Blinds for Bay Windows

One blind per section

Most bays need a separate blind for each window. The tricky part is the corners, where blinds can clash if they're not planned carefully.

Things to check

These are the things we look at when we measure a bay:

• Corner clearance: the blinds must be able to move without catching each other.
• Inside or outside the recess: whether blinds sit inside or outside the recess (the opening the window sits in) affects how the corners work.
• Matching heights: keeping the blinds at the same height gives consistent lines across the bay.
• Curtains: if you'd like curtains too, a bay track can go outside the blinds.

Options

Roman and roller blinds are popular choices for bays, while bay window shutters are a premium alternative. For styling ideas, see bay window ideas.

Bow windows

A bow window is a gently curved bay made up of several narrower panes. Because the angles between sections are shallower, blinds can often sit closer together — but each section still needs its own blind. Venetian, Roman, day & night and roller blinds all work; textured Roman blinds add decoration, while Venetians and day & night blinds give finer privacy control. Shutters and tracked shutters can also be made for many bow windows, and we'll let you know what suits yours when we visit.

Types of bay

Not all bays are the same shape, and the shape affects how the blinds are planned:

• Angled (splayed) bays: the most common type, with a wide centre window and two side windows set at an angle. The corners need the most care here.
• Box bays: the side windows sit at right angles to the front. The corners are sharper, so blinds outside the recess may need to be planned so they don't meet.
• Bow windows: gently curved, as described above, with more sections and shallower angles.

Older houses can also have bays that aren't perfectly square, which is another reason we measure every section carefully rather than assuming they match.

Choosing by room

Bays are most common in living rooms and front bedrooms, and each room asks something slightly different of your blinds:

• Living rooms: front bays often face the street, so daytime privacy matters. Day and night blinds (blinds with alternating sheer and solid stripes) let you keep the light while blurring the view in.
• Bedrooms: if you want a dark room, choose blackout blinds, and plan the corners carefully so light doesn't creep through the gaps between sections.
• Kitchens and dining rooms: an easy-to-clean fabric or a Venetian blind is practical near cooking and eating areas.

Common mistakes

• Measuring each section on its own: the blinds in a bay need to be worked out together, because the corners affect every width.
• Mixing blind types: it can be tempting to try different styles in the side and centre sections, but matching them usually looks much tidier.
• Forgetting the curtains: if you'd like curtains as well, plan the track at the same time so it clears the blinds.
• Overlooking the sill: deep sills are handy for plants and ornaments, but they can affect where blinds sit and how far they drop.

If you're thinking about curtains too, see bay window curtains.

Common questions

Can you have one blind across a bay window?

Not usually. Because the sections sit at angles to each other, a single straight blind won't follow the shape. Separate blinds for each section, planned together, give a much better result.

Are shutters or blinds better for a bay?

Both work well. Blinds offer a wide choice of fabrics and styles, while shutters give a more solid, built-in look. It mostly comes down to taste and how you use the room.

How do you reduce light gaps at the corners?

Careful measuring helps most, along with deciding whether the blinds sit inside or outside the recess. Adding curtains on a bay track can also help cover the gaps in a bedroom.

Should the blinds go inside or outside the recess?

It depends on the depth of the recess, the handles and the shape of the bay. Inside the recess gives a neat, fitted look; outside can cover more of the glass. We'll show you how each would look at your window.

Can I measure a bay window myself?

You can, but bays are one of the trickiest windows to get right. Our measuring and fitting guide explains why we measure and fit for you.

Get advice at home

We'll bring samples to your home, measure each section of your bay and explain how the corners will work before you decide anything. We measure and fit bay windows throughout Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Darlington and the rest of Teesside. Request a free home appointment and we'll call you to arrange a convenient time, or give us a call.