How To Build A Window Bench

Another project that has long been overdue! This picayune window nook was i of the spots in our business firm that sold us when we bought it. When we did the dwelling house tour, I easily envisioned a little sitting and reading nook for the window. Well, over three years later, we FINALLY take our window seat nook! We obviously have a long to-do list seeing that it's already been three years and we just got effectually to completing this project!

Really, one of the master reasons that we waited so long to consummate this project was considering this window seat nook is where we had our puppy playpen and crates. This window seat is correct off our entryway so it was easily attainable to get to when we came habitation to let the puppies out. Simply! Figgy and Frankie no longer demand a playpen and if you've been here before, you lot 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 project.

Check out what information technology looked similar before nosotros started! Just an empty space waiting for some love!

How to Build a Window Seat

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Our window seat is 89 1/iv″ wide ten 16 3/iv″ alpine x 24.25″ deep. The below supplies is what we needed for our window seat size, so y'all can use this as a general guide as to what wood pieces you lot'll need. Basically, the entire structure is congenital with all 2x4s. We had some scrap 2x4s from other projects, so used what we had leftover and then bought some additional 2x4x8s. The rest of the supplies listed is all for the finishing await!

Also, we decided to add hidden storage underneath the seat. Who doesn't love actress storage?! The supply list below includes what we used to create that every bit well. Since this bench seat is then long, we created two subconscious storage doors. We plan to use these to store all our patio cushion seats in the wintertime since it's not the most accessible to get to since we have the seat cushion to a higher place the doors.

WHAT We USED FOR SUPPLIES

• 1 – three/iv x 2 x 8′ Plywood Panel
• 1 – one/8 ten four x eight′ Sanded Plywood Panel (we actually like using this plywood paneling for projects. Information technology's a little thicker than 1/8″)
• ten – 2 x 4 x 8′
• i – 1 ten 3 x 8′
• i – 1x vi x 8′ primed MDF board
• 1 – 1 10 3 x 8′ primed MDF board
• 1 – 1 x 4 ten 8′ primed MDF lath
• 2 i/2″ screws
• 2″ screws
• two – one 1/2 x 30″ Pianoforte hinges (for hidden storage)
• White Spray Paint (for subconscious storage)
• Finishing nails
• Caulk
• Paint

THE TOOLS

• Miter Saw
• Circular Saw or Table Saw for ripping wood (I got this circular saw this past Christmas and it's AMAZING)
• Jig Saw (we needed this for the air vent)
• Kreg Jig
• Brad Nailer
• 1 ane/2″ Hole Saw drill bit (for hidden storage)
• Drill
• Level
• Measuring Tape
• Pencil
• Stud Finder
• Safe Glasses

Building The Frame

I am 110% a visual person. So earlier we first any projection that requires all-encompassing building, I like to draw up some "Structural" plans on how it should be built. We employ this equally our guide and what nosotros refer to as we are edifice. It's definitely helpful to take! I don't accept any fancy software that creates 3-D views, so all of these are but flat, 2-D views, merely it works! I'll share those with you lot along with the process photos we have, so you lot tin reference between the two.

Footstep 1 – Flooring Pieces

Beginning, we removed all the floor moldings since we volition no longer need those. Then, we started building the window seat by building the flooring frame beginning. When y'all adhere the two x 4s to the wall, ever brand sure to screw into the studs for maximum support. We used 2 screws per stud.

Equally you can see, we have a floor air vent in the nook area. So, we had to extend the air duct out to the front of the window seat and decided to box in that section of the window seat. We also lined the floor with the aluminum foil tape to seal the unabridged air duct nosotros added here.

Important tip

Nosotros built our structure to exist affluent with the front wall since we decided to add window trim around the window seat area. In doing so, the front finishing pieces we added to the window seat, will sit down flush with the trim pieces. If you don't programme to add together trim around the nook and want your seat to sit down affluent within the window nook area, brand sure to adjust the depth of your seat to fit those front construction pieces inside the space.

STEP two – Add Wall Back up Pieces

In one case we had all the floor pieces cut and installed, we added the wall support pieces to the back and sidewalls of the window seat. Over again, we used 2x4s pieces and fabricated sure to screw into the studs!

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

As you can see in the above photograph, and within our plans, nosotros have an outlet on our back wall. And so, we had to cut effectually that for the back wall back up.

STEP iii – Build Front Construction Supports for Window Seat

This is where you'll need the Kreg Jig! To brand things easier and to cut downwardly on time, nosotros pre-cut all our vertical supports for the front structure. Then, we made all the pocket holes in each vertical support. One time nosotros had all the pocket holes created, we attached them to the summit, front support board.

We attached them to the top lath Before we added it to the rest of the window seat construction. This fashion, it made it easier to attach all vertical supports to the bottom board, without having to clasp in each vertical lath betwixt the top and bottom front supports.

After nosotros attached all the vertical supports to the pinnacle cross support, we then took this entire piece and attached all the vertical supports to the lesser floor support.

