A bay window is one of the nicest features a home can have, but it is also one of the trickiest to dress. The angled sections, the corners and the way the window projects out from the wall all make standard curtain setups awkward. Get it right, though, and a bay window becomes the centrepiece of the room.
This guide walks Sydney homeowners through how to add curtains to a bay window, from choosing the right track to measuring, hanging and styling the finished look.
Step 1: Understand the shape of your bay
Before you buy anything, work out which type of bay window you have, because it changes everything about the hardware you need:
- Square or box bay. Three sections meeting at right angles. The corners are 90 degrees, which is the simplest bay to fit.
- Angled or splayed bay. Three or more sections meeting at soft angles, usually around 135 degrees. The most common style in Sydney homes.
- Curved or bow window. A continuous gentle curve rather than separate flat panes. This needs hardware that can bend.
Stand back and look at how the sections join. The number of corners and the angle at each one decides whether you can use a rod with connectors or whether you need a track that bends.
Step 2: Choose the right track or rod
This is the most important decision, and it is where most DIY bay window projects go wrong. You have three main options:
Bendable (flexible) curtain track. This is the best all-round choice for bay windows, especially angled and curved ones. The track is shaped on site to follow the exact line of your bay, including tight corners, so the curtain glides around the whole window in one smooth run. It suits sheers and heavier fabrics alike.
Bay window curtain rod with corner connectors. A more decorative option using a rod with hinged elbow joints at each corner. It looks lovely with a traditional fit-out, but the rings can catch slightly as they pass the joints, so it works best on square or wide-angled bays rather than tight curves.
Separate poles per section. Here each pane gets its own short pole and its own pair of curtains. It is the easiest to install and great if you want to open and close each section independently, though you do end up with curtain stacks at every corner.
If you are unsure, a bendable track is the safest pick for the cleanest result.
Step 3: Decide on your curtain style
How you want the bay to function day to day will guide the style:
- One continuous run. A single track or rod carries the curtains right around the bay, drawing back to one or both ends. This gives the most dramatic, uninterrupted look.
- Panels per section. Individual curtains on each pane, which makes it easy to leave one section open while another stays closed.
- Layered curtains. Pairing light-filtering sheer curtains with a heavier block-out layer lets you soften harsh Sydney afternoon sun during the day and shut the room down completely at night. This double-layer approach is one of the most popular ways to dress a bay.
Because every bay is a different width and angle, off-the-shelf curtains rarely fit well. Custom shape and size curtains are usually the difference between a bay that looks tailored and one that looks like an afterthought.
Step 4: Measure carefully
Measuring a bay window takes a little more patience than a flat window:
- Measure each section separately. Record the width of every pane across the bay, then add them together for the total track or rod length.
- Allow for the corners. The track has to travel around each corner, so the curtain run is longer than the flat width suggests.
- Decide on overhang. Extend the track 15 to 20 centimetres past the window at each open end so the curtains can stack clear of the glass and let in maximum light.
- Set your drop. Measure from where the track will sit down to your chosen finish point, whether that is the sill, below the sill, or floor length.
Write every measurement down. If the numbers feel fiddly, this is the point where a professional measure pays for itself.
Step 5: Install the hardware
With a square bay and a rod, mount a bracket near each corner and at both ends, then fit the corner connectors so the rod follows the angles. With a bendable track, fix the brackets at regular intervals (roughly every 30 centimetres) so the shaped track holds its line and does not sag in the middle. Always screw into the lintel or solid framing above the window rather than into plaster alone, since curtains across a full bay carry real weight.
Once the track or rod is up, hang the curtains, then stand back and check the fullness. Curtains should look generous and gathered, not stretched flat across the glass.
Step 6: Style the finished look
A few touches lift a bay window from functional to beautiful:
- Go for fullness. Aim for curtains around two to two and a half times the width of the window so they gather richly.
- Choose your length deliberately. Floor-length curtains make a bay feel taller and grander, while sill-length suits a kitchen or a bay with a window seat below.
- Keep a window seat clear. If your bay has a built-in seat, sill or just-below-sill length keeps the fabric off the cushions.
- Consider motorisation. Reaching curtains at the back of a deep bay is awkward, so motorised curtains that open the whole run at the touch of a button are a genuinely practical upgrade here.
When to call a professional
Bay windows are the one window type where a custom approach almost always wins. Bendable track needs to be shaped to your exact angles, the fabric quantities are larger than a standard window, and the corners leave no room for error. If your bay is curved, very wide, or you simply want it done once and done right, having it measured and made to fit is the surer path.
For made-to-measure curtains shaped to your bay and installed across Sydney, the team at Diamond Curtains & Blinds offers a free measure and quote.