6+ Window Seat Ideas for a Cozy, Inviting Space
Window seats are a beautiful and functional architectural element that can transform your room by turning unused space into a cozy seating area. Since these design elements are always in front of a window, it’s important to think about not only the bench’s design as you consider window seat ideas, but also your window design for a unified aesthetic. The right custom window treatments can complete your space by giving it a curated look that complements your custom bench. Plus, they’ll help with light control and privacy when you need it. Explore various modern window seat ideas featuring different applications, design styles and window treatments to inspire your project.
Cover Photo: Waterfall Woven Wood Shades, Artisan Weaves Marina in Vapor and Inner Layer: Roller Shades, Naomi in Seashell
What Are Window Seats?
Before diving into modern window seat ideas, it’s important to understand what these design elements are and the different types you’ll encounter. Window seats can be either built-in structures or temporary, modular solutions like benches and chairs placed in front of a window.
Built-In Window Seat
A built-in window seat is a custom-designed structure integrated into your room’s architecture, often featuring additional storage options beneath the seating area.
Pictured: Ripple Fold Drapery, The Novogratz Family of Cranes in Waverly Blue and Inner Layer: Roller Shades, Ava in Birchwood, design by Erin Fetherston
Temporary Window Seat
A temporary window seat involves placing a bench, chair or loveseat in front of a window, offering flexibility and modular ease without any permanent changes.
Pictured: Roller Shades, Grassweave in Silver, photography by John Bessler
Benefits of Window Seats
Window seats offer several improvements to the look and functionality of your room. Benefits include:
- Beautiful architectural element: Adds design dimension to your space.
- Improves functionality: Transforms unused space into a useful seating area, often with added storage.
- Provides versatile uses: Perfect for reading nooks, breakfast spots, entryway benches and more.
- Showcases your personal design touch: Gives you another opportunity to display your unique interior design style.
- Lets you enjoy the view: Allows you clear views through your window.
Explore Window Seat Ideas
Now that you know what window seats are and their benefits, dive into curated window seat ideas. These ideas range in terms of bench design, window treatment options, aesthetic style and more.
1. Embrace a Simple, Modern Design in an Eat-In Kitchen
For simple, modern window seat ideas, bring a pop of color to your kitchen with a mustard yellow upholstered window seat. Keep the rest of your space neutral to allow the bench to be the focal point with white throw pillows and décor. Choose a simple window treatment design, like Flat Roman Shades in a neutral color, but consider a textured fabric, like Tangier Weave in Blanco, to add a subtle touch of visual interest.
get the Look
Flat Roman Shade
A simple Roman Shade style with clean, crisp folds and an unadorned face for lots of design versatility to suit your aesthetic style.
Martyn Lawrence Bullard Tangier Weave, Blanco
A fresh, highly textured basketweave design, inspired by the artisans of Tangier, this fabric delivers lots of visual interest.
2. Create a Cottage-Inspired Breakfast Nook
Embrace a cozy, cottage-inspired look with window seat ideas that include pastel colors, woven wood textures and flowery designs. Frame your corner window and blue-and-white striped window seat with warm off-white drapery, like Luxe Linen in Oyster for a soft, inviting look. Add blue trim, like Sakiori Embroidered in Porcelain to your drapery to tie into your bench design. For added woven texture that complements woven furniture, choose woven shades made of a warm, golden woven fabric like Bryce in Sand. Complete the look with blue and white porcelain tea set on a simple white round table.
GET THE LOOK: DRAPERY
Tailored Pleat
Drapery
With three-fingered pleats pinched at the very top of the panel, Tailored Pleat Drapery offers a contemporary, streamlined look.
Luxe Linen,
Oyster
A heavyweight 100% linen masterfully woven for a lush, soft feel and textured look—as well as exceptional durability for beauty that lasts.
Samuel & Sons Trim, Sakiori Embroidered, Porcelain
Satin hexagonal shapes embroidered over a textured linen background offer a versatile pattern to add dimension to your design.
GET THE LOOK: WOVEN WOOD SHADE
Waterfall Woven Wood Shade
Similar in design to a Flat Roman Shade, Waterfall Woven Wood Shades feature clean, crisp folds of woven fibers like bamboo, reeds and grasses for modern organic look.
Bryce, Sand
A paper-based weave with a textured, woven look and feel, Bryce in Sand delivers a natural golden hue and the material beautifully filters light creating a warm glow.
3. Use a Loveseat to Make an Inviting Sitting Area
Prefer not to install a built-in window seat? Explore modern window seat ideas that use temporary, modular seating, like a loveseat in a cozy alcove. Choose a dark green upholstered loveseat to ground the bright, sunny alcove and add plush throw pillows in complementary rust-orange and salmon colors and patterns. For your windows, choose Relaxed Roman Shades for a charming aesthetic in a light-filtering fabric like Sheer Wool Blend in Cloud to keep the space bright while still softening the light.
