In every plan we create for a new project or built-in, there are many options, with changes, tweaks, and revisions along the way. It’s fun to think and/or draw up different ideas and other possibilities, even if they aren’t used in the end. Planning the living room window seat is no different; I’ve drawn up several designs of seat and shelf combos, all with variations on measurements. I’ll share more about the evolution later, including my drawings to show the process.
Depending on the window seat plan and dimensions, the furniture arrangement needs change, too. Initially, I was torn between a 24 inch and 30 inch seat depth. Twenty four inches isn’t a tiny seat, but it also isn’t the wide, curl up and relax oversized area a 30 inch deep seat would be. Adding another 6 inches would cramp a furniture plan with the couch directly in front of the tv, fortunately, we have other options.
Sometimes, a simple furniture reconfiguring can open a world of possibilities. To leave adequate walking room between the furniture and soon to be built-in, I placed the leather sofa and the smaller linen couch parallel to each other, but perpendicular to the window and tv.
This allows for the deeper built-in, while adding emphasis to the window wall and the views beyond. The chair is our stand in for a window seat, but at 36 inches, we know a built-in that deep won’t work. A thirty inch depth seems to be the Goldilocks of the seat, not too narrow or too wide.
Way back when we first looked at this house and considered buying it, the views were one of the top selling points. Creating a beautiful, but still comfortable, livable, room to play up the views is priority for this built-in. Up until now, with the sofa squarely in front of the tv, the views haven’t been the focus, rather the tv.
We’ve lived with this arrangement since Monday, and sure, the old sofa placement was more comfortable for tv/movie watching. With basement plans in the works and a remodel nearing, we’ll have room to create a designated theater space in the darker basement. At that point, I think this living area would be a secondary tv space, in which case, the tv doesn’t have to be the main functional focal point.
Now, the layout pulls double duty, with focal points on either end of the room, with furniture allowing viewing in either direction.
As plans are discussed and elements change, the window seat evolves, getting more functional and beautiful with each revision.