What a perfect bay window to build a window seat in..here's a few ideas I found online.. also window treatments{{!gwi}}{{!gwi}}{{!gwi}}{{!gwi}} one more window seat lovely:{{!gwi}}

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

I had 5 bay windows in our last home. Most had four panels; one on each side window and two on the center window. The breakfast room window had only valances. The MBR had both panels and valances.

What room is your bay window?

I have the same problem , I have a bow window and also a Header above the window and looking for ideas for drapes.

Ladybug

Thanks for the replies.
This window is in our living room.
As you can see we have no furniture in there at the moment but I do have two sofas I'm planning to use in the room. One will go in front of these windows and the other will be facing them.
I like the window seat idea (although I couldn't see the images?). However, I'm not sure it would really work with the furniture placement I have planned for the room.
I'd love to hear from anyone else who has tackled this problem or has photos to share!
Thanks

I grew up in a home with that style of bay window. We had 1 drapery rod which followed the shape of the bay. My folks had drapes, 1 panel at each end, and they closed by pulling a string. I know technology has advanced and styles are different, but having the rod follow the shape of the window maximized the space in the room.

California dreamer? did you try a right click on red x if that is what you got then click show picture...you may get to see the photo's that way.

We had a sofa in front of the LR bay also. Instead of a sofa table behind it, I had a three tier plant stand with African Violets (bloomed ALL the time) and had several potted plants in the space also.

Are you interested in a formal/custom treatment or something like simple panels? I don't have a picture on the computer of the custom treatment, but can scan one. It was done 15yrs ago and taken down a couple of years before we started building the new house.

Less formal in den. I had a wooden bench with plants and a couple of items on it.

See below attached link for LR after custom was taken down - doesn't show window in full either.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Thanks so much for the replies. I love the plant stand idea. I'll have to look into that.
It seems like most people put the panels inside the header. It looks great in allison's photos. Where do you find a rod like that?
My LR has a vaulted ceiling and this window is on the side where the ceiling is the lowest. So I'm concerned that putting the window treatments even lower (under the header) will give it a "squatty" feeling. Does that make sense?

Maybe I should just start with valances and see how that looks. ??
Thanks again for your input!

I can't post a picture, but I have the same setup in my kitchen. I have cellular shades and on the side of each window I have a shear burn-out fabric from RH that has beads wrapped in a clump (I know this must sound like a monstrosity) and hung on a nail on each side of the windows. They don't open or shut. They are just there for fluff and make the windows look less hard. Almost as though you look at Allison's picture above, minus the drapery rod, and the fabric is semi-sheer.

I just bought three rods and hung them almost touching at the corners. Those came from Country Curtains and were not expensive. I just ordered more because I want to hang the curtains in our den downstairs. I purchased those curtains there too.

The LR rods I bought at Target and spray painted bronze. Left those window items when we moved.

We had a vaulted ceiling upstairs with the bay window in our master bedroom. It did not look squatty.

It looks like the windows look out into a private courtyard so privacy isn't a problem. If thats the case, I'd leave it bare because I like a lot of light in a room.

But if privacy is a concern, I think some simple beautiful panels would look good. (I think valances make ceilings look lower.)

Here is what I did in my bedroom that has a slightly different style of bay window.

Thanks for the replies.
Yes, privacy isn't a problem. I just want to add window treatments to bring some fabric and color into the room.
Thanks, too, for posting the pictures. It's so helpful to see what others have done!
I think I'll look for some panels and hang them along the windows under the header.
Thanks again!

Here's a quickie idea. I think you could really save some money and not even use a rod, or at least just a cheapie. If you hang your curtains so they cover the rod (put drapery pins lower in the pleats) you could just use a drape on each side (probably would have to be about a double width of fabric to pull back. Also, by hanging off rings, your panels will get even lower, and it would be good to have them as high as possible inside that bay.
{{!gwi}}
I personally love bay windows but like them more open, not closed off. I did a situation with chairs/table to show what I mean. I had a lamp on the table first, which I liked and I think looks nice from outside. Then I saw the flowers and traded them out, just for another idea. Don't know your colors or style, so I chose something I already had uploaded.

I love your window. If it were in my house, I'd get a window seat built, with either hinged lids for storage or shelves below the seats. I'd do panels that can be closed, just because they look more gracious and it's cozy to shut out the world sometimes. I think valances alone look sort of skimpy. If you want to hang the curtains higher, then get a cornice built to give the illusion of greater height.

sallymo,
Thanks for the picture- did you do that with photoshop?
I think that looks good. I'll probably try it like that with 2 panels to start and I can always add more if I want to .
I love the look of 2 chairs in front of that window. But I have two sofas for this room so one will have to go in front of the window. I'll probably put a table or something behind it with plants or flowers on it.
Thanks again for the helpful suggestions!

I understand if you already have the 2 sofas, I think you've got a good plan by putting a narrow table behind the one in front of the window. The low window may cause the sofa to show from the outside (and probably fade). My own sofa has faded on the arms, but it is a pale yellow so it doesn't show too bad.
It is not photoshop but a program I use for my business. It specializes in window treatments and now they are adding room elements. Very helpful for those customers who have a hard time visualizing, and for me to help with scale.

Is the concrete wall on your property (or at least the grassy area in the foreground)? I'd make sure to put some greenery and color along that wall, if you can.

I love the mock-up above, better than putting in a window seat. Window seats are wonderful if you have a rather large room and don't need that space for furniture!

I have a bay window in my dining room.What i have is a long rod that goes across all 3 windows and have lace panels on each end of the rod.Just a little above that i bought one of those rods you put in a closet,painted it white and did a draped scarf type valance all the way across the 3 windows,and added big cabbage roses i made at each end of the valance.The center of the window is kept free and clear of any curtains.It does have the cellular shades built into all the windows.Dh said if he had to pay all that money for that window,he wanted to enjoy it,so the whole thing could not be covered with drapes,curtains whatever.I have a bench seat under it,that i just put in a week or 2 ago,actually it's my cedar chest that i re-finished and put there,but it serves the purpose.
kathi

Sallymo, What type of rod would you use to hang curtains with drapery hooks? Would it be similar to a traverse rod type? I have the same situation in my DR and want panels on the outside windows only, but, I don't like how it looks with a finial on a traditional rod extending out past the bay wall. Hopefully this info will help out california dreamer too! Thankyou!