A Reading by RosaWindow Seat Cushions
A denim corduroy window seat cushion in a terracotta study, and how to measure one like it
A blue corduroy seat in a flowerpot-colored study, a desk at arm's reach and a storage lid that still has to open. I wrote this one as a letter, because measuring goes better with somebody beside you.
SaveThe quick answer
To measure a window seat cushion, take the width wall to wall at the back, middle and front, the depth from the wall to the front edge, and the height from the seat to the sill. On a storage seat like this denim corduroy one, check that the lid still lifts with the cushion on it, and letter each side on a sketch if an end is angled.
Savannah ·
Dear neighbor,
A letter from the porch about one blue window seat
Most window seats are not quite the size their owners think. The tape measure teaches me that again every week.
This one sits in a small study painted the color of a flowerpot. The window seat cushion is denim-blue corduroy with self piping and a box edge, running wall to wall across a cream paneled storage base. Blue and terracotta sit across from each other on the color wheel, so the seat stands out without a lick of pattern, and the cream paneling repeats the window frame so the pairing never turns heavy.
Every prop has a job. The brass lamp is the go-between, warm like the wall and bright like the daylight on the blue. The oak bureau with its open notebook sits within arm's reach, so this seat gets used for reading and phone calls. The cane bentwood chair lets light through beside all that paneling. The seagrass basket holds magazines so the top stays clear, and a succulent in a terracotta pot carries the wall color onto the sill.
What I'd copy is the distance: a reading seat within reach of the desk you already use. How far is your window from where you work?
Now, the part folks get wrong. A storage seat has a lid, a sill above it and end walls that are rarely square. So pull up a chair. More seats like this live in window seat cushions, and the cloth belongs to the corduroy family.
Five measurements for a storage window seat, in order
Width at three depths
Wall to wall along the back, through the middle and at the front edge. Old walls lean, so send all three numbers.
Depth to the true front
From the wall or window trim to the front edge of the lid. If there is a lip, say whether the cushion stops inside it or runs over it.
Anything that pokes in
Casing, an overhanging sill, a post. Mark each on a sketch; notches for casings and posts shows how.
Room for the lid
The cushion rides on the lid. If the lid hits the window trim before it opens far enough, go thinner; see cushions on hinged storage lids.
Thickness against the sill
Measure seat top to sill so the cushion doesn't swallow the ledge, then check the finished height with the seat height calculator.
Pinned by Rosa: five things around a desk-side seat
Five pins, from blue against terracotta to the magazine basket that keeps the seat clear.
- Blue on terracotta
Blue and terracotta sit opposite on the color wheel, so the cushion pops without pattern.
- Brass desk lamp
Brass bridges the warm wall and the cool cushion.
- Open notebook
The desk is within arm's reach, so the seat gets used for reading and calls.
- Cane bentwood chair
Cane adds a light, airy texture next to the solid paneled base.
- Magazine basket
Reading material stored at the end of the seat keeps the top clear.
- Blue on terracottaBlue and terracotta sit opposite on the color wheel, so the cushion pops without pattern.
- Brass desk lampBrass bridges the warm wall and the cool cushion.
- Open notebookThe desk is within arm's reach, so the seat gets used for reading and calls.
- Cane bentwood chairCane adds a light, airy texture next to the solid paneled base.
- Magazine basketReading material stored at the end of the seat keeps the top clear.
The kitchen bench that wanted a sofa back
A buyer got in touch about a kitchen island bench, 70¾ x 17¾ in (1800 x 450 mm), which is about 70 7/8 x 17 3/4 in (180 x 45 cm). They wanted a seat cushion and a backrest, and asked whether both would use the same foam.
They wouldn't. The seat is firm 32-density foam (32 kg/m³, about 2 lb/ft³); the backrest is shredded foam, softer to lean against. Pricing goes by size range, the backrest is ordered separately with 'backrest' written in the note, and samples of up to 5 fabric codes came first.
Firm under you and soft behind you is how a bench starts to feel like a sofa; shredded foam versus wedge backs explains why.
Buyer questions: washing, angled ends and one very long seat
- A common question
Do the window seat covers come off, and can they go in the washing machine?
The workshop's answerYes. Every cover comes off with a zipper that sits on the underside, where nobody sees it, and it machine washes at 86°F (30°C) on a delicate cycle, whichever fabric you choose.
- A common question
My bench has angled ends. What measurements do you need for a trapezoid cushion?
The workshop's answerLetter every side on a sketch, A through E (and F if needed), and add the depth, for example C 68 in (173 cm), D 34 in (86 cm) and 22 in (56 cm) deep in the middle. Pick the nearest size range, such as 22 x 68 in, place the order, then send the lettered drawing so the workshop can confirm before cutting. Standard thickness is 4 in (10 cm).
- A common question
My window seat is really long. Can the cushion be one piece instead of two?
The workshop's answerYes, one piece is always an option. The workshop has made single cushions at 82 in (208 cm), 104 in (264 cm), 111.5 in (283 cm) and 118 in (3 m). For very long runs it sometimes suggests two pieces, such as two of 59 in (1.5 m), because they are easier to handle and ship.
On the cutting table: the terracotta study seat
| Product | Window seat cushion, rectangle, wall to wall |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Denim-blue corduroy |
| Edge | Box edge |
| Piping | Self piping in the same corduroy |
| Base | Cream paneled storage window seat |
| Measure | Width at back, middle and front; depth to the lid's front edge; seat to sill |
| Cover | Zipper on the underside; machine wash 86°F (30°C), delicate cycle |
| Long seats | One piece possible, even at 104 in (264 cm) |
| Best for | Home offices, studies and reading nooks beside a desk |
Have it made
Have this made — ask Rosa’s workshop
Every good cushion I know started with a long porch chat. This is the short version: leave your number and the workshop will call. — Rosa
Leave your details and the workshop will call you to confirm measurements, fabric, foam and piping. No prices, dates or payment on this page: it is a request, not an order.
Measure a window seat wall to wall at the back, the middle and the front edge, and send all three numbers; old walls are rarely square.
Rosa
Questions buyers ask next
Why does a blue cushion work against terracotta walls?
Blue and terracotta sit opposite each other on the color wheel, so each makes the other look richer. A solid blue cushion stands out without any pattern, and cream trim or paneling between the two keeps the pairing from feeling heavy.
Can I add a backrest to my window seat cushion later?
Yes. A backrest is ordered separately, with the word backrest written in the order note. It is filled with shredded foam, softer than the firm 32-density seat foam, so the seat keeps its shape while the back gives a little.
How close should a reading seat be to a desk?
Close enough to reach from your desk chair. A window seat within arm's reach of the desk becomes a second place to read or take calls; tucked away across the room, it tends to collect laundry and mail instead.
Porch light's on — Rosa
