Bay and bow windows are among the most coveted architectural spaces that a house can offer – they let light in, make a great focal point, if they’re well-designed, and will contribute additional square footage in the form of a window seat or reading nook. However, dressing such multi-pane, angled windows is a problem that a single pane window wouldn’t have.
Window blinds and curtains sometimes don’t fit in a bay window or bow window, often create corners with awkward gaps, or cover the bay or bow window’s most distinguishing feature, the unobstructed view and daylight. You are not alone nor in the wrong place if you have ever stood in front of your bay window with a tape measure in hand and asked yourself the question: ‘How do I cover this?’
This guide explains what sets bay and bow windows apart, what type of window treatments work best with each window, and options for covering each window in a bay or bow or for covering the entire unit as one.
What’s the Difference Between Bay and Bow Windows?
It’s important to understand what you’re dealing with before you select a window treatment, since the shape of your window influences which window treatments will fit best.
Bay windows often consisted of three windows, two of which are smaller in size than the central window and are normally oriented at 45 or 30 degrees to the side windows. It gives a faceted, angular appearance and is the more frequently found type in American dwellings, ranging from Colonial houses in Maryland to Craftsman bungalows in Virginia.
Bow windows are four or more windows of equal size, curved slightly outward, creating a smooth, rounded curve versus angles. Bow windows give the building a more rounded look that offers a panoramic view and tend to be associated with older, Victorian-style and historic homes in the DC metro region.
When it comes to window treatments, there’s a difference between angles and curves. There are natural points of break and transition with bay windows at each corner of the window where one pane meets the next. Bow windows allow the curve to form a continuous line, thus minimizing the gaps that are bought at corners, but can enhance the visual value of the single continuous form.
The Big Decision: Individual Treatments vs. One Continuous Treatment
It is the one most crucial decision you will make and it will determine such things as control, cost, and appearance.
Option 1: Treat Each Window Individually
Blinds, shades, or shutters are installed in each of the bay or bow windows, in the window frame (or above) at the correct size for the window.
Pros:
- Each window is openable, closable and adjustable – handy if one side receives more direct sunlight
- Cleaner fit within each window’s frame, particularly inside-mount treatments
- Less hassle to replace a single unit if necessary
Cons:
- Small gaps where adjacent windows meet at the corners are almost inevitable as two treatments cannot physically fill the same corner space
- Multiple headrails/valances/hardware sets adds slightly to cost
Option 2: One Continuous Treatment Across the Whole Bay
One shade, blind or drapery track runs along the angles or curve of the bay/bow window for one continuous visual line across window groups.
Pros:
- No corners gaps – light and privacy is uniform throughout window
- Applies a dramatic effect that makes the feature look like a single unit instead of segments
- For bow windows, often the best design style, because the curve makes single units seem disjointed
Cons:
- All open/close at the same time – less flexibility if you want some open and some closed
- Requires more exact and custom measurement and installation – not a DIY project for continuous tracks
Our recommendation: If your bay window is identified by its angles, it’s typically the cleanest and most versatile to treat by the pane. When the bow window is slightly curved, a continuous treatment – especially a curved drapery track or continuous cellular shade system – is more purposeful and elegant in architecture. Either way, this is a choice you should make during an in-home consultation, where our design team can present both options to you on your windows.
Best Window Treatment Options for Bay and Bow Windows
Cellular Shades – The Most Popular Choice
For bay and bow windows, cellular (honeycomb) shades are always the best choice. They also have a thin profile that doesn’t add extra hardware to the corners of the window. They come in a variety of light-filtering, room-darkening, and blackout materials, and the perforated material offers real insulation – especially important for bay windows, which consist of many panes of glass and have higher surface area, making them a significant heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
Cellular shades are also available as top down/bottom up shades, making them ideal for bay window seating areas where you want to keep the top of each window open for light and privacy at sitting height.
Wood and Faux Wood Blinds – Classic and Versatile
Bay windows are a great fit for wood blinds or faux wood blinds because each bay can have a separate blind and the horizontal slats offer outstanding light and privacy control regardless of the angle of the window. In bay windows where the wood is in direct sunlight for long periods, faux wood is more suitable than real wood because it is less susceptible to warping with heat exposure. Blinds will appear slightly more broken than a plain shade in bow windows, but they are still a great, affordable choice.
Plantation Shutters – The Architectural Statement
For good reason, plantation shutters are considered the top-tier option for bay windows, as they’re designed to fit each angled section of the window and are permanently installed in the window frame. Shutters are essentially made panel by panel, and so are ideal for a bay window, as the angles of a bay window are treated by panels meeting at the corner posts.
Shutters are not as popular for bow windows as they are for flat windows, but may be installed on each pane for a traditional and desirable appearance and for furniture quality windows.
Roman Shades and Drapery – Soft, Designer Style
Homeowners seeking a softer, more decorative appearance – especially in a formal living room or dining room bay – can install Roman shades on every individual pane and include a continuous drapery panel or a curved track around the entire bay/bow for a more designer finish. This combination design allows you to have the function of shades on each window as well as the dramatic visual sweep of the drapery framing the entire architectural feature.
