How Should Bay Window Curtains Hang?
A practical guide to planning bay window curtains, including curtain length, returns, blinds, radiators, headings, and floor-length layouts.
Bay windows can look beautiful with the right curtains, but there are a few decisions to make before everything falls into place.
Should the curtains stay inside the bay or return onto the walls? Should they hang to the sill, just below the sill, or down to the floor? What happens if there is a radiator, deep sill, blinds, or uneven floor?
This section brings those decisions together, so you can plan your bay window curtains with more confidence before choosing your track. Small layout decisions can completely change how bay window curtains look and work.
Start Here
If you are planning curtains for a bay window, the most important things to think about are the sill depth, curtain length, radiator position, whether returns are needed, and how the curtains will stack when open.
The guides below will help you work through each decision one step at a time.
Bay Window Curtain Planning Guides
Choose the guide that matches the question you are trying to answer. You do not need to read every page, but each one covers a common decision that affects how your finished bay window curtains will look and work.
Should Curtains Sit Inside or Outside a Bay Window?
Not sure whether your curtains should stay inside the bay or return onto the walls? This guide explains what works best for different bay shapes, sills, and room layouts.
How Far Should Curtains Extend Past a Bay Window?
A practical guide to how far your curtain track should return onto the side walls outside your bay window, including sill ends and return wall space.
Should Bay Window Curtains Be Sill Length or Floor Length?
Compare curtains that stop at the sill, hang just below the sill, or continue down to the floor, including radiator and deep sill considerations.
Should Bay Window Curtains Touch the Floor?
A practical guide to floor-length bay window curtains, including track position, deep sills, uneven floors, and whether curtains should hover, touch, or pool.
Why Bay Window Curtains Can Look Uneven
Learn how uneven sills, floors, and ceilings can affect curtain length, and why curtains can sometimes look uneven even when measured correctly.
Should Bay Window Curtains Cover a Radiator?
A practical guide to curtain length, heat loss, radiator positioning, and what to consider if you are renovating or moving radiators.
Best Curtain Heading for a Bay Window
A simple guide to curtain headings that work best with bay window tracks, including pencil pleat, pinch pleat, wave curtains, and eyelets.
Can You Have Blinds and Curtains in a Bay Window?
Compare blinds, curtains, and double-track voile options for privacy, light control, blackout, warmth, and a softer finished look.
What Are Returns on a Bay Window Curtain Track?
A simple guide explaining what returns are, when you need them, and how they help curtains wrap around the sides of a bay window.
Lee’s Advice
The best bay window curtain layout is usually the one that works with the shape of your bay, rather than fighting against it.
Start by looking at the window sill, radiator position, available wall space, and whether the curtains need to hang inside the bay or return onto the walls.
Once those decisions are clear, choosing the right curtain track becomes much easier.
Ready to Choose a Curtain Track?
If you are still unsure which curtain track layout is right for your bay window, our curtain track finder can help point you in the right direction.