Windows can take up a tremendous amount of space and affect furniture placement in a small space. However, in a great room where furniture can be pulled away from the walls, lots of windows are ideal. Clerestory windows are a stylish addition. They are much higher than standard windows, but they can be used in conjunction with lower panes of glass for added light. They are especially appealing when the view to the outdoors is particularly scenic. Use my ideas for arranging a great room with clerestory windows, and set up an area for conversation, family gaming and more.
Arranging Seating for Comfortable Conversation
My very first home had a row of beautiful clerestory windows in the great room, and since the property was naturally shaded by ancient oak trees they were beneficial in more ways than one. On the gloomiest of days natural light filtered through the leaves of the trees and gently illuminated the space. On moonlit nights, beams of evening radiance permeated the glass while occasionally hiding behind softly swaying branches and leaves. The great room was magnificent yet cozy, especially after arranging an area for conversation.
Upon moving into my first home I immediately began arranging the great room before unpacking a single box. I wanted a view through my beautiful clerestory windows, but I also wanted to create a comfortable area for conversation. Unlike a small living room, my furnishings did not have to line the walls. The main walkways were around the perimeter of the great room instead of through the center where space would otherwise end up wasted.
I started by arranging a large modern two-tiered coffee table in the center of the seating area. I used it as the central point of my gathering zone. I placed one loveseat facing the clerestory windows. One side remained open to maintain a clear walkway, and I placed a comfy chair on the other side. A second loveseat was positioned to the right of the windows. Arranging the furniture in this manner gave everyone a view of the beautiful clerestory windows and the ever-changing natural scenes they created on the wall of my home.
Create an Area for Gaming
I wanted my kids to have an area for gaming in my great room, but not video games. Although I also had a family room, I did not want the kids to feel pushed out. They enjoyed doing puzzles and playing board games, and I found a great way to set up a gaming zone.
When arranging the space in a way that would make the most use of the beautiful clerestory windows, I chose an area that received plenty of indirect light. I chose a solid wood table and chairs that coordinated well with the style and colors of the great room. Beneath the lower windows I had a shelf unit installed. It held the games and puzzles, and the top provided an extra place to sit and enjoy the natural view.
Sunlight and Moonlight
From the lower windows we were able to watch wildlife of many different varieties after arranging the furniture according to the location of the windows. Wild turkeys and deer were common visitors to our feeders. The kids were able to enjoy their games, and the adults had an area for conversation while viewing flora and fauna just outside the rows of framed glass. The clerestory windows above provided just the right amount of natural light during the day, and in the evening they served as a natural night light when the moon was full and brilliantly glowing through the branches and leaves of the trees.
Source: Personal Decorating and Interior Design Experience