When planning living room furniture, the window wall is usually left out. You cannot put a tall wardrobe in front of a window, nobody wants to block the radiator, and curtains take up space. As a result the brightest wall in the room is used only for hanging curtains. Yet well-designed furniture can turn this wall into the most loved corner of the room: a window seat, bookshelves at the sides and storage underneath.
The window seat: size and shape
A window seat is a low bench under the window, usually built to the width of the window opening and topped with a cushion. Its comfort depends on several dimensions:
- seat height should be close to that of an ordinary chair so sitting down and getting up is easy;
- depth should be enough both to sit and to curl up with your legs tucked in;
- if the sill is higher than the seat, cushions are needed for back support;
- if the window sits in a recess, the seat fits inside it and creates a natural nook.
The cushion should be removable with a washable cover, because dust and sun exposure are greater by a window.
The radiator question
In many flats the radiator sits right under the window. Enclosing it completely with furniture reduces how well heat spreads into the room and can damage the furniture materials. Solutions include:
- fitting a ventilation grille or perforated panel in the front of the seat in front of the radiator;
- leaving a slot in the top of the seat, near the window, so warm air can rise;
- moving the radiator to one side, if possible, during renovation;
- using a low open shelf instead of a seat over the radiator section.
In a closed box with no airflow, a radiator works poorly and dries out the cushion and board above it. So heat-resistant materials and enough open area are important.
Side shelving and cabinets
Floor-to-ceiling shelves or cabinets on either side of the window frame it and form a single composition with the window seat. This suits book-loving families particularly well: someone reading on the seat can reach out for a book.
When planning side shelving, consider:
- which way the window opens, so the sash does not hit the shelves;
- room for curtains and blinds, so open curtains do not bunch up in front of the shelves;
- shelf depth, which should not project much beyond the window reveal or it will block light;
- that books and fabrics on shelves in direct sun fade over time.
Storage under the seat
The space under a window seat is valuable storage. Two options are usually chosen. Drawers are convenient for everyday things such as toys, throws and magazines. A lift-up lid gives more volume but means removing the cushion each time, so it suits things used rarely.
Storage over the radiator section is not recommended. An open section or decorative grille makes more sense there.
A TV or workspace on the window wall
Sometimes the layout calls for other functions on the window wall. A TV next to a window suffers from glare, so a screen works better on a wall perpendicular to the window. A desk, on the other hand, is very comfortable in front of or beside a window, where daylight falls evenly. But a monitor placed in front of the window, with the light behind it, tires the eyes; positioning the desk side-on to the window is better.
A window wall in a small room
In a small living room, simple low solutions work best on the window wall. A long, low unit at sill height doubles as storage, extra seating and a surface for decoration. Tall side cabinets can make a small room feel cramped, so open, light shelving is a better choice.
Before ordering furniture for a window wall, clarify which way the sashes open, where the radiator is and whether it can be moved, how curtains or blinds will hang, whether direct sun falls on the wall and how deep the window reveal is. These answers directly determine the furniture's size and materials.
Zaferoglu Mebel makes TV units, shelving and seating elements for living rooms to individual measurements. Noting the positions of the radiator, window sashes and curtain rail during the survey ensures the furniture works without clashing with them.
