The windowsill, especially in small apartments, can significantly increase the functionality of the home. And in large rooms, a wide window sill in the interior plays an important role. But what if it was not originally laid down in the project? Let's see if it will be possible to expand it somehow? And then how to use it?
Wooden window sill
The first thing you need to decide before installing a new window sill is that the wide version will be installed on the old base or everything will have to be replaced. Also consider the width of your walls. On too thin walls, such a design, especially if it is provided for some heavy weights, may well not be able to hold on.
So, how do you make a wide wooden windowsill? There are several ways:
- Building the window sill with an additional board with the help of a bar fixed from below. In this case, take a beam about seven centimeters wide and beat one part to the old window sill, and an additional board is beaten on the other, protruding part. After this, the joint of the boards is plastered, painted and varnished. The disadvantage of this method is that hiding the bottom bar in the absence of a cabinet below is very problematic.
- Window sill extension with an additional folding board. In this embodiment, the window sill is wide due to the fact that the additional board is attached to the base on hinges. This option is convenient in small apartments, where additional space is needed for some activities. There are practically no disadvantages to this method, except for the fact that when folded, most likely, the hinges will be visible.
- With the help of hinges, you can make an additional countertop, reclining outward. But in this case it will be necessary to fix it with the help of additional folding legs, according to the principle of old folding tables. The disadvantage of such a wide window sill is the same as in the previous one - the hinges will be visible, however, much less.
- Retractable window sill. An option similar to the previous two, but the difference is that the countertop is attached to the base with only one edge with a bolt. It must be fixed so that it can freely rotate and move away from the window. The second part of the countertop is held by one or two legs. In this embodiment, they can not be made folding, but, on the contrary, can be distinguished by making chrome plated and wheels can be installed to make it easier to move away from the window.
- Window sill extension using wooden pins with a length of at least ten centimeters. This option is more suitable when the wide window sill is made of chipboard or plastic, since the whole board is quite heavy. In this embodiment, holes are drilled in the base and the expandable board along the diameter of the pins, and the boards are joined together. Holes are best done at short distances from each other, not more than 15 centimeters. The downside is that the heavy windowsill will not be able to stay on this design. Yes, and put something heavy on him will not work.
- Complete replacement of the old window sill with a wide one. In this case, the old window sill is carefully removed, and a new plate of the right size is installed in its place.
Plastic window sill
All the same options listed above apply to plastic. But it should be borne in mind that the thickness of the plastic is less, so options without additional support in the form of legs or cabinets from below will not be able to support a sufficiently large weight. Before you make a wide plastic window sill, think that it will play rather a decorative role. At least you can’t definitely put a heavy pot with a large flower.
Wide window sill in the interior
When deciding to expand a windowsill, always consider how much it will be combined with the environment. In addition, you should consider options for how you will occupy the space under the countertop, how the surface of the countertop will be used, what functions it will have. Below we give examples of how wide window sills fit into the interior. Photo broken down into different rooms.
Living room
In the living room you can use a wide windowsill, not only for its intended purpose, but also as a sofa. For this, the room should have a large and fairly low mounted window. The window sill for these purposes is best done from wood, which can also be covered with leather. Batteries are best covered with decorative screens.
Kitchen
The wide window sill in the kitchen can play the role of an independent countertop, as well as become a continuation of the dining table. In such cases, an additional storage cabinet is equipped under the windowsill. The proximity to the window even allows you to store food in it, especially if there is a ventilation hole under the window.
Another interesting option for using a wide windowsill in the kitchen is to install a sink in it. It’s probably nice to wash the dishes and enjoy the views from the window. What do you think?
Children
In addition to the seating area, in the children's room on the windowsill you can equip a place for classes, using the windowsill as a desk. An excellent solution for students will be installing a computer on this countertop. If the room is small, then the option with a folding tabletop, which after classes can be cleaned, freeing up space for games, is perfect.
And by the way, if you make such a countertop across the width of the whole room, then the space under it can be used to store various things, equipping it with cabinets or drawers.
Finally
As you can see, there can be a lot of applications for a wide windowsill. Therefore, you should not use it in outdated versions - to install pots with flowers or to hide something behind the curtains - it is so commonplace.