What Is a Single Curtain Track?

A single curtain track is used for one pair of curtains. This is the simplest setup and works well for many bay windows.

If you only want main curtains and do not need a sheer curtain layer behind them, a single track is usually the most straightforward option.

What Is a Double Curtain Track?

A double curtain track setup uses two tracks. The rear track is normally used for sheer curtains or voiles, while the front track is used for the main curtains.

This gives you more control over privacy and light. You can keep the sheer curtains closed during the day, then close the main curtains in the evening.

Double tracks are especially useful for front-facing bay windows, living rooms and bedrooms where privacy matters at different times of day.

Why Our Double Bay Tracks Are Two Separate Tracks

Many people imagine a double curtain track as one joined system, with both tracks held together by the same long brackets. This is common with some DIY store-bought double tracks.

Our double bay tracks work differently. They are made as two separate tracks, each with its own brackets. They are simply shaped and sized to work together in the same bay window.

This gives far more flexibility over the spacing between the tracks and helps the curtain layers operate more smoothly.

The diagrams on this page mainly show curved bay windows because they are easier to explain visually. However, the same principles apply to angled bays, square bays and other bay window shapes.

The short video below explains how our regular double bay tracks work, including the spacing between the tracks and how the curtain layers operate independently.>

Why the Gap Between the Tracks Matters

Many DIY double curtain tracks hold the front and rear tracks at a fixed distance, often around 7.5cm apart.

In many bay windows, this can be too close. The main curtains may drag against the sheer curtains behind them, especially when opening and closing around bends.

Our double bay track setups usually allow around 10cm between the tracks. This extra space helps the main curtains move freely without pulling the sheer curtains along with them.

Why the Sheer Track Usually Stays Within the Bay

In most homes, the rear sheer curtain track stays within the bay rather than returning out into the room.

This is because sheer curtains are usually left closed across the bay window most of the time. They may only be opened occasionally for cleaning or to open a window on a warm day.

Because sheer curtains are much lighter than main curtains, they also stack back into a much smaller space. This usually means returns are not needed on the rear sheer track.

If the sheer track returned out of the bay as well, the main curtain track would need to sit much further forward into the room. In many cases, this would look bulky and may not work well with wall fixed returns.

Main Curtains Can Stay in the Bay or Return Out

With a double bay track setup, the rear sheer track will usually stay inside the bay.

The front main curtain track can either stay within the bay or return out into the room on each side.

Returning the main curtains out of the bay can help close side gaps, improve privacy and give the curtains more room to stack away from the windows.

Why DIY Double Bay Tracks Can Be Difficult

Bending one curtain track neatly around a bay window can be tricky. Bending two tracks to follow the same bay shape, while keeping a consistent gap between them, is much harder.

Even with good DIY skills, it is not easy to keep both tracks evenly spaced all the way around the bay.

Small differences in the bend shape or spacing can affect how the curtains hang and move, especially where the main curtains need to pass smoothly in front of sheer curtains.

By supplying the tracks already shaped and sized before delivery, the difficult part is already done. This makes the installation much simpler and helps both tracks sit correctly in the bay.

Ceiling Fixing and Wall Fixing Double Bay Tracks

Double bay tracks can be ceiling fixed, wall fixed, or fitted using a mixture of both depending on the bay shape and ceiling levels.

If the bay ceiling and room ceiling are the same height, the main track returns can often be ceiling fixed all the way around.

If the bay ceiling is lower than the main room ceiling, the tracks may be ceiling fixed inside the bay, then wall fixed on the returns out into the room.

Privacy, Light and a Softer Looking Bay Window

One of the biggest reasons customers choose double tracks is flexibility.

Sheer curtains can help soften daylight, give daytime privacy and make the bay window feel more finished without blocking out the room completely.

Main curtains can then be closed in the evening for full privacy, warmth and a softer room feel.

Sheer curtains can also help soften the appearance of older bay windows or tired window frames. In many homes, adding a sheer curtain layer is a much simpler and more affordable way to improve the feel of the bay window area without replacing the windows themselves.

Single vs Double Curtain Tracks: Quick Comparison

So Which Option Should You Choose?

If you only want one pair of curtains, a single curtain track is usually the best and simplest option.

If you want daytime privacy, softer light, a layered look, or the option to use sheer curtains behind your main curtains, a double curtain track is usually worth considering.

For bay windows, the key is making sure the two tracks are spaced and shaped correctly. This is where a made to measure double bay track system can make the finished result much easier to achieve.