There’s always one question people have when it comes to window valances and that’s how to properly treat a bay window. First you have to know what a bay window is in terms of proportions and how exactly you can dress it with the window treatment of your choice. What a bay window is not, is one large window.
A bay window is a series of windows within a recessed wall, typically comprised of three sections. That means one window per section, thus three windows. The middle window is the widest of the three to allow the most light in, however the remaining side windows are sufficiently wide enough to permit light at different times of the day. Now how do you treat a bay window or more importantly for this article, how do you treat it with bay window valances?
Your answer: Not as if it was three separate windows but as a whole unit.
Of course each bay window will be unique to its own structure but for the most part you have the same basic foundation to work with. To start take a look at the design of the frames of the bay window as a whole. Are they designed to stand alone, as in do they really need to have valance window treatments? Or can they remain exposed provided you still have the privacy you need? If you can dress them without taking away from your framework then perhaps your approach should be how to best mount the valances so that you still feature the woodwork.
With a bay window valance you can combine other features to enhance the window and make it look inviting. For instance you can use blinds or shades for the windows and use less obtrusive valances for bay window treatments. Most shades will go well with any style valance. If your windows are closely spaced, which many bay windows are in newer homes for spatial relations, then blinds are perfect.
When you install the bay window valances you need to make sure you have enough room for the hardware. A single bay window curtain rod will make your task more streamlined if you are not adding layers to the windows, but if you plan on combining curtains with valances then you will need to use separate rods for the curtains and perhaps some bay window medallions to hold the valances in place. There is often too little room between the windows to have outside mounting brackets so you will have to mount the brackets on the inside of the frame or use hook brackets above the frame at intervals. For a streamlined look, valances for bay window utilize adjustable lock seams that connect the rods.
Despite the initial difficulty associated with dressing bay window valences so that the window itself doesn’t look crowded, when it comes down to it there really is no need to feel intimidated. It won’t cost you a whole lot to find and install the appropriate hardware or rods and you might even be influenced to make your own bay window valances. Take a look at some various patterns and see what you come up with. There are mane window valance ideas you could come up with that would make your bay window look fantastic. Plus the choices for designer valances for windows are just as limitless as the styles.