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Alcove Seating

An alcove is often a little used area in the home, but with the right seating, you can transform it into a decorative or useful space that enhances your home and gives you that little bit extra room.

What is an Alcove?

An alcove is a recessed section of a room or a small separate space in an apartment which can house a kitchen or bedroom arrangement.  Some alcoves are bump-outs that extend from beyond the basic footprint of the building, such as a bay window.  Others are created from the leftover expanses created by another architectural feature such as a staircase or pitched roof.  Others are indented areas that are intended for show.

Plan your Seating

Seating is important in alcoves but you will need to do some planning to ensure that you select the right kind of seating.  What type of seating you put in will depend on the size of the alcove and where it is located exactly.  For example, a bedroom alcove would have different seating requirements to an alcove just off a living area.  When you have seating will you need storage as well?  How heavily will the seating be used?  Is the seating designed to be decorative or functional?  What kind of budget do you have?  How often will you use the seating?  These are all questions that you need to answer before you can select a seating option.

Seating Options

There are several options that you can choose from when it comes to alcove seating.  Built in seating is perfect if you are after seats that line the wall and leave you with the maximum amount of floor space.  These also double up as storage areas, making them excellent for smaller homes where storage space is at a premium.  If it is a decorative or formal alcove, you can opt for sofas and chairs that are in an ornate pattern and have decorative features such as turned legs, or an unusual shape.  For relaxing, you can’t go past a comfortable couch that is piled with cushions.  If the alcove is near a child’s bedroom, beanbags are a simple, inexpensive option that they will absolutely love.  If you are after an informal area, try putting down some large floor cushions – they’re comfortable and you will have plenty of room to spread out.