Large Bay Window Curtain Ideas – Today is not the first time I’m talking about curtains. In fact, I usually dedicate (at least) a post to curtains every time we move. Because? Because they are one of the few things that never (ever) move from one home to another. Not only do we typically encounter different heights, widths, and numbers of windows in different homes, but we also encounter different styles and layouts. Our current home has not one, but two unique window situations that we have never encountered before: bay windows and arched windows! Today I want to share some window treatment ideas and talk about why we went in the direction we did. Plus (finally!) you’ll get to see our first floor taking shape.
The first floor of this house has three rows of windows: two at the front of the house (on each side of the front door) and one at the back. When we first saw the MLS listing, I immediately noticed the…um… “lovely” window frames. I prayed that the owners would tear them down or take them with them. There is no such luck. When we moved in, we had to deal with three sets of ornate, custom bay windows.
Large Bay Window Curtain Ideas
Rant: Nothing drives me more crazy than landlords renting out things, especially window curtains. This happened to us over and over again and we always had to take them off and store them in a safe place until we went out again. I suspect the owners think they are leaving out of politeness.
Discover The Art Of Dressing Bay Windows With Creative Window Treatments • 333+ Inspiring Lifestyle Ideas
In the windows instead of nothing. But (in my opinion) if there are some privacy blinds, then there is no need to leave something else for the residents to “live in”, maintain, store or replace. Homeowners: Neutralize your windows the same way you neutralize your walls or floors! Sorry… swearing!
When we finally walked through the house in person, I had to chuckle when my dad (knowing that most of our house was decorated in blue) said, “You won’t have to buy curtains for the family room because we already have blue curtains.” here!”
All of our houses had never had windows before, and I honestly didn’t know what kind of curtains to put in them. So… I did a little research before purchasing anything or getting out the drill. In fact, I found two very helpful posts by Emily Henderson that helped me make my decision. These two articles cover not only bay window options, but also ideas for a wide range of window configurations. I highly recommend reading them if you have windows and aren’t sure how to style them.
After reading these two posts, as well as seeing a lot of ideas on Pinterest, I have determined that there are three main ways to decorate a bay window:
What Are The Best Blinds For Bay Windows?
I really like the custom look of the first two options. But as renters who will only be living in this home for a few years, it didn’t make sense for us to invest in custom/unique curtain rods or curtains that would likely never fit in another home. So I chose the third option, which, fortunately, turned out to be the simplest and cheapest.
A few houses ago, after realizing that our curtain situation would require constant adjustments from house to house, I stopped buying unique panels and hardware for each room and switched to buying inexpensive black rods and solid panels for eyelet curtains. Not only do I love that these items are consistent throughout the house, but they are both versatile enough that we can buy more or replace items as needed. For example, we needed 2 more very long black rods to cover all the windows in this house. Luckily I had plenty of panels on hand!
ADVICE! I find that the curtain panels available in the market are never wide or thick enough to look good. To give individual panels more impact, I always join two panels on each side. I used a two-tone look here to add interest, but you can always place two colors next to each other for a cohesive look.
I usually like to hang the curtain panels as close to the ceiling as possible, but due to the heavy curtain rod we had to lower them (located between the frame opening and the trim). I recently completed them all using this tutorial…
Bay Window Ideas
The bay windows at the rear of the house open directly onto the game room bay windows (above) through French doors. So it made sense to reflect the placement of the windows to make the entire space feel more cohesive.
Here I was able to hang the curtains higher than the ceiling, since there is no molding. This is a very good example of why you should never fold your curtains until you’ve hung them, as the length can vary depending on the room!
It should be noted that we can make this curtain installation more decorative as the windows themselves have blinds for privacy. This way the curtains (in all rooms) stay in place and we simply close the blinds as needed.
I love how the curtains hanging outside the window frame the sofa and make the room feel tall and airy.
Square Bay Window Curtains
Decorating all three sets of windows was a challenge. In the back of the house, in our dining room, we had a completely different and also new situation for us: arched windows! These were the curtains on the windows when we moved in:
I, too, did not hesitate to remove these curtains, but I was even more puzzled by what to do with the central arched window. The same research I did for bay windows also showed me that there are two main directions:
I was excited to hang my favorite curtains I’ve ever made (from our home in Kansas). However, they were not long enough to reach the ceiling. Additionally, the sloped ceiling prevented us from hanging the rod completely over the arch. Luckily, what I liked aesthetically and what we were able to achieve ended up being the same solution: a stud under the arch!
Like our other windows, they also have blinds that roll down for privacy, so my favorite floral panels are purely decorative. However, they add a sense of balance, color and pattern to this large, bright space.
Bay Window Curtains
In the end, I think I hung the curtains no differently than if they were regular flat windows. But that’s good! At first glance, I really thought that I would have to buy or make something truly unique, custom window treatments, just to get
Going this route, I’m so glad we were able to create a clean, personal, and stylish look using items we (mostly) already had on hand.
If you have unique windows in your home/arena and aren’t sure what to put in them, I hope this post not only gives you some ideas, but also serves as a reminder that (sometimes) decisions aren’t as complicated as the ones we make it seem like! Large windows are impressive architectural gems that add character to a home’s exterior and curb appeal inside. Curtains have long been the favorite garment of these beauties, truly befitting their grandeur and ability to capture light. If you’re trying to decorate this space, don’t be intimidated by large panels and unique angles. Instead, use this blog from our curtain experts to get all the helpful tips you need to decorate your home with the right set of bay window curtains.
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Ideas To Elevate Your Bay And Bow Window Treatments
Bay windows are a stunning accent to any room. But while they are pleasing to the eye, they present a challenge to the designer. The windows in them are continuous, sometimes with gaps, located at awkward angles, which makes it difficult to find suitable fittings and curtains. If there are built-in seats or a radiator underneath, you might even consider whether curtains can be used at all.
All these misunderstandings occur, but they are not without adequate solutions. So, read on for our bay window curtain ideas and styling tips! Whatever obstacles you may encounter when purchasing bay window curtains, here you will find a detailed description of them.
When a space is so architecturally blessed, the way it is designed should be in keeping with its grandeur and form. Home stylists typically recommend techniques that are designed to highlight the bay window’s unique shape, height, angle placement and molding, if any.
Hang two fixed curtain panels to visually frame the entire room, but the curtains should not completely cover the room. Curtains are purely decorative and are not intended for use. Although this option