Cushions
Window Seat Cushion Over a Storage Lid: One Piece or Split?
How to decide between one cushion and split pieces on a window seat with storage, and where the splits should go.
On this page
A window seat with storage underneath raises one question before any other: should the cushion be one long piece, or split so you can open the lid without moving everything? It's one of the questions we get most about window seats. Here's how to decide, where the splits should go, and what to check before you choose a thickness.
Quick answer: If you open the storage often, split the cushion so each piece sits on one lid or one fixed section, with the joins over the lid's edges. Choose one long cushion only if the lid is the whole seat or you rarely open it. Keep the cushion 2 to 3 inches thick so the lid still opens under the window, and check the clearance before you go thicker.
One cushion or split: how to decide
| Your seat | Best choice |
|---|---|
| One lid covers the whole seat | One cushion. It lifts with the lid, or comes off in one piece. |
| A lid in the middle, fixed seat on each side | Three pieces, with the joins at the lid's edges. |
| Two or more lids side by side | One piece per lid. |
| A storage section at one end of an L-shaped nook | Two pieces: one for the storage section, one for the seat. |
| Storage you open a few times a year | One long cushion is fine if you don't mind lifting it off. |
The rule behind all of these: a split cushion should follow the lines of the lid, not just divide the seat into equal lengths. A join in the middle of a lid does nothing for you, because you still have to move two cushions to open it.
Where to put the splits
Measure the seat as separate sections: each lid, and each fixed part. Each section becomes one cushion. That way, when you lift a lid, you only move the cushion that sits on it.
Leave a small gap between pieces where a lid has to lift. One customer ordering a three-piece window seat over a hinged storage lid planned an intentional ½-inch gap between the pieces so the lid could swing up without catching on its neighbors. That's a smart detail. Without it, the edge of the lid cushion can rub against the fixed cushion as it rises.
The same thinking applies to L-shaped nooks. One customer's nook had a storage section about 27½″ wide and 21″ deep next to a 62″ × 21″ seat. Their choice was one L-shaped cushion or two separate cushions. Two pieces meant they could open the storage without lifting the whole L.
What about one cover with two inserts?
For long seats, we can sometimes make a single cover with two foam inserts inside. It looks like one continuous cushion and is easier to handle than one long block of foam. But it doesn't help with a storage lid: the cover still runs over the join, so you have to lift the whole thing to open the lid. If you need access underneath, separate cushions are the better choice.
Thickness and lid clearance
Most window seat cushions we're asked for are 2 to 3 inches thick. Over a storage lid, that range matters even more.
When a lid hinged at the back opens, the back edge of the cushion swings up and toward the wall. If the window sill or wall is close behind, a thick cushion can stop the lid opening fully. Before you order, fold a towel or stack something to the thickness you're considering, put it on the lid, and open the lid. If it catches, go thinner.
A few other notes on thickness:
- Foam comes in whole-inch sheets, so we make 2 or 3 inches, not 2½.
- Thin cushions are possible. One inch can be done, but the zipper goes on the underside because there's not enough side edge to sew it into.
- A Dacron wrap adds a little loft on top at first. If your clearance is tight, choose the thinner of the two thicknesses you're considering.
- For a seat a dog jumps on every day, or one people sit on rather than lounge on, choose a firm foam such as our Luxury foam so it holds its shape. Our Super Soft foam is for back cushions only, never seats.
Our thickness and foam guide compares every foam.
Keeping split pieces in place
One long cushion stays put by its own size. Three short ones can drift apart. A customer who split a bay window seat into three pieces told us they'd probably need ties on the back side once the seat was in pieces. That's often true.
Over a lid, tie each cushion to the part it sits on. Tie the lid cushion around the lid, and the fixed cushions to the fixed sections. A tie that crosses from the lid to the base will stop the lid opening.
Ask for the zipper on the back edge, against the wall, so it's out of sight. That's where customers usually want it on window seats.
Measuring a window seat with storage
- Sketch the seat from above. Mark each lid, each fixed section, and the hinge side of each lid.
- Measure each section. Length along the window wall, then depth from the wall to the front edge. Write the length first so the two don't get swapped.
- Check the ends. Window seats are often tapered or angled at the ends. If the depth isn't the same end to end, measure both ends. A bay seat usually becomes three pieces: a center piece and two pieces with one angled end.
- Decide the gaps. Allow a small gap where a lid lifts.
- Measure the clearance from the lid to the sill or wall behind it.
For a built-in, measure the opening and take about ¼ inch off so the cushion slips in. We cut cushions usually within ¼″ of the sizes you give us, with a maximum of ±1″ on length and width (±1½″ for cushions of 6 square feet or more) and ±½″ on thickness. Our measuring guide has diagrams.
Then enter each piece in our window seat cushion builder. For angled and tapered pieces, see custom-shaped cushions. You can also browse all our window seat cushions.
When we're not the right fit
- Curved fronts and rounded corners need a full-size paper template or your old cover. We can't work out a curve from measurements alone.
- Custom cushions are cut to your measurements, so a measuring mistake means a new cushion. If you're unsure where to split, send us a sketch and photo before you order.
Frequently asked questions
Should a window seat cushion be one piece or split?
Split it if you open the storage underneath often, with each piece matching a lid or fixed section. One piece is fine if the lid is the whole seat or you rarely open it.
Where should the split go on a window seat with a storage lid?
Along the edges of the lid, so the lid cushion lifts on its own. A small gap, such as ½ inch, keeps it from catching on the cushions beside it.
How thick should a cushion over a storage lid be?
Usually 2 to 3 inches. Check that the lid still opens under the sill with something of that thickness on it before you order.
How do I stop split window seat cushions from sliding apart?
Fit each piece snugly, and add ties on the back side if they still drift. Tie each piece to the part it sits on, never across a lid.
Where does the zipper go on a window seat cushion?
On the back edge against the wall, so it's hidden. On a 1-inch cushion it goes underneath.
