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7 Great Ways to Utilise Your Bay Window
Stuck with a bay window you don't need? Here are some ideas that will turn your untapped seat space into something useful
Chiquit Brammall
29 April 2022
Design journalist and freelance editor. Dollhouse architect. Serial renter.
In most countries, a bay window is a lovely design feature that the homeowner chose to have – whether they bought a house that has it, or had their home built with it.
In Singapore, however, a bay window is, more often than not, a developer’s tool to selling more floor area than is actually usable. So architects and designers have had to be creative with bay windows, especially when the homeowner hopes to recover that extra floor area they bought but can’t seem to use. Here are some clever transformations for that odd, seat-high space.
In Singapore, however, a bay window is, more often than not, a developer’s tool to selling more floor area than is actually usable. So architects and designers have had to be creative with bay windows, especially when the homeowner hopes to recover that extra floor area they bought but can’t seem to use. Here are some clever transformations for that odd, seat-high space.
1. Incorporate it in your seating plan
In this Brisbane home, the bay window obviously takes pride of place within the living area.
In this Brisbane home, the bay window obviously takes pride of place within the living area.
You can incorporate this idea in a Singapore condo, too, if your bay window seat is strategically where your living area would be, such as this one by Notch Lifestyle and Design. This way, you automatically have extra seating when you have guests over.
Other reasons to love a bay window
Other reasons to love a bay window
2. Use up the bay space by building storage on top of it
As built-in bay windows in Singapore condos go, you can’t tear it down or carve hidden storage units from it. In this bedroom, design firm Architology used the bay window as the base for an entertainment cabinet, on which the TV is perched (the cabinet conceals all the wiring and set-top boxes). The bay window is further disguised with a veneer finish similar to the built-in.
As built-in bay windows in Singapore condos go, you can’t tear it down or carve hidden storage units from it. In this bedroom, design firm Architology used the bay window as the base for an entertainment cabinet, on which the TV is perched (the cabinet conceals all the wiring and set-top boxes). The bay window is further disguised with a veneer finish similar to the built-in.
Here’s another example of storage built on the bay, by The Association.
3. Use it for work and play surfaces
In this Zen-inspired condo unit, Sevenvine emphasised the bay window seat as a place to relax, yet at the same time, incorporated it as part of a study desk. They matched the seat’s timber surface with the tabletop for a cohesive look.
In this Zen-inspired condo unit, Sevenvine emphasised the bay window seat as a place to relax, yet at the same time, incorporated it as part of a study desk. They matched the seat’s timber surface with the tabletop for a cohesive look.
4. Make it part of the bed
Maximise that bay window by incorporating it into your built-in bed’s design. Proj. B Studio used the length of the bay window for a comprehensive bedside bench-headboard-bedside table design: A wood veneer surface conceals the actual bay window seat, on which the bedside tables and the headboard are built.
Maximise that bay window by incorporating it into your built-in bed’s design. Proj. B Studio used the length of the bay window for a comprehensive bedside bench-headboard-bedside table design: A wood veneer surface conceals the actual bay window seat, on which the bedside tables and the headboard are built.
5. Or, build the entire bed on top of the bay
In this corner room, there are two bay window seats. The designer, Creative Mind Design, opted to keep one, and completely conceal the other by building the bed onto it. To justify the odd height of the built-in bed, it’s been designed as a two-step platform, underlit with a strip of LED to make it seem as if it were floating, taking away its bulky appearance.
In this corner room, there are two bay window seats. The designer, Creative Mind Design, opted to keep one, and completely conceal the other by building the bed onto it. To justify the odd height of the built-in bed, it’s been designed as a two-step platform, underlit with a strip of LED to make it seem as if it were floating, taking away its bulky appearance.
6. Turn it into a study desk
For this small corner room, designer Proj. B Studio maximised the two – albeit small – bay windows by joining them and building a study desk out of them. The corner creates leg space you normally wouldn’t have by simply adding another layer to make your bay window seat desk-height.
Creative study desk ideas
For this small corner room, designer Proj. B Studio maximised the two – albeit small – bay windows by joining them and building a study desk out of them. The corner creates leg space you normally wouldn’t have by simply adding another layer to make your bay window seat desk-height.
Creative study desk ideas
7. Make it into a space you wouldn’t resist using
By putting the TV directly adjacent to the bay window seat, which Ciseern did, the homeowners are invited to actually enjoy the bay window. It may just remind them, too, of the urban view that’s to be taken in when the TV’s off.
TELL US
What else have you seen the bay window seat turned into? Share, or show us with a high-resolution photo, in the Comments.
MORE
Browse bay window designs
By putting the TV directly adjacent to the bay window seat, which Ciseern did, the homeowners are invited to actually enjoy the bay window. It may just remind them, too, of the urban view that’s to be taken in when the TV’s off.
TELL US
What else have you seen the bay window seat turned into? Share, or show us with a high-resolution photo, in the Comments.
MORE
Browse bay window designs
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