Bay Window Treatments: Ideas That Fit Every Angle
Bay windows are one of the best features a house can have, and one of the trickiest to dress. Three or more windows meet at angles, there may be a window seat, and the bay is often the focal point of the room. Here’s how we approach them.
Give each window its own treatment
The most common mistake is trying to cover a whole bay with one wide shade. Because the windows meet at angles, the best result almost always comes from a separate shade or shutter for each window. Each one fits its window exactly, and you can raise or tilt them one at a time, for example lowering only the window that catches afternoon sun.
Plan the corners
Where two windows meet, there’s a corner to think about. Your designer will look at:
- Inside or outside mount: Inside mounts keep the trim visible and look tidy in deep bays. Outside mounts can cover more glass and reduce light gaps.
- How the headrails meet: Planning the corners so the shades meet cleanly is what makes a bay look finished.
- Window seats and cushions: Shades should clear the seat when lowered, and controls should be easy to reach from the seat.
Our guide to inside mount vs. outside mount explains the trade-offs.
Options that work well in bays
- Cellular shades: Insulating and light, with cordless and top-down/bottom-up options. Great for bay windows in bedrooms and living rooms. See cellular shades.
- Shutters: Built to fit each window, shutters make a bay feel like part of the architecture. See shutters.
- Roman shades: Soft folds in a fabric that matches the cushions make a cozy reading nook. See Roman shades.
- Sheer shadings: Soft daylight and privacy with a tilt of the vanes. See sheer shades.
Adding drapery
Drapery can frame the whole bay on a rod that bends to follow the angles, or hang only at the outer edges as a frame. With a shade on each window doing the daily work, the drapery can stay open as a decorative layer. More in layering drapery and shades.
Make it easy with motorization
A bay with four or five shades means four or five shades to adjust. With PowerView® Automation, they can move together as a group with one button, a keypad or a schedule. The PowerView® App is required for programmed operation. See our beginner’s guide to motorized shades.
Designer tip: Choose one product for the whole bay, even if the windows are different sizes. Matching fabric, color and stack height across every window is what makes a bay look like one design instead of several separate shades.
Other shapes, too
Have arched, angled or corner windows elsewhere in the house? See our guide to arched and specialty-shaped windows. Bays are easiest to plan in person, so book a free in-home consultation and your designer will measure every angle.
Common questions
What is the best window treatment for a bay window?
Usually a separate shade or shutter for each window in the bay. That way each piece fits its window exactly and can be raised or tilted on its own. Drapery can be added on a rod that follows the bay's angles.
Should a bay window have one shade or several?
Several, one per window. A single shade across the whole bay can't follow the angles, while individual shades meet cleanly at the corners.
How do you handle the gaps at the corners of a bay window?
Your designer measures each corner and plans the mount so the shades or shutters meet as closely as possible. Inside mounts and side channels can reduce light gaps.
Can bay window shades be motorized?
Yes. Motorized shades in a bay can be grouped so they all move together with one button or on a schedule.
