Solutions for Bay Windows

Inspiration

BY Lisa Cooper

Published: 08 July 2022 Updated: 21 May 2024

Inspiration
Tags: Shutters, Blinds

Bay windows can be a charming focal point in a room, but they can be tricky when it comes to finding the right solution for them. We take a look at a range of different options available. There's no one solution that's perfect for all the different styles so lets take a deeper look at the choices.

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Before you can pinpoint the right solution, you need to be sure which type of bay window your room has, and there's basically three different styles - bay, box or bow.

Classic-style bedroom with white walls, mid-grey painted skirting and bay window moulding, dark wood floor, bed on left with white bedding and grey faux fur throw, sage green armoir on left and bay window with patterned glass to top dressed in mid grey solid shutters.

This is what most people probably think of when considering bay window designs - window configurations that feature three individual window units gently curving in an arc and usually the middle window is slightly larger than the two on either side but sometimes all three window are the same shape and size. Natural light tends to fill the space equally from each window. When the windows are full length to the floor you benefit from more space, and if the windows are not floor length it's worth considering some sort of fitted seating either with or without a storage area which not only enhances the shape but also offers the perfect place to sit and admire the panoramic views a bay window can give.

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Visually there's very little difference between bay and bow windows- they both create a visual curve outside of the regular space, and usually have the same size and shape of windows across the complete design. But the fundamental difference lies in the number of individual window configurations - bow windows have four, five or sometimes even six windows. There's more visual difference to the outside appearance than the inside, as bow windows often have decorative fixings, particularly when installed on upper levels.

A box bay window is, as the name indicates, shaped like a box, generally a rectangular one. With flat sides, a flat front, and some sort of roof, this is an extremely common style of bay window often found in more modern properties. If the sides of the box bay window are angled instead of flat, it may also be called a canted window. Just as with both bay windows, it brings more light into the room and dependant on the design can offer extra space too.

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Whether one style of window design is more energy efficient than another is more to do with the glazing options used than necessarily actual window designs, so if you're considering installing a new bay window then it's something to bear in mind in addition to the different style options you may have available. Casement windows, leaded glass, sliding sash (with or without decorative sash horns), triple glazing, upvc windows, thermal glass, other material options, all these factors will come into your decision making. But at the end of the day, using quality glass in your new bay window can offer outstanding energy efficiency simply because there are more panes of glass being used.

What's next?

So we've looked at the different types of bay windows you can have but one of the most common bay window faqs is simply "what window treatment can I use at a bay window" so let's look at the options.

Shutters are possibly not what springs to mind first when you consider flexible options for bay window shapes, but dependant on the configuration of the windows it can be a really effective look. These wooden shutters in Polar White create an extremely streamlined look that hugs the curve of this bay window seamlessly and really draws your eye to the window. With shutters you have the option to simply tilt the louvres to allow light in, rather than having to fold the shutters back to gain light, which works well in this setting as there is limited wall space to fold the shutters back.

Bay windows are often a beautiful feature in old houses and can even have some kind of decorative glass as part of the pane. The downside is they may make the room less energy efficient than standard double or triple glazing windows, so you'll need a solution that can combat this challenge. Duette® blinds are an ideal choice, with their unique honeycomb-shaped cell that holds onto heat and prevents it escaping at the window. They can also be controlled by remote, which is ideal if you're nicely settled in a comfy banquette such as this one. Duette® blinds come in a range of colours and textures, including Silk Muted Iris shown here. Or add a hub and you can have control via an app on your phone, or even by voice control, via Google or Amazon devices.

grey coloured roman blinds fitted to a bay shaped window in a dining room with a glass dining table and chairs

Sometimes the solution is obvious and extremely simple, yet often overlooked, and that’s the case with Roman blinds. While Roman blinds are a more “all or nothing” approach to balancing light and privacy, the offer benefits other blinds don’t – mainly in the range of fabrics available to suit every kind of colour scheme or theme, and they can help highlight certain features of a bay window to a greater extent. In this dining area, you can see how the wide jamb between the panes is actually emphasised by the stark darker lines of the Sennen Ocean blind and the blue-grey fabric co-ordinates with the furniture, artwork and accessories, really helping to pull the room together. And just like our Duette® blinds, Roman blinds now come as a smart electric blind, giving you greater control over the light at the touch of a button, and you can group the blinds at a bay window to control them individually or separately for even more convenience.

wooden blind fitted to a tall window in a living room

If your bay window requires something of a more classic look, then turn to wooden blinds. Simple to operate, offering precision control that balances light and privacy they’re a choice that’s both stylish and practical. Our wooden blinds are available in a range of stains and paints, such as this Warm Beech, which tones well with the furniture and also the radiator, another factor that has to be taken into consideration in such a setting.

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If your bay window needs a slimline solution, then take a look at Pleated blinds. With their neat and tidy simple folds that give the blind its name, they’re an ideal choice if you need to balance light and privacy in a bay window that’s on the shallow side, or perhaps has multiple narrow windows, such as in this box bay window. With a wide range of colours and textures, plus Solartex coatings for rooms that get a lot of strong sunlight, there’s a wealth of options to choose from.