Can You Use Eyelet Curtains on a Bay Window?
Eyelet curtains are not usually a good choice for bay windows if you want the curtains to work smoothly and reliably.
Although it is technically possible to hang eyelet curtains on a bay window pole, this setup often causes problems because the curtains are heavy, the pole bends are poorly supported, and the eyelets are designed to slide on a straight pole.
In most cases, the better solution is to convert the eyelet curtains into pencil pleat curtains, then hang them from a properly shaped bay window curtain track.
Can You Use Eyelet Curtains in a Bay Window?
Technically, yes. You can buy bay window curtain poles and hang a pair of eyelet curtains from them.
However, just because something is possible does not mean it is a good long-term solution.
Eyelet curtains are designed to slide along a pole. That works reasonably well on a straight window, but it becomes much more difficult when the pole has to follow the angles of a bay window.
Lee’s Advice
If a customer asks me whether eyelet curtains are a good idea for a bay window, my honest answer is usually no. The setup can look fine in a carefully staged photo, but in real homes it often causes problems with movement, support and sagging.
Why Eyelet Curtains Struggle in Bay Windows
Eyelet curtains have large metal rings fitted into the top of the curtain. These rings are designed to slide over a curtain pole.
On a straight pole, this is simple. The curtain moves in one direction and the pole is usually supported by brackets at suitable intervals.
A bay window is very different. The curtain has to travel around corners, angled sections or curves. The larger the curtain and the deeper the bay, the harder this becomes.
The eyelets themselves can also catch or resist movement as they pass around the bends, especially if the angles are tighter than the curtain pole system is designed to cope with.
The Problem with Bay Window Curtain Poles
You may have seen images online showing eyelet curtains hanging on a bay window pole. These are usually shown on a simple three-sided bay with very shallow angles.
The issue is that many bay poles only have three brackets: one in the centre and one at each side. This means the angled bends between the brackets are not properly supported.
Curtains large enough for a bay window are often heavy. Once that weight is added to the pole, the unsupported bends can start to sag.
Sagging bends make the curtains harder to pull and can make the whole setup feel less secure.
Bay Shape Matters More Than People Realise
Eyelet curtains on a bay pole are only really possible on a limited type of bay window.
The setup is most often shown on a three-sided splay bay with very shallow angles. Even then, it can still be awkward in everyday use.
For deeper bays, square bays, curved bays, multi-angled bays or bays with returns, eyelet curtains on a pole become much less practical.
A custom-made bay window curtain track is a much better solution because it can be shaped to follow the bay properly and supported along the full track.
The Better Solution: Use a Bay Window Curtain Track
For most bay windows, a properly shaped curtain track is a much better option than trying to make eyelet curtains work on a bay pole.
A made-to-measure bay window track can follow the shape of the bay, including angles, curves and returns. It can also be fitted with support brackets in the right places, rather than leaving the bends unsupported.
The problem is that eyelet curtains cannot hang directly from a curtain track. They need to be altered first.
Don’t Panic
If you already have eyelet curtains, it does not automatically mean you need to throw them away. In some cases, they can be converted by removing the eyelet heading and sewing on pencil pleat curtain tape.
Converting Eyelet Curtains to Pencil Pleat
The usual way to make eyelet curtains work with a bay window curtain track is to convert them into pencil pleat curtains.
This normally involves cutting off the eyelet heading at the top of the curtain, turning the fabric over at the new finished length, and sewing on pencil pleat curtain tape.
Once converted, the curtains can be gathered using the heading tape and hung from the track using curtain hooks and gliders.
This gives you much greater flexibility over the finished curtain width and allows the curtains to run properly on a bay window track.
The important thing is to make sure the curtains are still long enough after the eyelet heading has been removed. You also need enough fabric width for the bay window.
How Do Eyelet Curtains Compare with Other Curtain Headings?
Eyelet curtains can work well on straight poles, but they are one of the least practical curtain headings for bay window curtain tracks unless they are altered.
Pencil pleat curtains
Usually the most flexible option for bay window tracks because the gathered width can be adjusted.
Pinch pleat curtains
Can look very smart, but the finished width is usually fixed, so they need to be the correct size.
Eyelet curtains
Designed for poles rather than tracks. Usually not recommended for bay windows unless converted to another heading.
Wave curtains
A modern curtain heading that uses a specific wave glider system and needs to be planned before curtains are made.
FAQs About Eyelet Curtains and Bay Windows
Technically, yes, but they are usually not a good idea. Eyelet curtains need a pole, and bay window poles often have limited support around the bends.
Not directly. Eyelet curtains are made to slide over a pole. To use them with a curtain track, they would usually need to be altered by adding curtain heading tape.
Many bay poles have limited bracket support, often with unsupported bends. Bay window curtains are usually wide and heavy, so the pole can sag under the curtain weight.
In some cases, yes. The eyelet heading can often be removed and pencil pleat curtain tape sewn on, provided the curtains are still long enough afterwards.
Pencil pleat curtains on a properly shaped bay window curtain track are usually a much more practical and reliable option.
Ready to Choose a Bay Window Curtain Track?
If you already have eyelet curtains, the best option is usually to have them converted to pencil pleat before hanging them from a bay window curtain track.
Once the curtains are suitable for a track, the next step is choosing a made-to-measure track that follows the shape of your bay properly.
Our Track Finder can help point you towards the most suitable option based on your bay shape, fixing position and curtain style.