A window seat between two bookcases turns a plain window into the best spot in the room. In New York apartments and brownstones it also solves a common problem: the radiator under the window.
01Seat dimensions
- Height: 17 to 19 inches including the cushion, like a chair. - Depth: 18 to 24 inches; deeper if you want to lie down with a book. - Width: match the window, with bookcases 24 to 36 inches wide on each side.
02The radiator underneath
Most prewar windows have a radiator below. The seat can become a radiator cover with a ventilated front and a hinged or lift-off top, so heat reaches the room and valves stay accessible. Use a durable top surface where heat rises.
03Storage in the seat
Where there's no radiator, use deep drawers rather than a lift-up lid; drawers are easier to reach with cushions on top.
04Bookcase proportions
Line the bookcase tops up with the window head or run them to the ceiling with a cornice across the top. A bridge shelf over the window ties the composition together.
05Cushions and light
A firm foam cushion with a removable cover, and two reading lights mounted on the bookcase sides, make it a seat people use.
See bookshelf depth, design yours in the Library Worx designer, or book a free design visit.