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Window seating area


21 Window Seat Ideas for Every Room

By

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel is an interior design expert who has covered architecture, interiors, and decor trends for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Lonny, and the American and international editions of Elle Decor. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design.

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Updated on 09/21/22

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

A window seat is always the best seat in the room, made for soaking up the light, gazing out at the view, curling up with a book, snuggling with a loved one, or sneaking in a power nap.

The built-in, upholstered window seats common today are a modern evolution of the small free-standing benches that people began placing beneath their sash windows centuries ago. If you don't have the budget or the space for a built-in, you can improvise a window seat using a wood or upholstered bench or loveseat of any style or period. Just pay attention to proportion to make sure that the window seat fits seamlessly beneath your window of choice, and style it to suit your needs by adding throw pillows, a cozy blanket, or a reading light.

Let these window seats—located everywhere from the living room to the bedroom, dining room, mudroom, home office, and beyond—inspire you to install a window seat in your room(s) of choice that will become everyone's favorite spot.

21 Brilliant Window Seat Ideas for a Cozy Nook

Window seats are often the most beloved locations in a home. They offer comfort and relaxing views of the outdoors. Not to mention that they create a sense of security and coziness.

In this guide, we will share a few tips on where to place a window seat, the different types of window seats, and how to make them as practical as possible for your needs!

Where Should You Put a Window Seat?

Let’s start by talking about the different places you can install a window seat in your home. To start, you’ll need a great window with a view in your home!

Breakfast Nook Window Seats

Place a window seat in the bay area or window alcove to act as your breakfast nook near the kitchen. A window seat in the breakfast nook acts as a great addition by offering an extra seating area while still allowing the big kitchen window to let in light.

@interior.design.home.idea

Kitchen Window Seats

Sometimes we don’t know what to do with the space at the end of a galley kitchen. Adding a small window seat is the perfect solution for your kitchen design!

stephaniekrausdesigns

Entryway Window Seats

Why not install a window seat near your entryway for taking off and putting on your shoes?

timbertrailshomes

Living Room Window Seats

A window seat in the living room window helps maximize the light coming in. An oversized couch placed in front of a tall window might block some incoming light.

With a window seat, you allow more light into a room and have an area where your family and guests can sit. Adding seat cushions to your seat can make it comfortable.

AmberInteriors

Window Seats Next to the Fireplace

For those homes with a fireplace flanked by windows, you can have a window seat with both seating and storage areas. The seating area goes under the window while the storage goes under the seats.

changoandco

Bedroom Window Seats

Window seats in the bedroom offer an ideal place for relaxation before bedtime. Make sure to add plenty of seat cushions to make the area cozy.

ej interior design

Bathroom Window Seats

Surprisingly, this tiny bathroom window seat works quite well! I would never have thought to put a window seat in a bathroom but it seems to do the trick for this traditional bathroom design.

Alyssa Rosenheck

Home Office Window Seats

You can put a window nook in your home office when you need a break from working.

lindseybrookedesign

Stairway Landing or Hallway Window Seats

Elevate your staircase landing by placing a window seat there. A window seat on the staircase landing can turn the space, which would otherwise be empty, functional, and elegant.

If there is a space in a loft or hallway landing with a window top, you can add a small window seat there. Make sure to leave at least 36 inches of space for walking.

mas design

What Are Different Types of Window Seats?

There are a few different types of window seats you can consider for your home:

Standard Built-in Window Seat

These were common in the 20th century but are still found in vintage homes today. They are built into a home and attach to the structure of the building, and thus cannot be moved around like other furniture.

A standard built-in window seat is usually surrounded by other built-ins like cabinets or bookcases and is constructed under a window sitting along a flat wall section. They create a custom nook for relaxing in a space that would otherwise be a flat span of window and wall.

Bay Window Seats

These are constructed within a pre-existing bay or nook in the home. They have a bumped-out feature on the exterior façade to make them a focal point of your home interior and exterior.

Sleeper Window Seat

A sleeper window seat has a handy built-in sleeping trundle bed. It is excellent for homes with a limited number of rooms. IIf you do not have enough bedroom space in your home, you can incorporate a sleeping trundle into a window seat placed at the bay window or any large window, adding extra sleeping space for guests. Make the bed frame compact and have the mattress sit low enough to the ground so it can be stored underneath the window seat.

