I’m not sure exactly when my affinity for window seats began, but I can remember loving them even as a little girl. In college, I begged my dad to drive up 5 hours from Virginia to Philadelphia to build a window seat for my college dorm room. We drove all over the city looking for the perfect piece of wood from the lumber yard. My dad built me a small window seat-ledge that could easily be removed at the end of the year, and I adored that little nook! Now as an adult, my love for window seats still glows strong. I’m currently contemplating adding one to our kitchen bay area and have been gathering some design inspiration. Here are 25 kitchen window seat ideas for you with my design observations and a few links at the end foe do-it-yourself window seat tutorials.
Straight Window Seat Ideas
Building a window seat or banquette across a straight wall is a bit simpler than constructing one in a bay window. For do-it-yourself options, consider using pre-made wall cabinets from a big box store. The cabinets give you instant built-in storage and can be painted to match surrounding furnishings.
Image via Huffington Post, Sarah Richardson
Image and design by JS Interiors.
Image via BHG.
Get Creative in Carving Out a Kitchen Window Seat
The kitchen is the gathering center in every home. Don’t believe me? At your next party, pay attention to where everyone naturally congregates right as they enter your home. Chances are good your guests will all gravitate around the kitchen island, chatting or pulling up a chair at the bar or kitchen table. Window seats expand your seating area, making them perfect additions to the kitchen. I love how the following window seats were carved out of spaces that would otherwise be wasted.
Build a Banquette Around the Bay
Image via BHG.
Build a Kitchen Window Seat Straight Across a Bay
Instead of hugging the corners of the bay or bow window, another option is to build your seat straight across the window. This allows for more curl-up-and-read-a-book space but may decrease the number of seats offered. I’m actually leaning more towards this option for my own space because it seems easier to build and I like the idea of curling up with a book in my breakfast nook!
Do It Yourself Window Seat Inspiration
If you are considering building your own window seat, you don’t have to forge ahead completely on your own! Thanks to DIY bloggers, there are several great tutorials to help give you a head start on your project. Here are some of the tutorials I found the most helpful:
The beach style dining room is simply amazing. 🙂 Really want a rounded table and bench like those.
This is a great post!!! I Love all of these!!! I want to add a kitchen window seat to our bay this year so these are great inspo. 25 Kitchen window seat ideas. A dream of mine for years finally come true!! Thanks for the post.
Great designs, they look amazing. I would love to have a similar one in my house. I have recently got a bay window installed. I need to buy suitable curtains for them and then get the window seats ready. And after that I want to convert the space to my reading area. Thanks for sharing the blog 🙂
I love this collection Beth! There is something about a window seat isn’t there! Pinned!