How To Build Window Seat From Wall Cabinets

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A window seat tin make a quaint and cozy addition to whatsoever room in your domicile. You tin can hands build your ain unique window seat using ready-made floating cabinet units equally a base. Merely choose a window with a pleasant view, build a frame for your base, then assemble the cabinets and add together cushions, pillows, and other comfortable accessories.^[1] As a bonus, your window seat will double as an bonny storage solution!

i
Select a window in an unobstructed expanse to use as your window seat. Ideally, the window y'all choose should be recessed, as this will provide a perfect nook for the seat itself. Whatsoever window tin work, even so, as long as in that location's ample space in front of it.^[2]
- If you go with a non-recessed window, your bench volition projection outward from the window a couple of feet. Keep this in mind while deciding on a location.
Tip: Option out a window with a pleasant view, or i that's situated in a cardinal area, such as the living room or beside the kitchen tabular array.
2
Purchase two 15 in (38 cm) floating chiffonier units to use equally the seat base. Over-the-refrigerator cabinets volition piece of work best, as they're shorter and easier to maneuver than full-sized cabinets. For an average-sized window nook around half-dozen feet (1.viii k) in length, you'll need a pair of cabinets. Consider ownership more than units if you lot call back y'all might want to add more than storage.^[3]
- Measure your window to the nearest ¹⁄_ii in (i.iii cm) and, if possible, shop effectually for cabinets that will fit this space exactly.
- Alternatively, you could find an open up-faced bookshelf or vertical chiffonier and turn information technology on its side to function as both base and bench.^[iv]
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3
Remove the baseboards from the wall around the window. Wedge the tip of a crowbar or trim puller into the infinite between the baseboard and the wall. Pull up gently on the handle of the tool to loosen the baseboard. Finish pulling the baseboard complimentary by mitt to avoid damaging the drywall.^[5]
- You may also want to remove the molded stools from the bottom of the window if you lot call back they might interfere with your space or disharmonism with the look of your new seat.^[6]
iv
Arrange 2x4 or 2x6 boards into a frame around the front of the window. Fit the boards together into a rectangular shape the length and depth of the window space you lot've called. This type of frame is known as a "toekick." When it comes time to assemble your window seat, y'all'll merely side your cabinets correct inside your frame.^[7]
- Use a round saw to trim your boards to the necessary size.
- If you want, y'all can extend your frame plenty on either side to brand room for boosted cabinets or bookshelves for extra storage infinite. Be sure to mensurate your cabinets or shelves in advance to guarantee a proper fit.^[eight]
v
Fasten the toe kick using 3 in (seven.six cm) wood screws. Utilise 2 screws for each joint where the boards connect to ensure that your frame is secure. Once you lot've washed that, ballast the toe kick to the floor by driving a screw into the floor or wall stud at each corner of the frame.^[ix]
- To salvage yourself some time and work more precisely, utilise a cordless power drill to drive your screws.
- When anchoring a toe kick to a physical floor, you lot'll need to use a powder-actuated nailer or plastic screws instead of ordinary screws.^[ten]

1
Fit your cabinets into place abreast 1 another inside the toekick. Assuming you measured correctly, they should slip right inside without difficulty. Take a moment to brand sure the units are centered and sitting perfectly affluent with both the surrounding walls and one another.^[11]
- Use a level to check the orientation of your cabinets before proceeding.
- If necessary, fill in any small gaps between the cabinets and the toe kicking with wooden spacers cut from leftover boards.^[12]
2
Attach the cabinets using two ii.5 in (6.4 cm) drywall screws. Sink the get-go screw through the border of the confront frame at the top of i unit into the neighboring unit. Drive your side by side spiral in the opposite direction through the face frame at the lesser of the other unit of measurement.^[13]
- By sinking your screws in opposite directions, you'll increase the strength of the connexion site, which is a proficient thought since y'all'll be putting weight on the cabinets.
- Information technology may help to clamp the face frames of the cabinets together to concord them affluent until you're ready to begin drilling.
3
Install side cabinets or shelves and spike them to the seat cabinets. Equally an optional pace, you can put in 1-2 more floating cabinet units in the same dimensions on one or both sides of your bench. Fit these cabinets into your frame alongside your seat cabinets, so fasten them to their face frames using 2.five in (vi.four cm) drywall screws.^[14]
- Make sure yous've measured and constructed your toe kick to arrange whatever other cabinets you want to add on.
Tip: Flanking side cabinets tin can give your window seat a wider, more luxurious look and provide you lot with fifty-fifty more than storage.