Now that you understand the different types of window seats, let’s view some ideas to make them more decorative!

Creative Window Seat Ideas

Here are the best window seat ideas for all types of homes!

Window Nook Between Two Built-in Bookshelves

I often see window seats between two built-in bookcases in the living room of a home.

ramblingrenovators

Window Seat with Lower Cabinet Storage

If you would like to make your window seat more than a relaxing area, you can create built-in storage cabinets to store linens, books, etc.

brookewagnerdesign

Window Seat with Open Lower Shelving

If you would like to make your window seat the focal point of your room, get one with open lower shelves where you can put books or decorative items.

mhousedevelopment

Corner Window Seat

Does your living room have a large open space converging in a particular corner? This can act as a perfect place to place your window seat.

angelarose_diyhome

Window Seat with a Fireplace

Want to create a comfy warm nook? Create a window seat with its own fireplace to keep you warm and cozy as you enjoy the view. This is a great place to have a built-in sleeping trundle bed.

themattesongroup

Ultra-Wide Extended Window Seat

If you have the space, consider extending your window seat cushion farther than normal. This will create a fun ad cozy space for one or two people to cozy up by the window. Serve drinks and add a blanket for the ultimate home relaxation zone!

millhavenhomes

Sunset Watching Window Seat

If you are still in the design phase of your country home, I highly recommend putting a bay window or window seat in the western part of your house so you can admire the sunset from the comfort of your living room!

@lifebytheclyde

Window Seat with Floating Shelves

Keep your space airy yet functional with floating shelves above the window seat that don’t make the room feel crowded.

laurenramirezinteriors

Boho Hanging Window Chair

Opt for a hanging chair or swingasan and make use of a windowed corner of your home. You’ll save yourself the trouble of installing a built-in window seat, while still being able to enjoy the view!

vintageinteriorxx

Glam Window Seat with Tufted Headboard

I’ve never seen a more glamorous window seat than this one! With a gorgeous blue floral wallpaper backing the pink tufted headboard attached to this pink window seat, it’s surely fit for a queen!

BEATRIZ DA COSTA

Window Seat with Daybed

If you have a large window area in your lounge, you can transform it with a daybed-type window seat. Make sure to have built-in drawers where you can store linens when not in use.

CottageJournal

Reading Nook Window Seat

Cozy up with a book that you can store in built-in bookshelves nearby your reading nook window seat.

CottageJournal
More Decor Ideas

Soft window sills or a sofa by the window? 96 ideas for organizing a seating area by the window

Often we ignore some corners of our house, including window sills. But in vain, because the area near the window has great potential: here you can arrange soft window sills - place a bed, a lounger for relaxation or additional seats. The sofa by the window is an ideal place for solitude, reading, contemplation. We have collected for you inspiring ideas for arranging the window zone.

To fully immerse yourself in the view, we advise you to click on the first photo and go to full screen mode. And then - flip through large pictures and enjoy our selection of bright ideas for organizing a relaxation corner by the window. In some of the photos you will see green labels that contain additional information about the items used in this interior. Under the photos you can find information about the project and the techniques and materials used.

Michael Rex Architects

1. In a dream and in reality
"Window-pictures" frame the landscape outside the window: you shouldn't curtain such beauty, it's better to place a recreation area here. Although near the window with such a view it will be difficult to sleep.

Foley Fiore Architecture

2. Hanging
If the window opening is small and it is not possible to place a couch here, then you can use a hanging bed, as in this New York apartment.

WHAT_architecture

3. Full height
A full-wall portal window leaves no room for maneuver - in this case, the seating area can be located directly on the floor. Forrester Roberts Interior Design Fortunately, there is an empty niche in which a bench and a rack are located.

DHD Architecture and Interior Design

5. Cavemen
The vertical bevels and stone trim in this example make the window seating nook look like a grotto in the rock.

Margot Hartford Photography

6. Artificial selection
If there is space, then in the corner by the window you can arrange a mini-gallery. Just hang the pictures so as to avoid direct sunlight.

