Window seat cushions, sized to the inch.

GOOD QUESTIONS

Window seat cushions, answered.

• How do I measure a bay window seat?

  Bay windows usually have three planes — a long centre section flanked by two shorter angled returns. Measure each plane separately: width along the front edge, depth from front to back wall, at every section. Lay craft paper along each panel, trace the wall and edge, and cut three templates. Photograph them next to a tape measure and send. We pattern from your trace, so even a non-square bay (very common in older homes) comes out flush.

• What thickness should the cushion be?

  For a window seat people sit on, 3" of high-density foam is the sweet spot — supportive enough for a long read, slim enough that the seat doesn't feel like a daybed. For a window seat that's purely decorative, 2" reads neat. For one that doubles as a casual lounge, 4" with a feather wrap turns it into something close to a daybed. Tell us how you'll use it and we'll suggest.

• Three separate cushions or one long piece — which is better?

  For a true bay window with angled corners, three separate cushions match the geometry properly and look intentional. For a straight, single-plane window seat under 60" wide, one continuous cushion looks cleaner. Past 60" or 70", a single cushion gets unwieldy — splits make it easier to lift for cleaning. We will recommend based on your measurements; you choose the final call.

• My window seat has built-in storage underneath — does that affect anything?

  Only one detail: you'll want the cushion to lift cleanly off the lid without snagging hinges. We avoid heavy piping along the back edge for storage seats and stick to a slim flange that pulls back without tugging. Tell us where the hinges are and we'll plan the seam placement around them.

• Can you make cushions for an arched-top window seat?

  Yes — they're our favourite challenge. Arched-top seats need template-cut foam (we won't try to bend it from a rectangle) and a curved-seam casing. Send us a paper trace of the seat outline (lay paper, trace the edge, cut, photograph next to a tape measure). The arch can have any radius — symmetrical, asymmetrical, ogee. We pattern from your trace.

• What about pillows for the back?

  Window seats look right with a row of throw pillows along the wall — usually three or four for a 60"+ width, two for shorter. Mix sizes (e.g. a 22" square at each end and a 14x22" lumbar in the middle) for a designer look. We'll happily quote a coordinating pillow set in the same fabric as the seat, or in a complementary print from the library.