We had the pocket holes face up the front of the back up to brand information technology easier to drill the screws into each board. Plus, this will be covered with the ane/viii″ plywood face, so they will be hidden anyways.

STEP four – Add Height Structure Supports

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

Also, don't forget nosotros take the air vent. Because of the air vent, the eye portion of the window seat will be boxed in, and will not have any hidden storage. Nosotros did not add together any additional supports in that section 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 likewise.

There you accept it! All the not-so-fun part of the build is complete. At present, onto the finishing pieces 🙂

Edifice The Summit Seat & Hidden Storage Doors

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

For tools, you'll need a round saw, or table saw to rip down the three/four″ x ii x viii piece of plywood to fit the width and depth of the window seat. Y'all'll need the hole saw to cut out the circle manus hole to elevator upwards your doors. Also, you lot'll need your brad nailer to nail down the outside strip pieces. For united states, nosotros also had to nail downwards the centerpiece that is above the boxed in air vent section.

Cutting The Plywood Piece To Fit Window Seat

First, outset out by cutting downwards your overall plywood piece to fit your window seat. We added a forepart "lip" (is that what you'd call it?) to our seat that sits out a little farther than the window seat surface area (about 1/four″ by the trim)

Of course, our walls were not even Close to existence straight. So, we had to make my cuts on each side of the plywood piece at a small bending in club to fit inside 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 little strips for both sides of the seat and one long strip for the behind of the seat. These strips are for the hidden storage. Since our walls were not directly, I didn't want the door to open right next to the wall. Plus, the two×4 supports are right underneath that, so information technology's non similar we're losing that space for storage.

Cutting Out Doors

One time all the outside strips are cut, then you'll have the rest of your primary piece, and cutting out the doors and the stationary middle piece (the air vent area for us).

Helpful tip

You may need to sand down the sides of the doors and then they accept more than room to open and close without information technology being too snug. The blade shaves off 1/8th inch when you rip them down, but a little actress room doesn't hurt.

Creating Handles For The Doors

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

You could get actress fancy with this, and make information technology a longer, rectangular handle using your jigsaw. But, we like to do things with efficiently effectually here… a.k.a. cutting corners if we can ;P

I waited to attach the piano hinges to each door until later we painted everything. I painted the hinges white (with spray paint of course – my favorite matter!) so they would blend in with the residual of the seat.

Nailing Outer And Middle Pieces

Later everything fits together nicely, and so it's time to boom down all the outer strip pieces, front lip (1×3) and the stationary middle section. The doors plainly won't be getting nailed downward.

Adding The Last Face Trim

One of my favorite tools is the brad nailer. So this was definitely the most fun office of this project for me! haha. That beingness said, yous'll be needed the brad nailer. Over again, you'll need your circular saw or table saw to rip down the plywood sheet. You lot will likewise demand your miter saw to cut all the primed MDF boards.

side note – if you take an air vent equally we accept, you'll besides demand your jigsaw to cut out the hole for that in the plywood sail.

Cut 1/8″ Plywood Sheet

We had leftover 1/eight″ plywood paneling from a previous project, so we used a couple of pieces for the front plywood finishing slice. We just fabricated certain the seem was going to exist hidden by a vertical ane×4 trim piece.

If yous're non working with fleck pieces (which you shouldn't if yous bought a fresh canvass of 1/eight″ ten 4 10 8 plywood!) you'll just cut i piece to fit the unabridged front of the window seat.

As you can encounter in the above photo, we had to utilize our jigsaw to cutting out a hole in the plywood for the air vent.

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

Cut and Boom All Primed MDF Pieces

After the front plywood console is up, the face trim pieces can be added. We started past cutting and calculation the meridian (1×3) and lesser (1×6) pieces kickoff.

We used our jigsaw once more to cutting out a hole in the 1×6 for the air vent.

After we had both top and lesser trim pieces in, we measured the space in betwixt the ii pieces to figure out the lengths of the vertical 1x4s. Nosotros cut all of these at once, so nailed them evenly spaced onto the window seat.

That's it! The building function is consummate. All that is left to do is fill nail holes, caulk the trim pieces so paint!

Painting, Caulking & Filling In Holes

Before painting, make certain to fill in all the nail holes and caulk around the trim to make sure everything is smooth and seamless. After that is all done, it'south time to tape up the area and start painting!

Painting, I remember will forever be a dear-hate relationship for me. I don't mind painting… the first glaze. But when I have to become back and do the second coat, and then it but becomes deadening and I'thousand over it 😂.

Painting this window seat area wasn't the worst. Information technology didn't take that long either (thankfully.) As you can see, we too added the trim around the unabridged window seat area and I'thousand actually happy we decided to do that last infinitesimal! It put a prissy finishing bear upon to the entire space. And equally yous can see above, Figgy couldn't wait to jump on the window seat.

There y'all have it! The window seat build is complete! Now, but to add all the final touches. Nosotros shared another post that goes into all the details and the total reveal here!

Do you have a spot in your house y'all could add a window seat? Is that a "wishlist" item for you? Let us know below!

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

Posted by: marrashaden.blogspot.com

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