Bay windows are beautiful… but they are incredibly difficult to deal with. What do you do with them? Normal curtains don’t work. In some cases, there’s an awkwardly shaped space beneath them, and in other cases, you’re left with this odd… is it a bench or a shelf? Who can say? But bay windows can be beautiful and functional too, and it’s not as hard to get them that way as you might think. All you have to do is get the right ideas. Take a look at this guide on how to find window treatments for bay windows to gather some window treatment ideas and pick the best one for your window.
The Curtain Problem – Window Treatments for Bay Windows
Let’s be honest. It is a problem.
No matter what kind of curtains you look at, they never seem to fit in your bay window. This makes it difficult to choose any window treatments for bay windows at all, and more often than not, these windows are left curtainless.
There are actually some pretty simple solutions to this problem. You just have to consider your two choices.
Outside the Bay
Think of your bay window as two different parts, the inside and the outside.
The inside is the part with the windows and the space between the windows. The outside is, well, outside of that space. A bay window is usually set apart from the rest of the room.
But you don’t have to hang curtains directly on the window with window treatments for bay windows.
A Simple, Outside Curtain
This is the easiest type of curtain to get for your bay window. All you have to do is mount a curtain rod on the wall above the bay windows and hang a curtain.
The curtain can stay open during the day, but when it’s closed, it will block off the entire bay window, including any window seat or furniture you have inside.
If you like the sound of this curtain type, make sure you get a color that accents your other furniture. In a bedroom, the curtains could be the same color as the bedsheets.
Inside the Bay
These types of curtains usually go directly over the windows themselves. This makes finding a curtain that actually fits a little harder, but definitely not impossible.
Here are two good choices.
Roman Curtains
You can mount these inside the window frame, which means you can have curtains on each of the windows that don’t even touch each other. But, if you’d rather, you can install bigger Roman curtains outside the frames that overlap.
These curtains have a very modern, clean look that can still add a nice accent color to the room.
Bay Window Shaped Curtain Rods
These might be harder to find, but you can get curtain rods in the exact same shape as your bay window. This will let you hang a traditional curtain that still has the shape of the bay window.
Does My Bay Window Need a Window Seat?
A lot of bay windows have them, but that doesn’t mean your bay window needs one. There are a lot of creative things you can do inside your bay window, and it doesn’t have to be limited to a seat.
What you decide to do inside your bay window may change the type of curtain you need to hang, so figuring out what’s going inside should be one of your first steps.
Here’s a list of possibilities that might inspire you.
A Traditional Window Seat
A traditional window seat fills the whole inside space of a bay window. It’s usually the height of a usual couch but is made out of wood.
Some people leave the seat just how it’s built, but if that sounds a little too uncomfortable, you can always add some cushions and pillows.
Most of these window seats have built-in storage features. This could be shelves like a short bookcase or an opening lid like a chest.
A Bay Window Couch
If your bay window is in your living room or family room, adding a couch inside the bay window is a good way to add additional seating.
But this won’t look like a normal couch.
Picture a couch that bends with the shape of the window in a half circle.
A Window Desk
If your window is high enough off the ground, you can add a built-in desk rather than a normal window seat. This gives your office plenty of natural light and keeps your desk out of the way of the rest of the room.
A Window Table
Some people prefer putting a table inside the window seat instead.
Bay windows that are large enough and near the kitchen can be good spots for the family dinner table. These types of windows must be floor length and spacious.
You can also install an island or bar-like table inside your bay window. Match it with some stools and you have a homework or game table for the kids.
What If I Have a Radiator Inside My Bay Window?
It’s not uncommon to have a radiator inside your bay window, especially in older houses. But don’t let it take the charm or beauty out of your bay window.
Consider building a window seat around it and topping it with pillows. You won’t even notice the radiator is there.
Of course, before you do this, make sure covering the radiator in your house is safe. You don’t want to risk any kind of fire hazard. But you most likely won’t have problems covering your radiator.
Don’t Give Up On Bay Windows
There’s a lot you can do with them, so don’t just give up and leave your bay window without proper curtains or window seats. Get creative with window treatments for bay windows and make your bay windows the truly beautiful addition to the house they can be.
Need help with your bay windows? Take a look at some of our bay window services!
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