How To Build Window Seat With Storage

Another projection that has long been overdue! This piffling window nook was one of the spots in our firm that sold usa when we bought it. When we did the home tour, I easily envisioned a picayune sitting and reading nook for the window. Well, over iii years later on, we FINALLY have our window seat nook! Nosotros obviously have a long to-do list seeing that it's already been 3 years and we but got around to completing this project!

Actually, one of the main reasons that nosotros waited so long to complete this project was considering this window seat nook is where nosotros had our puppy playpen and crates. This window seat is right off our entryway so it was hands accessible to get to when nosotros came habitation to let the puppies out. But! Figgy and Frankie no longer demand a playpen and if you've been here before, yous know that I recently completed our entryway closet makeover – the new spot for the dog crates! Which left us with an empty space and the perfect opportunity to get started on the window seat projection.

Cheque out what information technology looked similar before we started! Just an empty infinite waiting for some honey!

How to Build a Window Seat

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Our window seat is 89 1/4″ wide ten sixteen 3/4″ tall x 24.25″ deep. The beneath supplies is what we needed for our window seat size, and then you lot can utilise this as a general guide equally to what wood pieces you'll demand. Basically, the entire construction is built with all 2x4s. We had some flake 2x4s from other projects, so used what nosotros had leftover and so bought some additional 2x4x8s. The remainder of the supplies listed is all for the finishing look!

Also, nosotros decided to add hidden storage underneath the seat. Who doesn't beloved actress storage?! The supply list below includes what we used to create that as well. Since this bench seat is and so long, we created two hidden storage doors. We program to use these to store all our patio cushion seats in the winter since information technology's not the most accessible to get to since we have the seat cushion above the doors.

WHAT WE USED FOR SUPPLIES

• 1 – 3/4 x 2 ten 8′ Plywood Panel
• i – 1/eight ten 4 x 8′ Sanded Plywood Panel (nosotros really like using this plywood paneling for projects. It's a trivial thicker than 1/8″)
• 10 – 2 x 4 x eight′
• 1 – i ten iii x 8′
• one – 1x 6 ten 8′ primed MDF board
• 1 – i ten three x 8′ primed MDF board
• i – one 10 4 x 8′ primed MDF board
• 2 ane/2″ screws
• 2″ screws
• two – i i/ii 10 30″ Pianoforte hinges (for subconscious storage)
• White Spray Paint (for hidden storage)
• Finishing nails
• Caulk
• Paint

THE TOOLS

• Miter Saw
• Circular Saw or Tabular array Saw for ripping wood (I got this circular saw this by Christmas and information technology'due south Amazing)
• Jig Saw (nosotros needed this for the air vent)
• Kreg Jig
• Brad Nailer
• 1 1/2″ Hole Saw drill bit (for subconscious storage)
• Drill
• Level
• Measuring Record
• Pencil
• Stud Finder
• Safe Spectacles

Building The Frame

I am 110% a visual person. So before we start any project that requires extensive building, I like to depict up some "Structural" plans on how it should be built. We use this as our guide and what nosotros refer to as we are edifice. It's definitely helpful to have! I don't take any fancy software that creates three-D views, so all of these are simply apartment, ii-D views, merely information technology works! I'll share those with y'all along with the procedure photos nosotros have, so yous can reference between the 2.

Stride 1 – Floor Pieces

Showtime, we removed all the flooring moldings since we volition no longer demand those. Then, we started building the window seat by building the floor frame outset. When you attach the two x 4s to the wall, always make sure to screw into the studs for maximum support. We used 2 screws per stud.

As you can encounter, we take a floor air vent in the nook area. So, we had to extend the air duct out to the forepart of the window seat and decided to box in that section of the window seat. Nosotros also lined the flooring with the aluminum foil tape to seal the entire air duct we added here.

Important tip

Nosotros built our structure to be flush with the front end wall since we decided to add window trim around the window seat area. In doing so, the front end finishing pieces we added to the window seat, will sit flush with the trim pieces. If you don't program to add together trim around the nook and want your seat to sit down affluent inside the window nook expanse, make certain to adapt the depth of your seat to fit those front end structure pieces inside the space.

STEP 2 – Add Wall Back up Pieces

In one case we had all the floor pieces cutting and installed, we added the wall support pieces to the back and sidewalls of the window seat. Again, we used 2x4s pieces and made sure to spiral into the studs!

Don't forget to take hold of your level to brand sure your boards are level on the wall! It also helps to measure and depict your lines on each stop of the where the boards will be placed to ensure they're level (unless you have un-level floors… 😬).

As y'all can see in the to a higher place photograph, and within our plans, we have an outlet on our back wall. Then, we had to cutting around that for the dorsum wall support.

Step 3 – Build Front Construction Supports for Window Seat

This is where you'll need the Kreg Jig! To make things easier and to cut down on fourth dimension, we pre-cut all our vertical supports for the front construction. Then, we fabricated all the pocket holes in each vertical support. One time we had all the pocket holes created, nosotros attached them to the superlative, front support board.

Nosotros fastened them to the top board Before we added information technology to the residuum of the window seat structure. This manner, information technology made information technology easier to attach all vertical supports to the bottom board, without having to squeeze in each vertical board betwixt the elevation and lesser front supports.

After nosotros attached all the vertical supports to the superlative cross support, nosotros then took this entire piece and fastened all the vertical supports to the bottom flooring support.

We had the pocket holes face the front of the support to brand it easier to drill the screws into each board. Plus, this will be covered with the 1/8″ plywood face, and then they volition be hidden anyways.

STEP 4 – Add Pinnacle Structure Supports

Since nosotros added hidden storage using pianoforte hinges, nosotros needed to add additional cross back up pieces, so the subconscious "doors" take something to sit down on. In doing then, we added additional cross supports to both the front and back sides of the window seat for each door.