GET THE LOOK
Relaxed Roman Shades
With a soft smiling curve of fabric folds at the bottom, Relaxed Roman Shades offer a casual, charming aesthetic.
sheer wool blend, Cloud
A delicate, soft sheer made from a linen-wool blend, that beautifully filters light for a glow that warms your space.
4. Add Comfort to Your Walk-in Closet
Have a window seat or adding one to a walk-in closet? Add a sense of comfort as well as more storage with built-in modern window seat ideas for drawers underneath the seat. Woven storage drawers give your window seat design more texture and a warm wood color. Choose throw pillows with textured and patterned designs in neutral colors for a touch of design dimension and more visual interest. For your window treatment, choose a woven shade in a light sandy color, like Monterey in Seashell for additional warmth and texture, as well as softened light and privacy.
GET THE LOOK
Waterfall Woven Wood Shade
Similar in design to a Flat Roman Shade, Waterfall Woven Wood Shades feature clean, crisp folds of woven fibers like bamboo, reeds and grasses for modern organic look.
Artisan Weaves Monterey, Seashell
Made with 100% natural woven fibers, Monterey features a repeating braid motif that adds a rustic touch to your interior and the Seashell color is light, warm and inviting.
5. Increase Storage & Create Cozy Comfort in Your Bedroom
In a bedroom, cultivating a sense of coziness and relaxation is essential, but storage space can be at a premium, especially in smaller bedrooms. That’s where window seat ideas with built-in storage can be a great solution. They give you an additional spot for relaxation while you watch the sun rise and they can provide ample storage in the drawers beneath the seat. For an extra cozy bench, choose thick upholstery in a warm sandy color and layer on the throw pillows in complementary colors and patterns. Choose a Flat Roman Shade for your window made with a woven material that matches your sandy-colored upholstery, like Grassweave in Hemp. Add privacy lining to your shade for additional privacy and light control.
GET THE LOOK
Flat Roman Shade
A simple Roman Shade style with clean, crisp folds and an unadorned face for lots of design versatility to suit your aesthetic style.
Grassweave, Hemp
Made from a paper-based woven fabric, Grasswave offers a beautiful soft texture and Hemp is a naturally warm, versatile beige color.
6. Let in the Light with Solar Shades in a Breakfast Nook
For a sunny corner breakfast nook, opt for modern window seat ideas that keep your sunny space bright. Use Solar Shades to do just that: They’re unique material allows light through while softening glare and providing some privacy. With a wood-toned color scheme, choose a warm, textured Solar Shade material, like Solistico in Oatmeal to blend into the golden wood furniture and flooring. To add color and comfort to your window seat, choose throw pillows with lots of colors. A round beige table with wood chairs can complete the look and give your breakfast nook more seating.
GET THE LOOK
Solar Shades
A type of Roller Shade made with unique material that blocks UV rays while letting light through, Solar Shades keep your space bright while reducing glare and preventing fading.
Sunbrella 1% Solistico, Oatmeal
An open weave material with both visual and tactile texture, Solistico naturally adds depth and dimension to your space. 1% means 99% of UV rays are blocked while providing good privacy.
Curate Your Window Seat with Custom Pillows
Pillows are a common theme throughout modern window seat ideas. They add not only comfort, but design dimension with their plush shape, fabric color and texture and any additional trims or tapes. Custom pillows can be made to match specific elements of your design, including your window treatments, for a totally curated aesthetic. Explore your custom pillow options to round out your window seat design.
Square Pillows
A classic throw pillow shape that adds simple comfort and design to your window seat. Available in 400+ materials and several trim styles including knife edge, piping, fringe and tape.
Rectangular Pillows
Add lumbar support and a horizontal linear element to your window seat with rectangular pillows. Available in 400+ materials and several trim styles including knife edge, piping, fringe and tape.
Bolster Pillows
Give your window seat an elegant accent with a bolster pillow, featuring a refined, rounded shape for the perfect finishing touch. Available in 400+ materials and two trim styles, knife edge and piping.
Start Window Seat Design with window treatments
With lots of window seat ideas to spark your creativity, you’re ready to start putting the design pieces together to create your unique aesthetic. Visit The Shade Store showroom near you to further explore your custom window treatment and pillow options in more depth. With interactive product installations, display pillows and rows of swatch drawers, you can find everything you need for your window treatment and pillow design. Plus, you’ll meet expert Design Consultants who can discuss your project in more detail and offer guidance as needed to take your design in the right direction.
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