher, the bench will bear witness through the window from exterior. Information technology could also create a safety issue if the person on the seat leans on the window. Ideally, the window should be a minimum of 6 inches above the bench.
The virtually comfortable superlative for a window seat (with cushion on) is between xvi and 21 inches. Standard chair seat height is right around xix inches from the floor, so you have a little elbowroom hither when amalgam the bench.
Minimum seating width (ane side of the bench to the other) should at least 32 inches, which will allow one person to sit and confront frontwards. If you plan to sit sideways, with your back confronting ane wall of the alcove, the seat should be at least 48 inches wide. Don't exist afraid to go wider, however, if you have the room. A window seat that is lx inches wide or more will offer additional seating.
The depth of the seat (front to back) should be at least 16 inches for comfortable forwards-facing sitting. It tin can be deeper if space allows. At 39 inches deep, built-in daybeds serve as side-sitting window seats, and they tin can double as an actress bed for guests, but the extra depth makes forward-facing sitting difficult unless you add actress cushions to the back of the seat.
Don't skip the electric outlets. You may desire to recharge your smartphone or piece of work on your laptop while enjoying your window seat. About local edifice codes require electric wiring to be done by a licensed electrician.

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Source: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/window-seats/

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