Miller-Roodell Architects Ltd

7. Storage space
Use the space by the window not only with pleasure, but also with benefit. For example, under the seat you can store boxes for clothes or bed linen.

ChDecoration

8. Everything on the shelves
The window seat can also be made more functional with built-in shelves. Place them either in window openings or in adjacent walls.

Kingston Lafferty Design

9. Color zoning
The bench can be of the same or contrasting color with the window frame (to visually separate this area from the rest of the room or make it an extension).

I.D.interior design

10. In the neighborhood
Window sill-sofa, as in the photo, can be supplemented with other furniture - ottomans, hanging chairs, coffee table.

SUZANNE KASLER INTERIORS

11. Find your niche
If the window opening is shallow, you should think about a false niche, the walls of which will create a secluded atmosphere.

12. Mix and match
Play with color and prints to decorate the seating area by the window. Sometimes harmonious combinations are born at the junction of seemingly incompatible things.

Annabelle Chapman Architect Pty Ltd

13. Uniform disgrace
Irregularly shaped window niches can be a real find. The planes of the sloping walls will cast interesting partial shadows.

Foley Fiore Architecture

14. Rest against the ceiling
Although sometimes the wrong shape of the window niche can affect the comfort of rest. Not everyone will fit on such a window sill as in the photo.

Noxon Giffen

15. Narrow approach
A narrow window is not a reason to refuse to place a recreation area here. In this example, the insufficient width was compensated by the depth of the sill.

Jordan Iverson Signature Homes

16. Three in One
Three windows are better than one. The first can be used for its intended purpose, others - as shelves.

bg architecture

17. In unison
Several adjoining windows can be combined with one window sill. There will be an order of magnitude more space and light in such a recreation area.

Cary Bernstein Architect

18. Visible Place
Why not set up a seating area by the window in the hallway? After all, a beautiful view can be enjoyed not only in the bedroom or living room.

Robert Rhodes Architecture + Interiors

19. Go Beyond
A bay window that extends outside the room is distinguished by a wide cozy window sill (pictured). Here you can comfortably take a nap or read a book.

Platform 5 Architects

20. No secrets
These window boxes usually do not use curtains. If the window faces the courtyard, there will be no discomfort from excessive publicity.

Angus Mackenzie Architect

21. Without borders
And in the warm season, the seating area on the windowsill in the apartment can be open. This blurs the line between indoors and outdoors.

ARCHEA Ltd

22. Framed
A seating area near such a “picture window” can be arranged at least with a mattress and pillows. The main decoration will be the landscape outside the window.

ARCHEA Ltd

23. Behind the glass
The owners of this London house decided not to clutter up the windowsill, intended for seating, with flower pots. And they placed them ... on the street.

Aurélien Vivier

24. Color Accent
Window trims can be made in contrast to the color of the frame. So you will focus on the landscape outside the window.

Arkin Tilt Architects

25. For two
The designers of this Californian home have expanded the seating area by the window through the walls. Now two can fit in here.

KS Architecture

26. Go beyond the border
The pedestal at the window may well be extended beyond the borders of the window opening. For example, smoothly move into the countertop.

Jeffrey King Interiors

27. Expanding the limits
You can also expand the seating area by the window by adding ottomans and stools.

28. Broken lines
The designers of this French apartment laid the pedestal near the window with a herringbone parquet. The theme of broken lines is also used in the form of shelves and stairs.

Goderbauer Architects

29. Reading Lesson
You can organize a whole library around the window opening: there will be something to do while lying by the window.

Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects, Inc.

30. At different levels
Multi-level zoning may become a variant. As in this photo, where the seating area by the window is just above the floors.

architektur + raum

31. Side drawers
Storage drawers can be placed not only from the bottom of the window sill, but also from the side. Why empty space?

Kerr Ritchie Ltd

32. No Rules
Break the rules: let the banquette go beyond the window itself or be located below its level.

Schwartz and Architecture

33. Unexpected place
You can also place a bench by the window in the hallway. Place a shoe box under the seat.

Marshall Erb Design Inc.

34. Built-in version
The sofa by the window in the hallway interior can be part of a modular wall. Just consider the width of the window opening when choosing cabinets.

