Nesting With Grace

by Brooke Christen

Banquettes and Window Seats: Cozy, Custom, and Creative

February 11, 2026

Banquettes and window seats are one of my favorite ways to add extra seating while making a space feel intentional and cozy. Over the years, we’ve created seating in several homes. Some DIY, some professionally built and each one brings its own charm and function.

Our Family Room Window Seat

We just had a window seat custom made, and it was the right choice for this space! The window is curved, and I knew it had the potential to become a generous window seat (bonus there are hidden drawers for storage). I previously had chairs in that spot, but it started to feel like too many furniture pieces competing for space (right now there are too many pillows, need something soft with no cushion). Swapping them out for a window seat simplified the room while actually creating more seating, not less! (Jesse was our contractor for the bench 801-602-3957)
Paint Kittiwake // Wool Rug // Marble Table // Swivel Chairs // Sofa //
Similar Black Cabinet // Similar Cream Cabinet

Once we have a cushion it will be the perfect solution for our puppies. They love watching the world go by, and the window seat gives them their own cozy lookout, without sacrificing (or ruining) the couch. I can’t wait to take a nap here!
Blue Gingham Pillow // Pink Gingham Pillow

We are going to have a custom window seat made for this spot. I want it really thick, 5-6″ like a sofa cushion. I have had cushions made from Etsy. Also saw Zip Cushions online. And of course a local source, which I have contacted a few for options, like The Sewing Nerd.

A Kitchen Banquette Seat With Cushion Made from a Rug (DIY)

For my sister’s kitchen banquette seat, we went the DIY route. They can easily fit 10 people here now! You can see a tutorial on how to build banquette seating here. It really is a project that anyone can do. We also DIY’d these banquette cushions, you can see how here.

I used a rug as the cushion fabric. It was such a practical choice for a high-traffic space like a kitchen. Rugs are durable, forgiving, and add great texture. This seat gets used daily for meals, homework, and everything in between. And the rug has held up beautifully! Vintage Rug // Table // Similar Chairs // Chandelier

Banquettes definitely add value to a home and even if they don’t increase the price, they create an emotional response because of their uniqueness. I’m obviously team banquette! They’re cozy, practical, and instantly make a space feel special.

Supplies for Seat Cushion
*Plywood cut to size
*4″ memory foam
*A quilt, thick fabric, or even a rug
*Staple gun + staples
*Scissors
Steps for Seat Cushion
*Cut the plywood and memory foam to fit your banquette or window seat.
*Lay the quilt, fabric, or rug flat on the floor, right side down.
*Place the memory foam on top, then center the plywood.
*Pull the fabric tightly around the foam and plywood, stapling to the underside as you go.
*Keep corners neat, flip it over, and place it on your seat.

A Little Girl’s Window Seat Made from a Quilt (DIY)

For a friend’s daughter, we created a window seat cushion using a quilt. This was a simple DIY project and easily one of the sweetest spaces. The quilt made the seat soft and nostalgic, instantly turning the window into a cozy reading nook. Room Details Here

It’s a great example of how meaningful textiles can be repurposed into something both useful and special. Sconce // light and dark blue pillows // 4″ memory foam
// Blue velvet curtain // Ottoman // Black mirror // Quilt for Cushion cover

Custom Seating with Pre-Made Cushions

Removable Wallpaper Peel and stick Wallpaper Lemon Wallpaper affordable wallpaper — In our Connecticut home, Kevin built this banquette-style window seat for the space, and then I purchased pre-made cushions that fit perfectly. This approach gave us the best of both worlds: the seat was built to maximize space and function, while the cushions were ready-to-use, comfortable, and easy to replace if needed. It’s a great solution when you want a polished, built-in look without committing to fully custom upholstery.

Cushions Here

Window Seats for My Girls’ Bedrooms (Custom Made)

For my girls’ bedrooms, I chose to have the window seat cushions professionally made. I wanted fabrics that reflected their personalities and fit their rooms perfectly. Having them made ensured the right thickness, fit, and finish because it’s something that really matters in spaces that get daily use. (Lola’s Bedroom Sources)

Originally the custom cushions cost about $600 in labor including the 4″ cushion and the plain white fabric (Made The Sewing Nerd). A couple years later I had someone local add the tufting to the new black fabric (I wanted a French mattress cushion look, which I wanted originally but didn’t communicate it, I had Ina’s Workshop do this. Make sure to show a photo of what you want.)
Bench cushion is 22″ deep x 80″ long, required 5 yards per cushion
Ella’s room // Fabric for Cushion // Curtain panels // Gold curtain rod // Ella’s Room

Share this post:

PRIVACY