How Do I Hang Curtains in a One-Sided Bay Window?
If you have a one-sided bay window and are unsure where to start, there is no need to worry. A one-sided bay is measured and fitted in much the same way as a regular symmetrical bay window.
The main difference is simply that one side of the window has bends while the other side continues straight into the room. Once we have your measurements, we can make the curtain track to follow the exact shape of your bay.
What Is a One-Sided Bay Window?
A one-sided bay window is a bay that has angled sections or bends at one end, while the other end remains straight. It may look quite different from the balanced bay windows you usually see in photographs, but it does not require a completely different type of curtain track.
Many customers contact me because they believe their window is especially unusual. In most cases, it is simply an asymmetrical version of a regular bay window and can be dealt with in exactly the same way.
and a straight section at the other.
A one-sided bay is not normally any harder to curtain than a symmetrical bay. The track simply needs to be made to the correct shape.
Can I Hang Curtains Properly in a One-Sided Bay?
Yes. Curtains can be hung neatly in a one-sided bay window just as they can in a regular bay. The curtain track follows the shape of the window, allowing the curtains to travel around the bends and along the straight section.
Depending on the layout of the room, the track may finish within the bay or continue onto one or both return walls. This affects where the curtains stack when they are open, but it does not prevent you from having a neat and practical arrangement.
In many cases, floor-length curtains are possible. The best curtain position depends more on the window sill depth, radiators, furniture and available wall space than on the bay being one-sided.
What Curtain Track Do I Need?
You do not need to look for a curtain track specifically labelled as a one-sided bay track. Any of our made-to-measure bay curtain tracks can be manufactured to follow a one-sided window.
This means you can still choose the track that best suits your curtains and how you want to use them, including regular hand-drawn, slimline, cord-operated, wave and double curtain track options.
The one-sided shape does not usually limit your product choice. We simply manufacture your chosen track to match the measurements of your particular window.
Once we have your measurements, we work out the finished track shape and the correct arrangement of bends, straight sections and brackets.
How Do I Measure a One-Sided Bay Window?
Measuring a one-sided bay is slightly different from measuring a symmetrical bay, but that does not mean it is difficult.
You still measure the straight sections of the bay and take the additional measurements needed to establish the position of each bend. The main difference is that the measurements are concentrated around one side rather than being repeated at both ends of the window.
Our printable bay measuring templates make this much easier. The template shows where each measurement should be taken, and you can write the sizes directly onto the drawing as you work.
Once you can see the measuring points marked on the page, the process usually feels much more straightforward than it first appeared.
Not Sure Where to Take the Measurements?
This is very common, particularly when one side of the bay blends into a longer wall or the window has several bends at one end.
Send me a couple of clear photographs of your bay window and I can add guidance notes directly to the images. I will mark the measuring positions and email the photographs back to you.
You can then take your measurements by following the dotted lines shown on your own bay window. This removes much of the uncertainty and allows you to measure with confidence.
You do not have to work everything out from a generic diagram. The measuring lines can be marked directly onto photographs of your own window.
Is a One-Sided Bay Curtain Track Difficult to Fit?
Fitting a one-sided bay curtain track is not very different from fitting a track in a regular bay window. The track is supplied pre-bent to match your measurements, so the main job is positioning the brackets correctly and clipping the track into place.
Your bay may need ceiling brackets in some areas and wall brackets in others. For example, the track may be ceiling fixed around the window and wall fixed where it continues onto a return wall.
You do not need to decide which combination of brackets is required. We work this out from your order details and supply the appropriate brackets with the track.
The brackets may not all look the same because different parts of the track can require different fixing methods. That is completely normal for a made-to-measure bay track.
FAQs
No. One-sided bays are less symmetrical than traditional bay windows, but we regularly manufacture curtain tracks for them. The main difference is that the bends are positioned at one end of the track rather than being balanced across both sides.
No. Any of our made-to-measure bay curtain tracks can normally be manufactured to fit a one-sided bay. You can choose the track that best suits your curtains, and we will make it to match your measurements.
The measuring points are slightly different, but the process is not necessarily harder. Our printable templates show the measurements you need, and photo guidance is available if you are unsure where to take them.
In many cases, yes. This depends mainly on the depth of the window sill, the track position and anything below the window, such as radiators or furniture. The one-sided shape itself does not usually prevent floor-length curtains.
Yes. A wave curtain track can normally be made to follow a one-sided bay in the same way as a regular made-to-measure track. The available space and bend positions will be checked as part of the order.
Send me a couple of photographs of your bay window. I can add measuring guidance directly to the images and email them back, so you can follow the marked lines when taking your sizes.
Ready to Measure Your One-Sided Bay?
Use one of our free printable measuring templates to get started. If you are not sure which measurements your bay needs, send me a couple of photos and I will mark the measuring positions for you.