Delphine Guyart Design

35. Minimum set
It is not possible to place a full-fledged closet and bench in a narrow hallway. Use the window seat: a small chest of drawers and a bench will fit there.

Provenance Builders

36. Knowledge is Light
A sofa by the window in the interior of a home library is not a luxury, but a necessity. Consider lighting so that you can read not only in the light, but also in the dark.

Laura Hay DECOR & DESIGN Inc.

37. Between two walls
You can be inspired to create a nook by the window by the setting itself. For example, in this example, a cozy niche has formed between the bunk beds.

M.J. Whelan Construction

38. Rest from fitting
Happy owners of a dressing room should think about equipping a sofa by the window. Here you can relax from tedious fittings.

ANNA CARIN Design

39. Take a break from work
Even your office should have a place to relax. You can visually separate these zones using lighting.

Single | Odnushechka

40. Material approach
Window sill material is an important detail in the arrangement of a recreation area. Wood is warm and cozy, stone is durable.

41. Games for adults
The sofa by the window in the interior of the living room can become a continuation of the room: it can accommodate additional seats or a play area.

Dijeau Poage Construction

42. Sitting in the bathroom
Sometimes there is nowhere to sit in the bathroom. The way out is a banquette by the window, under which you can place boxes for toiletries and towels.

43. Wet work
The bathroom window seat should be placed away from the sink and splashes. Or, as in this example, choose a sink with a wide countertop.

Lee Kimball

44. In the bottom line
The sofa by the window in the interior of the bathroom should also be placed away from the shower. Or, if there is no choice, block the shower with glass.

Egon Walesch Interior Design

45. In the warmth
The close proximity of a stove or fireplace will make the couch by the window even more comfortable. And under it you can place a firewood.

Waterlily Interiors

46. By the fireplace
Warmth gives a person psychological (feeling of security) and physical (body relaxation) comfort. That's why a couch by the window near the fireplace is a winning option.

Claus + Pretzsch Architekten BDA

47. In the hallway
The seating area by the window in the hallway is an option for those who want privacy that is difficult to achieve in other rooms.

John Maniscalco Architecture

48. Walk-through option
The window in the stairway should also not be empty: this space is ideal for privacy and contemplative relaxation.

49. Above
It is possible to arrange a seating area near a window that is too high. A ladder and safety railing will help you with this.

Sophie Auscher

50. Two in one
And in this Parisian children's room, the space by the window was used wisely: there were lockers where you can lie down between games and classes.

Go to the next page

Kitchen Architecture Ltd

51. Instead of a window sill
It happens that the window sill is narrow and there is no place for a seating area. In this case, for example, cabinets from a kitchen set can become the basis for a window bench . ..

bulthaup Rennes - Espace et fonction

52. Simple calculation
… or a simple hanging wooden bench, as in this French house.

Dmitrii Tsyrenshchikov

53. DIY
A window opening that is not standard in size and shape can be supplemented with a handmade banquette, parts for which are sold in any hardware store or on the market.

Desatori

54. Transitional moment
In this Moscow apartment, the depth of the window sill was not enough, and it was simply removed. And the kitchen worktop “flows” onto the cabinets of the kitchen set, forming a sofa for relaxing by the window.

Tiffany Eastman Interiors, LLC

55. Food for ideas
Window space can become part of the dining room. A window sill sofa in the kitchen-dining room (as in the photo) will replace the sofa in the dining area and save space.

Joni Spear Interior Design

56. To be continued
Don't limit yourself to one bench along the window: combine several benches. And the problem of lack of seats will be solved.

vprostranstve

57. Crowded, but not offended
The owners of this St. Petersburg apartment have equipped a narrow window sill: there are additional seats here.

Angelina Askeri Interiors

58. Feel free to
In this apartment on Chistye Prudy, a dining room was set up right in the bay window. In such a small space, there was simply no place for a separate sofa, it was placed by the window.

HEYDT DESIGNS

59. Top of the corner
If the window bench is located at the junction of walls, then the negative energy of the corner, according to Feng Shui, must be leveled. For example, covering it with a curtain, a plant or a pillow.

See also ...