15 Window Seat Ideas to Cozy Up With
Picture this: You’re curling up with a book, surrounded by throw pillows, while gazing out at the city skyline or treetops. As fantastical as it sounds, your idyllic window seat setup can easily be brought to life in your own home. There’s no need for ton of square footage or a particular style of window to carve one out—just a small space beneath it.
You can include a window seat in a floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelf or create a window seat that stretches from one wall to the other. You can incorporate under-seat cabinets for extra storage, curtains for an intimate moment, or carved details for extra flair. And if a renovation isn’t in the cards—but you still want extra seating or a reading nook—you can forgo a custom window seat in favor of a freestanding bench that offers all of the comfort for a fraction of the cost.
For more window seat ideas, as well as the answers to your burning window seat questions, keep reading.
What types of windows work for a window seat?
Given the alcove nature of bay windows, they’re an obvious choice for a deep, inviting window seat—but know that you can build a window seat to accompany any type of window. From casement windows to awning windows to single hung windows, every kind will work. All you need is a glass portal to the outside world and the urge to craft a seating area beneath it.
How do you style a window seat?
Styling a window seat is much like styling a sofa: You want to maximize the soft textures and plush support. That means going all out with sink-right-in upholstery, window seat cushions, fluffy throw pillows, and warm blankets. “The key to a great window seat is that it should feel like a hidden escape,” says Andrew Cogar of architecture and planning firm Historical Concepts. “With the right depth and a few pillows, it could easily be one of the best places in your home."
Photo: Eric Piasecki1/15Make the most of an unusual space
A window seat is a great way to engage an awkward space that might otherwise go unused, like the nook beneath the sloped ceiling in this tailored Bridgehampton, New York, living room designed by Cogar. “By maximizing the often underutilized area beneath the slope, a window seat becomes both functional and inviting,” he says. “It needs to be deep and long enough so that when you’re tired of working, you can stretch out and take a nap.”
Photo: Kylie Fitts2/15Build it into a bookcase
For an immersive window seat experience, take a note from Katie Schroder of Atelier Interior Design and build a bench into a floor-to-ceiling bookcase setup. “The window bench and bookcase were built around the window to seem like an original part of the 100-year-old home,” she says of her work on this charming Denver living room. “No one can tell that this is a brand-new built-in, which creates a comfy reading space and also adds sofa-size seating to this small, cozy family room.”
Photo: Bess Friday3/15Go wall-to-wall
In this airy Redwood City, California, living room, Chelsea Lembi Murawski of Together Home Design Studio highlighted the verdant views with a long window seat that stretches from one wall to the other. “The expansive windows and wall-to-wall seating with built-in storage are meant to transform this sun-drenched space into a haven of comfort,” she explains.
Photo: Madeline Harper4/15Utilize a corner
Shelby Van Daley of Daley Home didn’t want to let any space go to waste in this preppy Austin bedroom, which is why she opted to fill out the corner with perpendicular window seats. “We love how the corner windows bring in all the natural light,” she says. “The window seats [offer] a great opportunity to bring in additional layers with our custom pillows, Roman shades, and seat cushions. We chose to mix in a variety of fabrics for this color-loving family.”
Photo: Brian Wetzel5/15Sub out your sofa
A window seat is often a bonus feature along the perimeter of a room, but Krystal Reinhard of Old Soul proves that it can replace a sofa as the main event in this bright West Chester, Pennsylvania, sunroom. “An awkward layout presented an opportunity to fulfill the client’s dream of a wall-to-wall window seat,” she says. “A traditional sofa would have created a large void in the view, but the window bench allows you to be fully immersed in nature.”
Photo: Emily J Followill6/15Nestle it between beds
Bedroom window seats can function as nightstands when situated between two twin beds, as demonstrated here in a tropical Seagrove Beach, Florida, guest room by Liz Williams of Liz Williams Interiors. “We added a window seat between the beds to create both functionality and comfort,” she explains. “The wall sconces provide ambient light, so we did not need a surface for lamps. The storage beneath the seat is great, while the cushion adds a soft touch to the room’s built-in aesthetic.”
