Creating Your Own Bay Window Treatments

Bay window treatments finish the look of a bay window. There are many options for bay window treatments for do-it-yourselfers.

With the right mounting hardware, any window treatment will work in a bay window. However, curtains and roman shades are the most popular bay window treatments.

Step 1 – Decide on Your New Bay Window Treatment Length and Style

The length and type of bay window treatments depends on what else is in the window bay.  If there is a window seat, shades or short curtains are a good choice. If the windows are full-length or the bay is empty, floor-length curtains are a better option.

If the bay window has attractive woodwork around the frames or molding, opt for bay window treatments that show off the trim. Shades mounted inside the window frame highlight attractive window trim.

Sewing curtains does not require any more skill than creating a hem. There are several hanging options, like grommets and curtain rings, which do not require the ability to sew a rod pocket.

Shades are more complicated to sew, requiring hemming, lining and inserting the cords to draw the shades. Patterns for many styles of shades are available at craft or fabric stores or online.

Step 2 – Measure the bay window

If you decide on shades for your bay window treatments, each window panel in the bay window will get its own shade and should be measured individually.

When using curtains in a bay window, the three window panels are treated as a single window. Flexible curtain rods are available to follow the contours of the bay window. For curtains, measure the length of each side of the window and add the three measurements together.

Measure the vertical measurement for your bay window treatments from the curtain rod to where the window treatment will end, either at the bottom of the apron or the floor.

Step 3 – Mount the hardware

Bay window treatments use special hardware to create an angled curtain rod around the length of the bay window.

Separate curtain rids can be installed over each window for café panels or to simplify hanging a swag or scarf.

Shades mount individually over each window. Mounting shades in a bay window is no different than for other windows.

Step 4 - Hang the custom bay window treatments

Once your hardware is in place, hanging custom bay window treatments is the same as for any other window. It may be a good idea to have a friend or family member around to help you out however.