A Reading by RosaWindow Seat Cushions
Measuring a dusty mauve velvet window seat cushion for a child's reading corner
The questions came first, the way they always do at our kitchen table. Then I sat down with this little window box and measured it the way I'd want a parent to measure theirs.
SaveThe quick answer
To measure a window seat cushion for a child's reading nook, measure the box itself, not the old cushion: width at the back, width again at the front, depth from the front edge to the wall or trim, and both diagonals in an older house. Note any trim that overhangs the seat, and choose a firm cushion children can climb onto.
Before the reading: backs, bundled quotes and true color
- A common question
What happens if the back cushions turn out too low once they arrive?
The workshop's answerThe workshop couldn't estimate return shipping, but it offered a simpler fix: add extra cushion pieces to raise the back if it feels too low.
- A common question
Can you quote window seat cushions for several rooms at once, or should I start with one room?
The workshop's answerEither works. Six custom window cushions for three rooms were quoted as one total, shipping included. When that buyer chose to start with one room, the first two cushions, each 78 x 26.5 in (198 x 67 cm), were ordered on their own.
- A common question
Before I order, can I see what this velvet color really looks like?
The workshop's answerYes. The workshop sends a close-up photo of the actual fabric, because screens shift color. It can also photograph it in different light or next to another fabric, and physical samples are sold through the fabric-samples listing.
Now, the reading
A window that wept every winter
A buyer messaged the workshop about a window seat under single-glazed glass. Every winter the condensation ran down the pane and soaked into the seat, and the old cushion had grown mildew.
The workshop suggested velvet or, better still, its soft-fabric range, because both clean easily. But it said plainly that neither one is waterproof, and the moisture has to be wiped off the glass and the sill regularly. The buyer also asked for matching bolsters, which are quoted from three numbers: diameter, length and how many.
I tell every parent with an old window the same thing: no indoor fabric beats constant damp. Fix the drip first, then pick the velvet.
The lesson: No indoor fabric beats constant damp; manage condensation and choose an easy-wipe fabric.
Pinned by Rosa: a reading perch at kid height
Five pins, from the off-white welt on the box edge to the round lilac rug under small feet.
- Off-white piping
Piping matched to the painted box and book rack keeps the corner cohesive.
- Dusty mauve velvet
A grown-up pink that will still suit the room in a few years.
- Picture-book rack
Books within arm's reach are what make a window seat get used.
- Round lilac rug
The round rug repeats the cushion color and softens the boards.
- Framed nursery print
A small illustration sets the child's scale of the corner.
- Off-white pipingPiping matched to the painted box and book rack keeps the corner cohesive.
- Dusty mauve velvetA grown-up pink that will still suit the room in a few years.
- Picture-book rackBooks within arm's reach are what make a window seat get used.
- Round lilac rugThe round rug repeats the cushion color and softens the boards.
- Framed nursery printA small illustration sets the child's scale of the corner.
How I'd measure this exact window box
Width at the back
Tape against the wall, end panel to end panel. Write it down before you do anything else, and measure the box, never the old cushion.
Width at the front
Measure again along the front edge. Old houses lean, and if the two numbers differ the cushion is really a trapezoid, so order it that way.
Depth to the right stop
From the front edge back to the wall or window trim. Trim that overhangs the seat gets a notch, and it goes on your drawing; see notched cushions.
Both diagonals
Corner to corner, both ways. Matching numbers mean a square box. If they differ, send both and let the workshop draw it before anything is cut.
The sit test
Have your child sit on the bare box. On a seat this high, a firm, moderately thick cushion is a step they can climb, not a ledge they slide off. Our window seat thickness Pattern helps you choose.
Mauve, off-white and a rug in the same color
Dusty mauve is a grown-up pink. It is soft enough for a nursery and muted enough to still suit the room when picture books give way to chapter books. The off-white piping matches the painted box and the front-facing book rack, so the whole corner reads as one piece of carpentry.
The round lilac rug repeats the cushion color on the old pine floorboards, a trick I'd steal for any room. The picture books sit within arm's reach, and that, more than any cushion, is what gets a window seat used. A small framed illustration hangs at a child's eye level, and linen curtains soften the sash window and its rooftop view.
How tall is the reader who will be climbing up there? Measure them too. More ideas live among our window seat cushions, the velvet swatches, kids room cushions and the sketch on kids and classroom reading corners.
On the cutting table
| Cushion | Window seat cushion for a painted window box |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Dusty mauve velvet |
| Piping | Off-white contrast, matched to the painted box |
| Edge | Box edge |
| Firmness | Firm and moderately thick, for climbing on |
| Measure | Back width, front width, depth to trim, both diagonals |
| Watch for | Winter condensation on single-glazed glass |
| Best for | Kids' reading corners and bedroom window boxes |
Have it made
Have this made — ask Rosa’s workshop
Swings sway, rockers rock, dogs circle three times. Tell the workshop what your seat goes through, and they will plan for it. — 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 box at the back and again at the front; in an old house the two widths often differ, and the cushion has to follow both.
Rosa
Questions buyers ask next
Should a kids' window seat cushion be soft or firm?
Firm. On a high window box, a firm, moderately thick cushion gives children a stable step to climb onto and a flat seat to read on. A soft cushion sinks at the front edge, which is exactly where small knees land.
Is velvet a good choice for a child's window seat?
It can be. Velvet is soft under bare legs, and a zippered velvet cover comes off to wash at 86°F (30°C) or lower. Choose a muted shade like dusty mauve so it still suits the room as the child grows.
What if the window trim overhangs the seat?
Measure how far it sticks out and how wide it is, and mark both on your drawing. The workshop can cut a notch so the cushion sits flat under the trim instead of pushing up against it.
Can I order matching bolsters for a window seat?
Yes. Bolsters are quoted from three numbers: diameter, length and quantity. Check the seat depth first, so a bolster at each end leaves enough room for a child to sit cross-legged.
Porch light's on — Rosa
More photographs to read
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
