If you’re lucky enough to have beautiful bay windows in your home, you need curtains that can perfectly fit the windows’ décor and complement the room without detracting from the visual impact the windows offer the room and your home as a whole.
Bay windows are elegant architectural features you need to enhance rather than replace, but there’s no denying that making bay windows look good isn’t as simple as a standard window.
The angles and flow can be difficult to dress, and many standard curtain and hardware options don’t always fit the classic shape that’s a feature in many British homes.
What Are The Best Curtains for Bay Windows?
Made-to-measure curtains are often seen as the ideal choice for bay windows. The reason is that they are created to match the shape, style, and dimensions of the window perfectly, not using a standard size and fitting. The distinctive shape of bay windows can vary from home to home and era to era; older homes have different shapes than modern bay windows, which are typically bigger and taller, requiring larger curtains than modern iterations of bay windows.
Whether you’re looking for a traditional look or a more modern take on your window dressings, made-to-measure curtains can be tailored to your tastes and design wishes as well as the size and shape of your windows.
1 Know Your Bay Window Type
To get the perfect curtains for your bay windows, you first need to know the shape of the window.
Bow window – an arc-shaped window with at least 4 windows, also known as a curved bay window
Oriel window – a larger bay window that projects from the wall and is supported by a bracket or corbel
Angled bay or canted windows – a bay window with angled side windows, not flat ones
Multifaceted window – these windows have 7 panes of glass instead of the usual three
Box window – box bay windows are shaped like a rectangular box, with straight sides that project outward from the house.
Understanding the style can help you with a range of decisions, so the curtain enhances the windows, not detracts from them.
2 Choose High-Quality fabric
You want to opt for high-quality natural fabrics when designing your made-to-measure bay window curtains. Linen blends and woven cotton are classic materials that hang perfectly in bay windows and are perfect for a more natural aesthetic. However, be aware that bay window curtains come in a range of materials from velvet to polyester, and the final decision should depend on the style you want to create in the room and the vibe you want to invoke.
3 Select The Perfect Colour and Pattern
Colour is a huge aspect of choosing your made-to-measure curtains for bay windows. Lighter coloured curtains, for example, will allow more light to fill the room and are ideal for homes that don’t get a lot of natural sunlight. In contrast, heavier fabrics and blackout materials work better for rooms that need to be shrouded in darkness, i.e. bedrooms. The beauty of made-to-measure bay window curtains is that you can pick the perfect colour and design to make your décor pop.
Plain rooms can have character and style added by choosing bold colours and patterns that make a statement without being overwhelming or your home. Made-to-measure curtains can be constructed from any materials you have in the perfect colour to match your style and tastes.
Remember you want to enhance with colour and style, not overpower the room; however, bay windows as standard can take bolder, complex colours and patterns, while rooms that have more decorative wall coverings will benefit from plain block coloured bay windows made-to-measure curtains.
4 Pick the Right Length and Style
Bay window curtains can be made in various styles depending on the type of curtain track you’re using. You can opt for poles or tracks, and one isn’t better than the other; they’re simply different choices you can make depending on your personal preferences. But choose your track carefully prior to making your curtains so they fit correctly. A curtain track gives you a more understated, seamless look, while poles allow for a smoother to glide, and the eyelet can add additional design features. You also need to consider if your track or pole is going around the curvature of the bay or if your pole is going straight across, too.
Larger bay windows look exceptionally majestic with ceiling or floor-length curtains, while short windows can either benefit from a curtain that sits just below the window sill or on the floor. Depending on the placement of the window, there are windows that sit higher up the wall, i.e. are shorter and might not look right with floor-length curtains.
5 Plan for Light and Temperature Control
Lastly, you need to think about how much you need your made-to-measure curtains for bay windows to block light or control heat. For rooms that need to be flooded with light as much as possible, thinner, lighter materials will work better, while thermal-insulated curtains help regulate a room’s temperature.
6 Use Clever Hardware Placement
As you can see how you design your made-to-measure curtains for bay windows will influence the look and how they slot into your home and aesthetics. Choosing the right features can help them slot in seamlessly when fitted and enhance your entire home with ease.
Other bay window styling tips include
- Using minimal hardware to let the curtains stand out on their own.
- Mount hardware above or outside of the window frame so the curtain fully pulls away from the glass.
- Consider ceiling-mounted tracks or poles for a seamless look.
- Consider a separate panel for each window pane for a more dramatic look and flexibility when opening and closing your curtains.
- Layer curtains with blinds to add depth and textures ot the window.
- Use tie-backs for additional styling elements and practicality.
- Choose curtains that are two to two and a half times the window width for added fullness.
7 Get Expert Advice
If you’re struggling to find the perfect bay window curtains, why not choose made-to-measure curtains instead? At Sewing House, we can work with you to help you measure your windows and uncover the perfect styling choices for your home of furniture that blends seamlessly in your home and complements your windows.