Solar Shades – Modern and Minimal
For modern homes, solar shades on each of the many panes of glass that make up the bay or bow windows provide a clean, unobtrusive appearance and a reduction of glare and UV rays. Solar shades are especially favored in the breakfast bar of bay windows and home offices where screen glare can be a daily annoyance.
Mounting Considerations Specific to Bay and Bow Windows
Mounting inside the bay or bow window is usually recommended where each pane is a separate unit, as it will leave the window frame looking clean and tidy without causing any hardware overlaps at the corners.
Outside mount is most useful for continuous treatments, such as a curved drapery track that runs around the entire bow window, above and around the window grouping on the wall or ceiling.
Window seats, which are a common element of bay windows, add another layer of complexity: treatments must be able to rise over window seats, and cord-based treatments can pose a tripping or safety hazard in a seating space. For any bay window with a seat, a cordless or motorized lift is highly recommended for both safety reasons and for a cleaner appearance when seated directly underneath the window.
Bay windows typically fail with off-the-shelf materials at the corners and angles. Pre-made blinds are manufactured in standard rectangular sizes and do not consider the angled overlaps that occur at the ends of the blinds where one blind overlaps the other. Custom measurement – usually done in person – will take into account the specific angle of your bay, which is typically 30 or 45 degrees.
Why a Professional Consultation Matters More for Bay and Bow Windows
Bay and bow windows are the windows that most often go wrong when measuring themselves in a house. If a few millimeters of error at a flat window are not noticeably a problem, the same few millimeters at three or four sloped panes at corners is a very visible, and frustrating, error.
When you visit BuyHomeBlinds for a free estimate, we take the time to measure the width, height and angle of each window in your home and let you know if specialty treatments or continuous treatments will be best for your bay or bow window. We work with top manufacturer organizations – such as Norman Window Fashions – to source cellular shades, blinds, shutters and drapery systems that are built to these exact specifications.
Make Your Bay or Bow Window the Showpiece It Deserves to Be
Bay windows and bow windows are a true architectural treasure, however, when dressed properly. If it is not the correct treatment, it leaves gaps and it obscures sightlines or it feels like an afterthought. With the right treatment, each pane and angle can be customized, transforming your bay or bow window into the heart of the room.
BuyHomeBlinds is a specialty company that provides custom measured cellular shades, blinds, shutters, and drapes for bay and bow windows in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Northern Virginia.
Schedule Your Free In-Home Consultation – and watch our team transform your bay or bow window into something you’ll always want.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bay and Bow Window Treatments
Q: What is the best window treatment for a bay window?
Cellular shades and plantation shutters are usually the best choices for bay windows. Cellular shades provide a narrow silhouette, energy efficiency and fine control of the light on a pane-by-pane basis, and plantation shutters have a built-in, architectural appearance that can easily manage the angles of a bay window. It will depend on your budget, the style of the room, and if the bay has a window seat.
Q: Should I treat each window in my bay window separately, or get one continuous treatment?
If the bay windows have separate angles, separate treatments are typically more appropriate and won’t interfere with hardware at corners. When a bow window has a slight curve, a uniform treatment, like a curved drapery track, tends to be more harmonious. Before making a decision you can show yourself both approaches with a professional measurement and consultation.
Q: How do I deal with the corners of a bay window when choosing blinds?
Bay windows are formed by treating the corners at an angle where they meet, and standard, ready-made blinds often don’t fit perfectly at the corners. Custom-measured blinds, shades or shutters are made to fit the unique angle of your bay (typically 30 or 45 degrees) and are constructed by panels to reduce gaps at the corner posts.
Q: Are cellular shades good for bay windows in terms of energy efficiency?
Yes – Bay windows provide a great deal more window area than a typical window, and therefore more heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. Cellular shades (particularly double and triple cell) create a barrier that blocks air from reaching the glass on every pane, which can help mitigate that exposure.
Q: What's the best window treatment for a bay window with a window seat?
Cellular shades, blinds or shutters that operate on a cordless or motorized system are highly recommended for bay windows that have a seat. Cords may also be a hazard in a seating area and may also obstruct cushions and pillows. Cordless and motorized versions help to maintain a clean, safe, unobstructed seat area.
Q: Do plantation shutters work on bow windows?
Plantation shutters can be installed on each pane of an individual pane bow window, but since bow windows are curved as a whole, the shutters might seem more divided than on a bay window. Cellular shades or a continuous drapery treatment works beautifully for many homeowners who want a more cohesive treatment around their bow windows while shutters can be a great option for a classic, furniture quality look.
Q: How much do custom window treatments for bay windows typically cost?
The price of the treatment is dependent on the quantity of panes and whether it is a single or continuous coverage. Cellular shades or blinds are usually the most affordable choice per pane, while a plantation blind or custom drapery system is a bit more expensive because of the built-in nature of the installations. An accurate quote can be obtained from a free in-home consultation, depending on your bay or bow window.