How to Build a DIY Window Seat

Bay windows offer the perfect space for a window seat, whether you want a quiet reading nook or just some more storage. It’s a great way to use the additional space that bay windows offer, which is often just wasted. The structures you need to create for a sturdy window seat are fairly simple but cutting out some of the angles may be more challenging, especially if you don’t have a mitre saw.

To get started, you’ll need to clear the area – that includes removing any skirting boards or additional moulding in the area. Once you’ve done that:

1. Using two lengths of PAR timber, build a small wooden framing wall that sits flush with the walls either side of the bay window. The wall should be about 400mm tall. Add supporting struts along the length so that you can put weight on it – a standard bay window will require 6. This will define the position of your seat and the height.
2. Nail the wall to the inside of your bay window to keep it in position.
3. Attach a length of timber to the back of the bay window, making sure that it is level to the framing wall in front. It’s important to check this thoroughly as you nail it in place to ensure that your seating will be straight.
4. Cut 3 lengths of timber so that they can run down the depth of the window seat – they should rest on the timber that you just attached to the wall, and end flush with the front of your framing wall.
5. Secure one piece of timber at the centre of your window seat, and the other two either side, just before the wall angles into the room.
6. Now you will have 3 pieces of wood that are no longer level with the seat – in order to smooth this out, fill in the tops of the wall and edges with timber of the same thickness.
7. All but the angled walls should now have timber running along them. You will need to add two lengths of timber to the angled walls at the same level as your seating – to do this, measure the sections and cut the ends with a mitre saw at 45 degrees so that they can fit the space.
8. Cover the front and edges of your bay window with plywood.
9. For the middle sections of the window seat, you can either cover them in plywood like the edges and front, or you can add hinges to the boards and use the space for storage.
10. Paint and varnish your window seat.