Although natural light floods this wooden bench window seat, this designer added two farmhouse black sconce lights to the sides of the built-in bookshelves framing the bench to add evening light. The farmhouse pillows, tufted cushion, and sconce lighting make this perfect for a reading nook.
29 Cozy Modern Window Seat Ideas for Any Room
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Published: April 15, 2023
Updated: November 25, 2023
If you’re lucky enough to have a large bay window in your home, we hope you are making use of it. These little design features are not super common in homes anymore, but they can make such a cozy spot for reading and relaxing.
If you don’t have a bay window already framed in, maybe just a really nice sunny window that you’d love to make use of, you can take notes from some of the designers included in our window seat decor collection below. They got creative with storage shelves, wood benches, and built-ins with bookshelves to create cozy lounge spaces. Add some soft upholstered cushions, accent pillows, throws, and supplemental lighting to get the perfect reading or breakfast nook to enjoy coffee, snacks, or your favorite read. For a modernized look, go for neutral colors, and keep the clutter and décor to a minimum for a clean feel.
Let’s take a look at how these different modern window seat ideas turned out below. You might see something that inspires you to install or renovate one of your own.
02 of Makeshift Window Seating Ideas With a Storage Shelf
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This designer cleverly used a white wood storage cubby to create a window seat with playful polka-dot cushions in a colorful nursery. The woven storage bins in the cubby are perfect for toys and books, and a cozy sheepskin runner along the floor adds a modern look.
03 of Modern Farmhouse Window Seat for a Small Space
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A small window with burlap drapes and a black sconce light installed overhead is accented with a white built-in seating bench with board and batten framing and a set of neutral farmhouse decorative pillows. A woven tray with spring foliage is set on top of the bench.
04 of Easy Modern Window Seat Layout Ideas
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A beige upholstered bench cushion is placed over a built-in white window seat with two neutral farmhouse accent pillows. A large paneled window with a burlap drape looks out over the open green space outside. A modern gray sofa set is positioned near the window seat.
05 of Built-in Bookshelves With a Window Seat Add On
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A set of navy blue bookshelves is built-in into a neutral office space with white wall paint and warm wood floors. A window bench spans the space between the two shelves separated by a paneled window. A white cushion and farmhouse-striped accent pillows decorate the bench.
06 of Extended Breakfast Nook Window Seating
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A long window seat is used as a breakfast nook in this cozy farmhouse dining space. The solid wood table backs up to the upholstered bench seating with a denim blue cushion, blue geometric drapes, and beige paint. The bench has built-in drawers for storage underneath.
07 of Modern Farmhouse Window Seat With a View
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Neutral boho accent pillows are spread across a white wood window seat with ornamental wood trim along the front face of the bench. A set of white wood built-in bookshelves are installed beside the bench, creating the perfect space for reading.
08 of Cozy Modern White Window Seat With Built-in Shelves
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A bright white window seat with built-in bookshelves frames a paneled window with matching white trim. A set of textured accent pillows and striped farmhouse pillows are placed on a gray bench cushion creating a simple modern white and gray color scheme.
09 of Modern Farmhouse Gray and White Window Seat
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A large black vintage wall clock is hung over a bay window with a large open window. The bright white wood bench is covered with cozy gray upholstered seat cushions and farmhouse-patterned throw pillows. A marble kitchen island with gray upholstered stools is situated across the room.
10 of Vintage Décor for a Wood Shiplap Window Seat
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- lifeonlittlecreek
White shiplap panels cover the face of a wooden window bench seat with a vintage upholstered cushion in gray and white. A set of flannel accent pillows ad a cozy feel to the seating area and make a perfect spot for reading and relaxing.
11 of Boho Farmhouse Window Seat Décor With Mustard Accents
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The yellow earthy tone used within the tassel throws and accent pillows of this farmhouse bedroom add a boho vibe. A cute white wood window bench is placed between two flowy white drapes along a taupe wall with black sconce lights.
12 of Window Bench Seat With a Modern Boho Design
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A gray tufted seat cushion is placed over a white vintage bench with drawers and cabinets. Potted indoor plants stand on either side of the sunken center seat, framing the large window with brown trim. The Morrocan patterned and leather accent pillows give this space a boho look.
13 of Modern White Window Seat With a Black Cushion
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A white modern bay window is decorated with a cozy black upholstered cushion and neutral accent pillows with one feminine pink velvet pillow. The burlap drapes over the window add an organic look, and the farmhouse sconce lights on the side of the walls add supplemental lighting.
