Bay Window

A bay window creates extra space within a room. It extends beyond the walls and boundaries of the house. On the outside it is clearly bound by window frames. On the inside the floor of the room is usually on the same level as the window. Sometimes the bay window spreads over multiple floors. The bay window floor will be on the same level as the lowest floor it's connected to. When you look at the build plan it will either show as square or polygonal.

Origin and features

Most often the inside corners of the bay window vary from 90 to 135 and 150 degrees. These windows are associated with the Victorian architecture. The Victorian style is very well recognizable. It shows in the types of wood used in the windows. The most common types are Mahogany, oak and walnut. These are all darker types of wood. The windows itself typically wear grand, billowing styles and contain luxurious gathers, swags and tassels. A common decoration in bay windows is stained-glass. These windows gained popularity in the 1870's and are still very popular. It is often seen in more expensive houses, villas and castles.

The benefits of a bay window in your house

Bay windows are often placed in smaller rooms to make them look bigger. It's a quite expensive solution, but can be a nice addition to the room. These kinds of windows bring a lot of natural light into the room, which is very important for the look and feel of the room. It also provides a view of the world outside the window that is impossible to attain with a ordinary window. These benefits make it a very interesting choice in a city with limited space. Compared to a balcony it is also a dryer and windless solution!

Rules regarding these windows

The rules differ for every country, since there are different building regulations in every country. In America the Building act was undergoing some changes in 1894. The result was that windows didn’t have to be flush with the exterior wall anymore. This made it possible to make windows a extension of the room. The Victorian style used this to her advantage by implementing windows in bays.

The cost of a bay window

Since every bay window is different, it is difficult to give a precise price. It is sure though that a bay window is more expensive then a normal window and contains more glass then a normal window. Furthermore it is expensive in maintenance, since it contains extra wood. Therefore it is not advised when you want a cheap solution. For double glazing of one bay window with five panels of regular size the prize will be around 2000 dollar inclusive the placing costs.

Bay window Curtain poles

As you can imagine, bay windows need a different kind of curtain pole and treatment. Some time ago there was no special kind of curtain pole for bay windows; you would have to buy a flexible curtain track. The bay window curtain pole gives the window a contemporary look and feel. This offers a lot more options in terms of design. The poles come in a wide range of styles and finishes and are strong enough to support heavy curtains. Since the upside of a bay window is the natural light which it brings into the room, it is advised to use light colored window treatment.

Bay Window Curtain Pole

When you decide to place curtains over the bay windows in your house, you’ll need the right set of bay window curtain poles to match that. Most likely you are not a home decorator yourself, since you are looking around on this website. So we are going to help you you’re your bay window curtain pole!

Choosing your bay window curtain pole

There are many different brands and types of curtain poles. Since every placement situation is different we cannot give you standard information. To make the room look nicely it is important to find a curtain that fits the color and the material of the curtain pole. The most basic curtain pole materials are wood, stainless steel and plastic. Since a bay window usually brings in a lot of light, it might be nice to pick a curtain fabric that is light and in a soft color.

When choosing a pole, it is important that it stretches over the entire are of the bay window and covers it completely. If the curtain pole is too short, some of the window won’t be covered. If the pole is too long it will stick out and make the curtain look too small. Either way your room will look funny and that’s a waste of the nice bay window. The general poles are either 120 cm or 180 cm, although some stores will be able to supply different sizes. When the provided pole is too small, you can stretch it with a connector and if it’s too long you can make it shorter. Since you are looking for a bay window curtain pole, you will need to buy flexible bay window corners. With these it can be placed against the wall properly.

Measuring the length of the pole

To know which curtain pole sizes you should be buying, measuring is key. When measuring a bay window you will need the following tools: measuring tape, protractor and a ladder. The easiest way is to make a drawing of the bay window on which you will be drawing the lengths and angles. This way you won’t forget any parts and will be able to picture it in the store. Normally you start at the final end of the pole and measure every angle. Note, some stores might use different measurements so make sure you converted the lengths to the right one.

Bay window exceptions

If there is a radiator in front of the bay window it is important to decide on which side you want the curtain to be. It looks better when the curtain is in front of the radiator, but it also blocks the heat from the radiator. We don’t have exact numbers of the heat loss and of course it is different for every bay window. When you decide to have the curtain in front of the radiator you will need a longer projection. You can also measure this part and pick between the 12 cm projection or the 6 cm projection.

When you buy a bay window curtain pole, make sure the rings to attach it to the wall are included. If not ask for them, since it is impossible to install the pole without them. Same goes for the extra brackets.