ane
Install molding forth the lesser of the seat base of operations to hide the toekick. Cut your molding to match the dimensions of the frame, then attach it using 1.v in (3.viii cm) finishing nails. Infinite your nails 1–2 feet (0.30–0.61 m) autonomously and fill the holes with woods putty if desired.^[fifteen]
- Consider calculation a thinner trim along the contour where your bench meets the wall as well to help the eye transition more easily.
- Once in identify, the trim volition encompass the toekick and lend some decorative flair to the lower edge of your window seat.
Tip: For ease of installation, look for a style of molding that's the same width as the boards yous used to mode the toekick.^[16]
2
Use matching plywood skins to muffle the joints in stacked cabinets. If you opted to incorporate both cabinets and vertical shelves, you lot may want to embrace their outer faces to requite them a more seamless appearance. To exercise this, use a utility knife and straight edge to trim plywood skins and then that they'll fit over the entire surface. Glue the skins direct to the cabinet using contact cement.^[17]
- Plywood skins are bachelor at any hardware shop or home comeback center. You can also go them from the same company who manufactured your chiffonier or shelving units to brand certain they're a match.
- Contact cement dries and holds fast, so you'll need to work quickly and make certain your skin is lined upward properly the beginning fourth dimension.
3
Paint your completed seat base if desired. Brush the bench elevation, cabinet doors, and surrounding molding with a glaze of interior latex primer, then follow that up with two-iii coats of interior latex paint. Allow each glaze to dry completely before applying subsequent coats. When you're washed, your new window seat will be i uniform colour.^[18]
- Almost water-based interior latex paints dry to the bear on within an hour, and can be painted over in iv-half-dozen.^[19]
- Apply strips of painter's record to protect any nearby areas you don't paint to get on.
- You lot may elect not to utilize paint if you picked out cabinets and molding with a natural woods end.
4
Bring in cushions and pillows to provide the finishing touches. Lay down 1 or two long cushions to cover the bench from end to end. Place a few decorative throw pillows on top, along with any other accessories you wish to include.^[20] All that's left to practise now is sit downward, boot your anxiety up, and savour the fruits of your labor!^[21]
- A cozy blanket or quilt can also exist a good to accept around for both condolement and presentation.
- If you lot don't want your bench cushion to slide around, cover information technology with length of durable fabric and staple the edges to the lip inside the elevation of the cabinets.^[22]

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Question

What summit should a bench seat be?

Alberto DeJesus is a Construction Specialist and the CEO of DeJesus Industries. With more than than 4 years of experience, he specializes in high-stop real estate development and construction. Alberto and DeJesus Industries have been featured on NBC News and have worked with numerous well-known companies, including Mazda, Amazon, and CVS. Alberto holds a Bachelor'due south degree from Boston University.

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Expert Answer

Base the height of the bench seat on whoever will exist using information technology the most. Some people similar to sit lower than others, which is of import to proceed in mind.
Question

How can I brand my window seat look nice?

Alberto DeJesus is a Construction Specialist and the CEO of DeJesus Industries. With more than four years of experience, he specializes in high-end real manor development and structure. Alberto and DeJesus Industries have been featured on NBC News and have worked with numerous well-known companies, including Mazda, Amazon, and CVS. Alberto holds a Bachelor'southward degree from Boston University.

Construction Specialist

Expert Respond

Keep it simple and try to use finer woods. If you lot're going to use whatever molding, make certain that it'south consequent throughout the seat.

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All in all, your DIY window seat project will likely cost yous somewhere from $500-two,000, depending on the style of cabinets you go with and your other materials and accessories.
Plastic laminate cabinets can make a more than cost-constructive alternative to hardwood ones if you're looking to save some money.
Have advantage of your window seat's congenital-in storage to keep books, toys, and household items put away and organized in the area around your window.

Things You'll Need

Circular saw
2x4 or 2x6 boards
Crowbar or trim puller
Record measure or ruler
Cordless drill
3 in (7.vi cm) wood screws
Powder-actuated nailer or plastic screws (for concrete floors)

two-4 15 in (38 cm) floating chiffonier units
Cordless drill
2.5 in (vi.four cm) drywall screws
Level
Matching bookshelf units (optional)
Table clamps (optional)
Wooden spacers (optional)

Forest molding
1.v in (3.8 cm) finishing nails
Plywood skins
Utility knife
Straight edge
Water-based interior latex primer and pigment
3–four in (vii.half dozen–10.2 cm) angled paint castor
Woods filler putty
Painter'due south record
Cushions, pillows, and other assorted accessories

Virtually This Article

Article Summary X

To build a window seat, beginning become ii floating cabinet units to employ as the base. Once yous have these, prepare the surface area past removing the baseboards from the wall section. When that's done, create a frame effectually the front of the window using 2 by 4 or 2 past six boards. Fit your cabinets within this frame and spiral them in place. After you've attached the cabinets, install molding along the bottom of the seat base to hibernate the frame. If y'all want to requite your seat base a more attractive finish, you lot can paint information technology using interior latex primer and and then a couple of coats of interior latex paint. To add some final decorative touches, lay downwards 1 to ii long cushions to cover the bench and throw on some pillows. For more help, including how to use plywood skins to hide joints in stacked cabinets for your window seat, ringlet down!

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