How to Hang Curtains in an Angled 5-Sided Bay Window
If you’re wondering how to hang curtains in your angled five-sided bay window, I’ll show you the arrangement I recommend and explain why it works well.
Your bay doesn’t need to look exactly like the example below. What matters is that it has five sides within the bay.
You’ll also see where to take the one measurement you need to get a price and place your order.
Recognise your bay shape
Most angled five-sided bays have three windows: one in the middle and a sloping window on each side. The two remaining sides are the wall sections at either end, inside the bay.
Some have a window in each of the five sections instead. Both layouts count as an angled five-sided bay, so you would select the same bay shape when ordering.
Not sure whether you have an angled 5-sided bay or a splay bay? They can look very similar, particularly in older houses. I’ve explained the differences in my 5-Sided Bay Window Curtain Track guide . The guide opens in a new tab, so you can easily return here once you’ve identified your bay.
How I recommend hanging your curtains
For a bay without returns, the depth of your window sill helps determine how your curtains should hang.
If your sill is deep, I’d usually recommend short curtains finishing just above the sill. Longer curtains need to hang further into the room to clear it, which can leave large gaps at the sides of the bay.
If your sill projects only a few centimetres, your curtains can hang in front of it and finish below the sill—or continue down to the floor.
This can work when you may just like the look of the curtains hanging within the bay only. Or for more practical reasons. Such as there is shelving or furniture on the return wall. So your curtains have to stay inside the bay.
Would you prefer your curtains to turn out onto the room walls? You can see how that arrangement works in my Angled 5-Sided Bay With Returns guide .
Where to measure to get a price
Follow the dotted line in the image and measure around the bay along the path your curtain track will follow, from one end to the other.
Add these measurements together. This total is the only bay measurement you need to get a price and place your order.
Ready to choose your bay curtain track?
If this is your bay shape and you’d like your curtains to hang as shown, you’re ready to get a price for your track.
No other bay measurements needed yet — your total measurement is enough to get started. I’ll guide you through the other measurements after you’ve placed your order.
I’ll check everything before we start making your track. If anything needs checking, I’ll get in touch so we can go through it together.
Want a peep at the other measurements?
If you’d like a heads-up on the other measurements we’ll need after you’ve ordered, watch the video. You can also print the measuring template and fill it in at your own pace.
Once you’ve placed your order, you can upload your completed template through your measuring page.
