Something like this might be attractive, and wouldn't be that difficult to make.

Here is a link that might be useful: bay window curtains

chicagoans - I like the valances in your link and think they would be interesting and not too hard to sew. In looking at your room, why not go with a plaid fabric? It would look cute in that style, and you could pick up all the colors of your rug in the pattern.

I'm looking forward to any suggestions folks give, I have almost the exact same sized bow window. I'll be back later with some pics and ideas I am considering!

Okay, I'm back!

This is my bow window from the outside - excuse the very ugly aluminum storms, removing them is another project for another day.

Here are a couple of inspiration pics

I want to "frame" the window rather than dress the inside, it's not that deep and with five rows of panes I think it would look too fussy. I love the look of panels over woven wood shades. I figure finding a shade sized to fit across an almost 10ft long span would be problematic and very expensive. Also I don't think I'd ever want to drop it all the way down/open.

I was at Target today and found these beautiful placemats on a clearance shelf for $1.49 each. They had the exact neutral tone colors (cream, khaki, brown and green) I was planning for a whole living room redo. I grabbed all 16 that were there. My idea is to attach them together with maybe a band of ribbon to hide the seams if necessary, baste in some "folds" running lengthwise and staple the whole thing along a piece of 1"x2" lumber and mount it over the window up close to the ceiling. I did a quickie mock up by taping the backs of two of them together and then to the rod:

I need to play with the proportions of the folds still. This shows two of the pieces of ribbon I could use if I think I need to cover the seams

I'll flank the window with simple panels of either a heavy twill or nubby linen on big rings. The rod will run in front of and at the same level as the top of the "blinds". I'm not sure what color yet but probably either khaki or chocolate - I think the green would be too much. I'd like to use a double rod to keep the sheers that are hanging now layered under the panels to have some flexibility when I want the window completely covered - a choice between light filtering/opacity or room darkening/insulating.

{{!gwi}}

Anyway ... that's my idea for dressing a big honkin' bow window!

Wow Tournant! You're really clever! Don't you just LOVE the Target Clearance end caps?? I would've never thought of this - I think it's a brilliant solution.

I read this thread with great interest, as we have 2 (!) bays in our DR!!! (DR is an addition - one bay in front, facing street, one in back. Only difference is the one facing the back year has a window seat.)

I purchased some inexpensive linen-look panels ($15/pair) at Ikea. They're tab curtains, which I don't like, but plan to turn them into back tab, by sewing the tabs down in the back. I have 4 panels per window and am unsure whether I should sew two panels together lengthwise so they appear to be one long panel per side? (Does that make sense?) We do close them at night for privacy.

I also LOVE the wood roman shades. Keep your eye on sales at JC Penney. I found some marked down to $15 there.

:)

I walk by a house in our neighborhood that has a bay window in the linving room. The owner has hung the rod & curtains straight across the front of the window as though it were a flat window. From outside (and I bet from inside)it looks like a stage.

I think bays look good when at least some of the WT follows the shape of the bay.

Thanks everyone for the feedback! Tournant - what a clever idea! Love those placemats and I always love a bargain.

Has anyone used curtain rods with connectors to make them fit bay windows? Right now I have a continental rod that I just bent to fit into the corners. It works fine but has to be covered because it's just ugly white metal.

I'd like to use curtain rods with connectors and I'm curious if they work well. Any feedback would be great!

Here is a link that might be useful: