Bay windows are a hallmark of Victorian architecture. They add character and natural light to any room. They can be a centerpiece or a supporting element for a reading nook, dining area, or bedroom home office. Check out these bay window ideas for every room in the house, including paint, window treatments, furniture layout, and more.
01of 43 Keep Windows Bare. In this home library from Emily Henderson Design, a round white tulip table and a pair of natural wood Scandi-style chairs are nestled in the floor-to-ceiling bay windows, providing abundant natural light and a view of the outdoors. What Is a Bay Window? A bay window is a central window or group of windows flanked by additional windows that jut out from a building’s walls and create a ‘bay’ inside a room. Curved bay windows are known as bow windows. Continue to 2 of 43 below. 02of 43 Build a Window Seat. The dark green paint on the walls of this home library from Kate Marker Interiors has a calming effect and gives definition to a cozy window seat built into a recessed bay window that provides views and natural light. Continue to 3 of 43 below. 03of 43 Add a Bedroom Lounge Area. In this spacious primary bedroom from Marie Flanigan Interiors, a seating area in front of the bay window provides a space to relax that isn’t the bed. Continue to 4 of 43 below. 04of 43 Match Shades to Trim. In this London Victorian manor house living room designed by Emilie Fournet Interiors, match the color of your bay window shades to the trim to make them disappear when not in use. A curvy vintage loveseat is positioned in the bank of bay windows, which are left free of curtains to allow maximum natural light. Continue to 5 of 43 below. 05of 43 Paint It All-White. In this San Francisco condo living room reading nook from Cathie Hong Interiors, white paint on the walls and bay window trim creates a seamless feel. The modern bay windows have a large central pane-less picture window and are painted in the same bright white as the rest of the room. Continue to 6 of 43 below. 06of 43 Accent With Black Paint. In this living room from Leanne Ford Interiors, soft textures, layered textiles, natural elements, sculptural lighting, and a neutral palette create a cozy and relaxing feel. A painted black bay window with black metal grid panes adds a graphic touch and a focal point. Continue to 7 of 43 below. 07of 43 Add Banquette Seating. Oversized modern bay windows allow you to highlight a wide open view.OreStudios crafted a wrap-around banquette in an eat-in kitchen, offering a cozy space for casual dining.
Jess Bunge and Emily Bowser designed a bedroom home office with a large rounded bow window, featuring sculptural furniture, an antique chandelier, and floor-to-ceiling drapes in pale salmon pink, maximizing the architectural feature and adding functionality. In Sarah Vanrenen’s London flat, a hanging bubble chair by Eero Aarnio adds a playful element, allowing light to filter through bay windows. Tyler Karu Design and Interiors created a charming breakfast nook beneath black gridded bay windows in a 1790 house, with a round table and high-back Scandi style chairs complementing the window trim. Kate Marker Interiors transformed an oversized bank of bay windows into a conversation area with comfortable armchairs and wrap-around curtains in a light check pattern. Emily Henderson Design adorned a floor-to-ceiling bay window in a Scandinavian-inspired playroom with garlands, creating a whimsical, child-friendly atmosphere. Kate Marker Interiors opted for patterned Roman shades in gray and white to add warmth above a large soaking tub in a spacious bathroom, while maintaining privacy and light control. Timothy Buck suggested natural wood, woven, or bamboo blinds for a low-key style, as seen in a San Francisco Victorian bedroom with light wood tones and greenery. Brexton Cole Interiors recommended adjustable half-shutters for traditional spaces, with simple white shutters on the lower half of bay windows.Discover 43 airy bay window ideas to light up any room in your home. These historic row house living rooms from Brexton Cole Interiors showcase cozy bay windows and original moldings, complemented by a mix of vintage and antique furnishings and a velvet couch.
Hang a Hammock in your bay window space, creating a sun-soaked spot for napping, regardless of the weather or season. Install Cellular Shades in a Victorian house designed by Emilie Fournet Interiors, where bay windows are accented with darker gray paint and white cellular shades provide privacy without blocking light. Mix Painted and Natural Wood in a spacious dining room with tall bay windows, adding contrast and warmth with white paint and natural wood trim. Choose Simple White Shades in a spacious bathroom designed by Emily Henderson, where a large soaking tub is positioned to enjoy the view, with white shades for privacy at night. Add a Bubble Light in a San Francisco living room by Leanne Ford Interiors, featuring a seating area with vintage chairs and a bubble light for personality without obstructing light or view. Contrast with Dark Wallpaper in a dining room by Emily Henderson Design, where a large bay window stands out against black-and-gray patterned wallpaper. Add Built-In Seating by Kate Marker Interiors, with a u-shaped banquette beneath a bow window, providing extra functionality with under-bench seating. Anchor the Couch in a large bay window, as seen in a design by Jessica Nelson, allowing natural light to enhance afternoon reading sessions.Should I put a couch in front of a bay window? Yes, you can. But make sure it’s the right scale. The back shouldn’t be higher than the bottom of windows to avoid blocking, and it generally shouldn’t be wider than the windows to look in proportion.