14 of Cozy Farmhouse Window Seat Under Wood Beam
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A large built-in window bench is decorated with a french taupe seat cushion and matching ruffled-edge accent pillows for a modern design. A set of shelves are recessed into the wall on either end of the bench for storage and decor.
15 of Breakfast Nook With a Window Bench
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A modern farmhouse dining area is equipped with a cozy window seat that is perfect for a breakfast nook. The navy blue plaid seat cushion matches the blue island bar stools and the leather accent pillow pairs well with the burlap drapes.
16 of Bay Window Bench Seating Area With Shiplap
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Two black sconce lights are installed above a white bay window bench with black plaid accent pillows and a leather pillow. A cozy sherpa throw is draped over the white wood bench. The shiplap paneling and simple monochromatic decor give this space a rustic, modern feel.
17 of Red, Whit,e and Blue Décor for a Window Seat
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A vintage red plaid pillow is paired with a farmhouse geometric blue and white pillow to add patriotic decor to a cozy window seat with a grey upholstered cushion. Tassel throws are layered on the bench and a rattan stool with a potted fern is placed beside it.
18 of Bay Window Seating Décor Ideas for a Modern Living Room
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Black and white plaid outdoor cushions are placed along a white wood bay window bench with drawers in a modern farmhouse living area. The blue-tinted gray paint adds a calming effect to the space. Black and white accent pillows add a clean modern decor style.
19 of Bamboo Blinds Over Beadboard Window Bench
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Bamboo Roman blind lower to shade sunroom windows above a white and wood window bench. White beadboard accentuates the bench and wall beneath the windows. A brass-shaded sconce is mounted to an arched white shelving unit.
20 of Cozy Kitchen Window Seat Inspiration
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A neutral kitchen with green-tinted gray wall paint and white trim is equipped with a built-in window seat perfect for reading or enjoying a snack. The tall window adds natural light to a farmhouse tassel throw and accent pillow that adds extra comfort to the bench seating.
21 of Built-in Window Seat for a White Living Room
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A built-in window seat bench is added to the ornamental board and batten accent wall in this modern grey living room. The tall paneled window adds a flood of natural light to the space. Two farmhouse lumbar pillows are placed along the top of the wood bench.
22 of Child’s Play Room With Nature-inspired Wallpaper
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A cute woodsy wallpaper accent wall creates a calming backdrop for this white bay window seat with a linen seat cushion and geometric neutral farmhouse pillows. The bamboo drapes hang down in front of a black sconce reading light on the side of a built-in bookshelf.
23 of Window Seat With Neutral Décor
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A farmhouse sconce light is installed over a black and white striped and plaid accent pillow along a white window seat. A beige cushion is placed over the top of the wood bench for a cozy look. The grey and white color scheme provides a modern feel.
24 of Window Seat Ideas for a Neutral Bedroom
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A neutral bedroom makes use of a window nook by placing a taupe seat cushion over it and adding cozy farmhouse accent pillows to make a comfy reading space. Two farmhouse sconce lights are placed along the walls on either end of the for supplemental evening light.
25 of Farmhouse Bookcase With Modern Décor
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A farmhouse bookshelf adds a modern touch to a neutral room with white walls and a natural wood floor. A small faux tree sits in the corner of the room white faux plants in white planters and galvanized tubed embellish the bookshelf. Stacked books and wicker baskets act as decorative storage. A window seat nearby holds accent pillows striped with natural light.
26 of Window Bench and Beige Carpet
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A gray sofa with a chaise stands against a white wall that is adorned with colorful photos. A gray and white rug is layered over beige carpeting. Natural light emanates from a large window with a built-in window bench,
27 of Modern Window Seat Ideas With Board and Batten
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Board and batten framing adds an ornamental look to this modern gray window seat that has been built-in into a corner window nook with paneled glass and vintage curtains. Farmhouse floral pillows line the striped upholstered bench cushion with a tassel throw.
28 of Window Bench Seat with Storage
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The white window bench seat with storage is styled with white and tan throw pillows and blankets. The bench is built on top of stained wood flooring under a white picture window.
29 of Glamorous Farmhouse Window Seat Décor
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A glamorous sheepskin bench throw is draped over a white bay window bench with white and black striped farmhouse pillows. A set of taupe drapes match the upholstered armchair placed in front of the bench. The neutral colors give the space a clean modern look.
