Photography: Jonathan Cohen
Perfectly positioned for daydreaming, sun ray soaking, pondering and reading, the window seat is the ultimate cosy space. Whether it’s tucked within a home library, living space, bedroom or dining area, the stylish but practical window seat adds bucket loads of charm to any home, as well as potential added storage.
While some homes, particularly period residences with beautiful bay windows, are better suited to a window seat addition than others, you can always craft your own by adding a storage cabinet or a bench seat. If your window is not quite the right height, simply add a skirt to your bench seat to create the illusion of a built-in look. Essentially, there’s no reason why you can’t have a window seat in your own home, too!
If you also dream of reading books while cosied up by a window, consider recreating these 18 stylish window seat and reading nook ideas found in the pages of Country Style.
18 cosy, country-style window seat ideas
Stained glass window
In this restored coach house in the Adelaide Hills, a long window seat finished with quaint skirting, a striped cushion, and touches of stained glass invites you to while away the day, gazing out at the leafy views or playing a game of chess.
Cosy alcove-meets-wood storage
In this renovated coastal cottage on the Mid North Coast of NSW, the neutral-toned living area offers plenty of space to relax, including a sunny window seat with cushions that match the Jardan Leila modular sofa. The window nook also doubles as storage for firewood, and is perfectly positioned beside the wood-burning heater.
Marvellous mint
Doused in Dulux Bryophyte, the minty-green dining room of Hazel House is a fun and feminine splash of colour. A banquette seat encloses the space, giving it a real European-style restaurant feel, while offering a great space to cosy up with a book.
Bold blue home library
In the same coastal cottage, a bold blue library offers the chance to cosy up and escape from the world. Dulux Harpoon sets the mood and contrasts nicely against the yellow cushions on the window seat.
Bay window
Perched overlooking rolling hills and the high street below, this bay window seat within a Federation-style home in Launceston is the ultimate cosy corner. Decorated with cushions and neutral-toned throws, this seat looks like the perfect place to read a book or take a cat nap.
Library nook
A window seat, library corner and TV unit all in one, this clever bespoke cabinetry makes the most of this cute corner within a family’s rural refuge in the Southern Highlands.
Wall sconce
This snug window seat within an office-turned-cosy country home in Port Stephens offers a quiet spot to sit and take in the serene views. In the evenings, night owls can enjoy curling up with a good book beneath the light of a gold wall sconce.
Neutral tones
A calming palette of Dulux Stowe White, linen and timber features in the dining room of Lawsons Estate, a historic farm just outside of Bathurst. Decorated with neutral-toned cushions and a fluffy throw, the window seat looks like a nice place to perch and bask in the sun.
Farmhouse window
In this farm wedding venue, Essington Park, white-washed interiors highlight the home’s rustic styling and original details, including this stained glass window that sits above a small bench seat.
Gingham dining corner
Positioned overlooking the bay, this gingham-clad window seat-slash-dining corner in Blackbird Cottage looks to be the perfect place to enjoy a morning cuppa. A rattan pendant light and rattan chairs add to the rustic feel of the space.
Concrete bench
Country meets contemporary at The Barn at Rangeview, as seen in this stylish dining space where a concrete window bench provides the perfect place to sit and take in the calming vistas.
Floral curtains
This charming Southern Highlands home embraces the classic country look with plenty of floral print, including in this small window nook.
Photography: Marnie Hawson
Coastal style
Botanical prints and some linen cushions add to the laid-back, coastal feel of this beautiful seaside cottage in Tasmania.
Dark and moody
This moody, colour-drenched window nook perfectly fits in with the style of this Tasmania post office-turned-stay. Curtain & Blind Creations in Somerset created the window seat upholstery and padding, which are styled with a hide, a rug from Facebook Marketplace and an antique lamp.
Striped cushions
In this Mt Tamborine farmhouse inspired by the French countryside, a pretty bay window seat decked out in striped and botanical print cushions looks out to a lush back garden.
Cosy corner
Overlooking grazing cows, this window seat at farm stay, Milk Haus, beckons to long mornings spent with a cup of coffee in hand.
Tudor style
Dark and moody, this Tudor-inspired homestead in the Yarra Valley transports you to a bygone era with its dark timber panelling and antique decor. A built-in window seat makes the most of the home’s leafy views.
Bench seat
At Foxlow House, a renovated farmstay on the Molonglo River, a neutral colour palette creates a sense of calm, while cosy lounging spots – including this built-in bench seat – beckon guests to put their feet up.
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