Photo: Regan Wood7/15Make it moody
According to Amy Kalikow of Amy Kalikow Design, a window seat should be “a cozy and comfortable space to unwind and relax.” That’s why she selected a soothing scheme of deep greens and grays in this dramatic New York City home office. “We went with a moody palette throughout, with the window seat allowing for the perfect light-and-bright space to contrast against the dark tones,” she tells AD.
Photo: Mali Azima8/15Embrace a playful look
Alternatively, you can craft a joyful window seat like Kristin Kong of K Kong Designs did in this orange-accented Atlanta playroom. “Transform your window seat into a playful retreat by mixing patterned and colorful fabrics for the upholstery and adding a contrasting-colored welt and cheerful pillows,” Kong recommends. “Pair this with eye-catching window treatments and a whimsical wall covering in the nook to create a cozy seating area."
Photo: Postmodern Studio9/15Slide in some storage
Window seats present a prime opportunity to squeeze in extra storage, as evidenced by this neutral Los Angeles bedroom by Stephanie Feinerman of Stephanie Feinerman Design. “Incorporating storage can turn a window seat into a cozy nook that not only adds charm, but also helps declutter and organize the room,” she says. “Consider built-in drawers or hinged benches to maximize under-seat storage, and opt for open shelving underneath if you prefer easy access to everyday items.”
Photo: James Furman10/15Consider a cushion
Top your window seat with a plush cushion, like the velvet tufted one in this relaxed San Diego living room by Kristyn Harvey of Kristyn Harvey Interiors. “We wanted a cushion that was inviting, while also able to hold up to wear and tear over time,” she explains. “We went with a soft taupe performance velvet that resists stains and is easy to clean, and a French tufted mattress style that holds its shape well.”
Design: Zoe Feldman. Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.11/15Pile on the pillows
Zoë Feldman of Zoë Feldman Design styled the deep bay window seat in this floral Washington, DC, bedroom with throw pillows in a variety of fabrics, making it an irresistible oasis for reading and napping. “We envisioned the window seat as a cozy retreat designed for extra comfort—the ideal spot to curl up with a good book,” she says. “We filled it with plush, layered pillows that can be tossed about or stacked for support.”
Photo: Julie Wage Ross | Ross Group Creative12/15Stick to wood
In a mudroom or hallway, a window seat is a quick stop, so upholstery and cushions aren’t totally necessary. Elizabeth Gullett of Elizabeth Gullett Interior Design kept it simple with a live-edge wood bench in this rustic Germantown, Tennessee, home. “In order to keep the gallery open and light-filled, we used a thick slab of salvaged wood as a unique twist on a window seat,” she shares. “We needed a perch here, but something bulky would have ruined our airy feeling.”
Photo: Stephanie Russo13/15Craft a freestanding seat
In this breezy Mill Valley, California, living room, Lisa Tornello of Millroad Studio proves that a window seat doesn’t need to be sandwiched between walls. “By swapping a bulky built-in credenza for a welcoming window seat, we transformed the entrance view into a warm invitation,” Tornello explains. “This window seat is a place where our clients can unwind, where they can take in their beautiful vistas, drink tea, or listen to a record.”
Photo: Sara Tramp14/15Dig into the details
Consider a decorative flourish, like the carved details on the baby blue window seat in this sweet Pasadena, California, mudroom by Hayley English of Hayley English Interiors. The space was originally crafted as a boot room. “While the room itself serves as a practical area for a young family, decorative hand-carved details pop in a deeper shade than the walls and are complemented by additional English-inspired accents,” the designer says.
Photo: Josh Grubbs15/15Create a cocoon with curtains
Take a cue from this enchanting Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, cabin by Heather Peterson of Heather Peterson Design and hang curtains around the window seat to make an intimate moment. “We wanted to carve out private places to squirrel away, so we tucked a custom daybed under the window and hung a wall sconce for reading,” she says. “We added curtains that close off the nook—which is especially helpful when someone sleeps in here on the trundle bed.”