Also, don't forget nosotros have the air vent. Because of the air vent, the heart portion of the window seat will be boxed in, and will not take whatever hidden storage. We did non add any additional supports in that department since it's not needed.

When attaching the cross supports from the front to the back of the window seat, you'll need to create pocket holes for each of those besides.

In that location you lot accept it! All the not-and then-fun part of the build is consummate. Now, onto the finishing pieces 🙂

Building The Top Seat & Hidden Storage Doors

This is the tricky part of the whole build. It'south like one giant puzzle piece, that you cut into pieces, and then have to fit the pieces back together 😂.

For tools, you'll need a round saw, or table saw to rip down the three/four″ x 2 x eight slice of plywood to fit the width and depth of the window seat. You'll demand the hole saw to cut out the circle manus hole to lift upward your doors. Also, yous'll need your brad nailer to nail down the outside strip pieces. For united states of america, we also had to nail downward the centerpiece that is above the boxed in air vent section.

Cutting The Plywood Piece To Fit Window Seat

First, start out past cutting down your overall plywood piece to fit your window seat. We added a front "lip" (is that what y'all'd call it?) to our seat that sits out a little farther than the window seat area (about one/four″ past the trim)

Of course, our walls were not even Shut to being directly. So, we had to make my cuts on each side of the plywood piece at a small-scale angle in order to fit within the window seat.

Cut The Side and Dorsum Strips

In one case we cut our main plywood piece cut down to size, we then cut the lilliputian strips for both sides of the seat and one long strip for the backside of the seat. These strips are for the hidden storage. Since our walls were non straight, I didn't want the door to open right next to the wall. Plus, the 2×4 supports are right underneath that, so it's non similar we're losing that space for storage.

Cut Out Doors

One time all the exterior strips are cut, then you'll take the residual of your main piece, and cut out the doors and the stationary center piece (the air vent surface area for u.s.).

Helpful tip

You lot may need to sand down the sides of the doors then they take more room to open and shut without it being too snug. The blade shaves off 1/8th inch when y'all rip them downward, just a little extra room doesn't hurt.

Creating Handles For The Doors

In order to lift up the doors, you volition demand a handle of some sort. Instead of creating a handle that sticks out, we used a hole saw and drilled out a one 1/2″ circle to use to lift the door.

You could get extra fancy with this, and make it a longer, rectangular handle using your jigsaw. Merely, nosotros like to do things with efficiently effectually here… a.thousand.a. cutting corners if we tin can ;P

I waited to attach the piano hinges to each door until after we painted everything. I painted the hinges white (with spray paint of course – my favorite affair!) then they would blend in with the residuum of the seat.

Nailing Outer And Middle Pieces

Afterwards everything fits together nicely, then it's time to smash down all the outer strip pieces, front lip (one×3) and the stationary center section. The doors obviously won't be getting nailed down.

Adding The Final Face Trim

I of my favorite tools is the brad nailer. And so this was definitely the most fun role of this project for me! haha. That being said, you'll be needed the brad nailer. Again, you'll need your circular saw or table saw to rip down the plywood sheet. You will too need your miter saw to cut all the primed MDF boards.

side note – if you lot have an air vent as nosotros have, yous'll besides need your jigsaw to cut out the hole for that in the plywood sail.

Cut 1/8″ Plywood Canvas

We had leftover 1/8″ plywood paneling from a previous project, and then we used a couple of pieces for the front plywood finishing piece. We just fabricated sure the seem was going to be hidden past a vertical 1×iv trim slice.

If you're not working with bit pieces (which you shouldn't if you bought a fresh sheet of i/8″ x 4 x 8 plywood!) you'll only cut i piece to fit the entire front of the window seat.

Every bit you can meet in the above photograph, we had to use our jigsaw to cut out a hole in the plywood for the air vent.

We too took additional scrap pieces of the plywood and boxed in the air vent section inside the window seat.

Cutting and Nail All Primed MDF Pieces

Later the front plywood panel is up, the face trim pieces can be added. Nosotros started past cutting and adding the elevation (1×3) and lesser (one×6) pieces first.

We used our jigsaw again to cut out a pigsty in the 1×half dozen for the air vent.

Afterwards nosotros had both elevation and bottom trim pieces in, we measured the space in between the ii pieces to effigy out the lengths of the vertical 1x4s. Nosotros cutting all of these at once, and so nailed them evenly spaced onto the window seat.

That'southward it! The building part is complete. All that is left to practice is fill nail holes, caulk the trim pieces so pigment!

Painting, Caulking & Filling In Holes

Earlier painting, make certain to fill up in all the nail holes and caulk effectually the trim to make certain everything is smooth and seamless. After that is all washed, it'due south time to tape upward the area and start painting!

Painting, I recollect will forever exist a love-hate human relationship for me. I don't mind painting… the start coat. But when I have to get back and do the second coat, then it but becomes tiresome and I'm over it 😂.

Painting this window seat area wasn't the worst. It didn't have that long either (thankfully.) As you can see, nosotros also added the trim around the unabridged window seat area and I'thousand really happy we decided to exercise that concluding infinitesimal! It put a nice finishing touch to the unabridged infinite. And every bit you can see above, Figgy couldn't await to spring on the window seat.

There yous take it! The window seat build is complete! Now, just to add all the final touches. We shared some other post that goes into all the details and the full reveal here!

Practise you accept a spot in your firm you could add a window seat? Is that a "wishlist" particular for yous? Let us know below!

Source: https://sammyonstate.com/2019/09/05/diy-window-seat/

Posted by: walstonlond1985.blogspot.com

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