There is nothing quite like curling up on a comfy window seat with a cup of tea and a good book, watching the world go by or just admiring your handiwork in the garden, especially if it is a cold but sunny day outside; the heat through the glass warms you right through.
I have lost count of the number of clients who have told me that they have always wanted a window seat but never have had a home with the right window. The idea gives us a warm and fuzzy feeling and a sense of comfort.
For some reason we often only associate them with bay windows but with a bit of ingenuity they can be created in many unused or awkward spaces in almost any style of home.
A really modern window is equally at home with a window seat – keeping to a neutral palette allows the stunning view to be the main feature whilst the seat cushion and scatters add a softness to an otherwise quite stark area.
Window seats can serve a multitude of purposes. If you are tight on space in a kitchen, it can act as a bench seat down one side of the table giving you extra seating without taking up too much room.
It is important, however, to make it comfortable and that is down to the thickness and type of cushion filling. It is also important to make sure that the seat is not too narrow from front to back so that you are not left perching rather than sitting comfortably.
Before you work out the dimensions, if you intend to build a structure to form the base take a family survey as to the ideal height, not forgetting that you will sink down slightly into the cushion. There is nothing worse than being higher than the rest of the gathering at the table or trying to sit comfortably with your legs dangling off the floor.
Equally, if the seat is too high you may not be able to get your knees under the table. Careful research at this stage is critical.
Window seats can provide useful storage when fitted with a hinged top, drawers, shelves or baskets. We have even created one with a dog bed beneath and a drawer for dog toys and leads.
In a hall or utility room the addition of a practical thin cushion – and a beautiful selection of scatter cushions – can make a utilitarian space into a really welcoming area that still contains all the family clutter.
Dead space in any room is the perfect opportunity to add comfort, extra seating, storage, a splash of pattern or colour or even an extra bed.
A little used area in an attic space can have a built-in wooden platform as a base and a foam or even a traditional mattress for comfort if space allows. Fitted shelves and a small, padded headboard attached to the wall complete the picture with curtains dividing off the area so that the rest of this ‘studio’ room can be used for everyday living.
In a much more modern setting, a narrow sill on an otherwise empty landing was built forwards to accommodate a cushion in a really fabulous tapestry fabric by Lelievre. The colour and design work well with the simplicity of its surroundings and give a comfortable place to pause and look out at the amazing view.
We often think of window seats in bays as shaped with angles, but in this lovely small terrace by adding more depth to the whole seat and taking up the whole of the bay area it gives more practical seating and adds softness when using traditional style solid shutters at the window. The vents on the front allow the heat from the radiator beneath to escape into the room.
In an ancient cottage with small windows, adding a window seat to a sill that is within the depth of the thick stone walls adds a lovely element of colour, as well as a useful seating area.
By fitting a pole well above the window reveal and the curtains hanging past each side, the window area makes much more of a statement and adds presence and height to the room.
To give a much more open look to your seating, an almost shelf-like effect can be created using some really beautiful wood. To save money, the base can be made of thick MDF with a strip of decorative wood along the front edge.
Pattresses or wooden blocks fitted securely to the wall act as a base to fix some metal brackets for strength, as well as looks, in this colonial style kitchen.
Horizontal strips of wood screwed to the wall just below the sill can have sticky hook Velcro attached (always add a few staples for extra strength as in a warm room the adhesive can become detached). Don’t attempt to attach the Velcro direct to the plaster wall.
Strips of loop Velcro machined onto the back cushion during the making-up process will provide the support to keep the cushion in place.
What should be used inside the cushion? Feather, or down and feather, is the most luxurious filling but it will need frequent plumping and shaking if you like it to look reasonably tidy.
Our favourite for both visual and practical purposes is a combination of foam with a dacron wadding wrapped around it and completed with a stockinette cover to keep everything in place. This gives a slightly rounded look to your cushion rather than a very unfriendly and uninviting box like appearance.
Foam is available in several grades and densities. If possible, buy the best grade you can afford if the cushion is to be used frequently. A premier grade foam can be expected to last nine-ten years with normal use, a medium grade about five years. Within these grades you have soft, medium and firm densities.
Most domestic seats, like those found on sofas and armchairs, will use medium density seat foam. This offers the right level of comfort when used for seat pads that are quite thick. If the seat is to be used very regularly, such as a dining bench seat for instance, you may prefer to use a firmer weight.
It is definitely worth investing in the higher-grade version if the seat is used every day.
Zip by the metre (long lengths) can be used to allow for easy removal of the cover – priceless where young children are using the seats, especially for dining.
A French-style box cushion can give a more relaxed feel but can’t be removed for washing; if an outdoor fabric is used it could be scrubbed as a whole cushion.
If you want to make a real feature of an area and create a sofa-like feel with lots of storage, this room has it all. The seat has again been built forwards with bespoke made drawers beneath, which is ideal in a bedroom for storage of a winter duvet or shoes.
The bright orange colour has been used to emphasise the window and has a comfortable seat cushion to match. Lighting adds the final touch of luxury and drama.
Lastly, if you still like the thought of sitting in front of a window but don’t have budget to have something built in, try second hand shops for an inexpensive piece of furniture such as a long bench of the right proportions.
With the aid of a staple gun, a remnant of fabric, a piece of braid and perhaps some replacement foam you can still get that look, and the beauty of this is that it can be taken with you if you move house. Thought there was only one type of window seat and that isn’t for you? Think again and make the most of that space.
Maureen Whitemore owns Whitemore & Thwaytes Interiors on Lowther Street in Penrith and she is a Fellow of the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers. Her website is whitemoreandthwaytes.co.uk.