24 of 43: Hang Fixed Panels. Caroline Andreoni Interior Design with photo by Sophie Lloyd. Hang fixed semi-opaque shades that can be left closed for privacy without sacrificing natural light. This luminous pink bathroom has simple white fabric shades covering the curved bow windows over the soaking tub. 25 of 43: Enhance Shades With Trim. Bee’s Knees Interior Design with photo by Kyle J Caldwell. Enhance white bay window shades with colorful edging for a decorative look. Bee’s Knees Interior Design chose blue trim to complement a custom banquette with bright upholstery in shades of green and blue. 26 of 43: Hang Colorful Drapes. Studio Peake. Hang colorful drapes to add contrast with white trimmed bay windows. Studio Peake chose a vibrant shade of orange that glows in this light blue-gray bedroom. 27 of 43: Enhance With a Valance. Dekay and Tate Interiors. Add a valance for a cozy feel to a bedroom bay window. Dekay and Tate Interiors paired a valance with patterned Roman shades to soften this bedroom, using a red-and-white pattern in the same hues as the bed frame for a lightly coordinated look. 28 of 43: Layer Curtains. Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors with photo by Julie Soefer. Layer two types of curtains to offer options for controlling light and give your room a finished feel. Marie Flanigan Interiors mixed floor-to-ceiling sheers with beige curtains to dress the large bow windows in this transitional living room and make the conversation area feel inviting. 29 of 43: Add a Curved Bench. Sissy + Marley Interior Design with photo by Marco Ricca Studio. Complement contemporary bay windows with simple white shades in a semi-opaque material for a contemporary minimalist feel. A custom curved window seat bench softens the clean lines of the space. 30 of 43: Add Some Unexpected Red. Blakely Interior Design with photo by Andrea Pietrangeli of Bowler Lane Films. Modernize your bay windows with a graphic pattern on window shades. Blakely Interior Design chose a red-and-white pattern for a bold graphic look and paired them with bright blue armchairs to create a cozy conversation area. 31 of 43: Install Half Curtains. Becca Interiors. Half-curtains on the bottom of your bay windows will filter light and add privacy while allowing the window to remain the highlight. Becca Interiors added white sheer curtains to the bathtub area of this spacious bathroom for a soothing minimalist feel. 32 of 43: Paint Trim Darker Than Walls. Tyler Karu Design and Interiors. Paint the trim darker than the walls to draw attention to the form of your bay windows.Tyler Karu Design and Interiors selected a dark blue shade that is carried onto the baseboards. They then layered the windows with natural shades and floor-length curtains in a complementary blue-and-white pattern. Continue to 33 of 43 below 33 of 43 Hang Ceiling-Height Drapes Desiree Burns Interiors. Follow the gentle curve of bow windows with ceiling height drapes to draw the eye upward. Desiree Burns Interiors hung white drapes from white rods for a seamless look in this historic Boston townhouse living room. Continue to 34 of 43 below 34 of 43 Hang Pinch Pleat Curtains Studio Peake. Decorate your bay window with pinch pleat drapes for an elegant look. Studio Peake chose simple white drapes with subtle red edging to complement the colorful furnishings and decor in this London living room. Continue to 35 of 43 below 35 of 43 Match Window Treatments Kendall Wilkinson Design. Layer Roman shades and curtains in the same fabric for a subtle look. Kendall Wilkinson Design chose a soft gray to complement the furniture, silver-toned decor, and lavender walls of this primary bedroom. Continue to 36 of 43 below 36 of 43 Choose Colorful Roman Shades Dekay and Tate Interiors. Energize a bay window with patterned Roman shades. Dekay and Tate Interiors chose an airy floral pattern that adds contrast with ceiling wallpaper and colorful upholstery and textiles in this eclectic living room. Continue to 37 of 43 below 37 of 43 Hang Cafe Curtains Becca Interiors. Give your bay window banquette dining area a cozy feel with cafe curtains. Becca Interiors hung sheer beige curtains from brass rings on a black rod in this neutral dining nook that make it feel like the best table at your favorite bistro. Continue to 38 of 43 below 38 of 43 Mix Shades and Curtains Kate Marker Interiors. Mix shades and curtains to give your bay window a dressed feel. Kate Marker Interiors paired neutral shades with patterned blue-and-white curtains to complement blue grasscloth walls in this coastal dining room. Continue to 39 of 43 below 39 of 43 Build in a Storage Bench Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography. Pair a wide bay window with a built-in storage bench to make it extra-functional, like this mudroom laundry room from Jessica Nelson Design. Continue to 40 of 43 below 40 of 43 Add Subtle Stripes Tyler Karu Design and Interiors. Turn your bay window wall into an accent by painting it in a subtle color and using the same color a few shades darker to finish trim. Tyler Karu Design and Interiors updated this Victorian living room with softly striped shades that complement the accent wall for a mix of old and new aesthetics. Continue to 41 of 43 below 41 of 43 Define Sash Windows Becca Interiors. Modernize sash windows with black paint. Becca Interiors defined the sash bay windows in this Colonial home with matte black paint to match the chairs to update the dining room. Continue to 42 of 43 below 42 of 43 Double Up on Curtain Panels Michelle Berwick Design. Double up on curtain panels to adequately cover a wide bay window, like this space from Michelle Berwick Design.
Discover 43 airy bay window ideas to light up any room in your home.
To maximize light and maintain a view, select a fabric for your curtains that isn’t too bulky. This ensures the windows remain unobstructed when the curtains are open.
43 of 43: Try Stained Bamboo Shades
Tyler Karu Design and Interiors recommends stained bamboo shades to coordinate with your room’s color palette. For instance, they chose a light gray shade to cover bay windows, enhancing the elegance of this bathroom by complementing the soft neutrals.
How to Make a Bay Window Look Better:
– Paint the trim in a contrasting color to accentuate the bay window’s shape.
– Construct a banquette with hidden storage that fits perfectly into the space for a tailored look.
– Opt for custom window treatments such as patterned or textured shades, or window shutters to add a personal touch.
What Can You Put in a Bay Window?
A bay window can serve as an anchor for various setups, including:
– A reading nook or a dining table
– A cozy seating area
– A home office workstation
Alternatively, transform your bay window into an indoor greenhouse by displaying a selection of plants. Hang them in front of the windows and arrange them in decorative planters for a lush, green view.
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