Best Window Coverings for Bay Windows
Last updated: 10 June 2026
The best window coverings for bay windows are plantation shutters, blinds fitted one per pane, or curtains on a flexible track that bends around the projection. Which one suits you depends on your bay's shape and the direction it faces, because a west-facing bay that bakes all afternoon asks for very different treatment than a shaded southern one. We hear this question every week, usually from someone standing in front of a lovely angled bay with a tape measure and no idea where to start. This guide walks through every realistic option, with honest trade-offs for homes across Sydney and New South Wales.
Why are bay windows hard to fit?
Bay windows are hard to fit because the panes push out from the wall and meet at angles, so any covering must either follow each angle or span across the whole projection. The join points are where most DIY attempts come undone.
It helps to know your bay's shape first, because that drives everything else. Most fall into three types:
- Box bay: panes meet at right angles, forming a squared-off projection.
- Angled (faceted) bay: the classic terrace bay, with flat panes meeting at soft 135-degree angles.
- Curved bay: a continuous gentle curve, common in Federation and Art Deco homes, and the fussiest to fit.
Two terms worth knowing. The reveal is the recessed area between the glass and the front face of the wall, and the recess depth is how far back it sits. A deep reveal lets you mount blinds neatly inside each pane. A shallow one usually means mounting on the wall face instead. More on that in the measuring section.
Which window coverings work best for bay windows?
Six window treatments handle bays well, and each suits a different shape, budget and light problem. Shutters and pane-by-pane blinds follow the angles, while curtains sweep around them in one run.
Roller blinds
Roller blinds are the practical workhorse. You fit one slim roller per pane, so each section operates on its own, and the flat panes of a box or angled bay give every roller a clean line to sit against.
For a hot north- or west-facing bay, a quality sunscreen fabric cuts glare and blocks a big chunk of UV without losing your view. Pair it with a blockout roller on a double bracket if the room is a bedroom. The roller blinds range covers both. The trade-off is that a curved bay shows small gaps between the flat rollers, so they read best on straight-edged bays.
Roman blinds
Roman blinds bring soft, folded fabric and a more tailored, dressed look. One per pane works well in a box or angled bay, and you get warmth and texture a plain roller cannot match.
They do stack a depth of fabric at the top when raised, so a shallow reveal can feel crowded. In a tight recess, an outside mount fixed to the wall above each pane is the safer call. Romans also give less precise light control than a slatted blind, which is why they pair so well with a sheer curtain for layered glare control.
Plantation shutters
If you want one covering that handles almost any bay shape, shutters are hard to beat. Hinged panels are built to follow box and angled bays exactly, and specialist makers can even shape them around a curved bay. You get tilt-and-go light control, strong privacy and a durable, built-in look that lifts a heritage terrace.
Blinds in Style has fitted plantation shutters into more Sydney bays than any other product, and they handle harsh summer light well. Adjustable louvres let you throw the glare up and away. The honest catch is cost. Made-to-measure shutters are the priciest option here, and they are a fixed fitting, so you commit to the look.
Venetian blinds
Venetians give you that same tilt control at a friendlier price. Timber warms up a period room, while faux-wood, a moisture-resistant composite that looks like timber, suits a kitchen or bathroom bay that catches steam.
One blind per pane keeps each section tidy, and the slats let you bounce hot afternoon sun off the ceiling rather than into the room. You can browse the venetian blinds options by material. The downside is dusting, since horizontal slats collect it, and like rollers they leave small gaps on a curve.
Cellular (honeycomb) blinds
Cellular blinds are the quiet achiever for energy control. The fabric forms honeycomb-shaped pockets that trap a layer of air, which slows heat moving through the glass. For a bay that bakes in summer or leaks warmth on a winter morning, that insulating pocket earns its place. The Australian Government's YourHome guidance rates close-fitting cellular coverings among the best for reducing heat gain and loss.
They fit best as one blind per flat pane and come in light-filter and blockout fabrics. You will not get the slatted, tilt-style control of a Venetian, so think of them as comfort and energy first, fine light adjustment second.
Curtains
Curtains soften the whole bay and frame it as a feature. The key is a flexible track that bends to follow the angles or curve, so the fabric flows around the projection in one sweep. An S-fold heading, where the fabric hangs in even wave-like folds, suits this best and looks current.
You have real range here. Curtains in a sheer weave diffuse harsh glare while keeping the room bright, and a blockout lining behind them handles privacy and dark bedrooms. The trade-off is floor space. Curtains need room to stack back, and a window seat in the bay can block a full draw, which is exactly where layering a blind underneath helps.
How do bay window coverings compare?
| Covering | Light control | Privacy | Insulation | Motorisable | Best bay shape |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roller blinds | Good | Good | Fair | Yes | Box, angled |
| Roman blinds | Fair | Good | Good | Yes | Box, angled |
| Plantation shutters | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Limited | All shapes |
| Venetian blinds | Excellent | Good | Fair | Yes | Box, angled |
| Cellular (honeycomb) | Good | Good | Excellent | Yes | Box, angled |
| Curtains (S-fold) | Good | Good | Good | Yes | Curved, all shapes |
How do you measure a bay window?
Measure a bay window pane by pane, writing each width and drop down separately, because no two panes in an older terrace are ever quite identical. It takes patience, not skill.
- Decide your mount first. An inside mount sits the covering within the reveal for a clean recessed finish. An outside mount fixes it to the wall face, which suits shallow reveals and hides uneven frames.
- Check your recess depth. Inside-mounted blinds need enough depth to clear the window handles and sit flush. Too shallow and the blind will foul the glass or hardware, so an outside mount is the safer call.
- Measure each pane in three places. Take the width at top, middle and bottom, and the drop on both sides. Use the smallest width and the longest drop.
- Note the angles. For shutters and bendable curtain tracks, the join angle between panes matters, so a professional measure pays off on tricky bays.
For step-by-step photos, the how to measure your window guide walks through each reading.
Worth knowing: motorisation makes a real difference on a bay you cannot easily reach. If yours sits behind a kitchen sink, above a window seat, or runs floor to ceiling, motorised blinds let you control every pane from one remote or your phone, with no cords stretched across angled panes. They are also a safer choice in homes with young children.
Made-to-measure or off-the-shelf?
Made-to-measure wins for most bays, though off-the-shelf can be a fair call on a simple box bay with a tight budget. Stock blinds only fit if your panes happen to match standard sizes, which they rarely do in a heritage home. You can buy a stock roller and live with a few centimetres of gap, and for a rental that trade is reasonable.
For anything beyond a simple box bay, a custom solution is the better spend. Each piece is cut to your exact pane, the angles are accounted for, and a bendable track or shaped shutter follows a curve that no stock product will. The Australian Window Association's guidance on window performance is a useful read if you want your coverings to pull their weight on energy too. A curved or steeply angled bay is one job where paying for a proper measure saves money over a second attempt.
Which covering is right for your bay?
Start with your bay's shape, then factor in which way it faces. A west-facing angled bay wants UV and glare control, so think sunscreen rollers, Venetians or shutters. A cool south-facing curved bay can lean into curtains or shaped shutters for looks and warmth. There is no single right answer, only the one that fits your bay, your light and your budget.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to cover a bay window?
Off-the-shelf roller blinds, one per pane, are usually the lowest-cost option for a box bay with standard-sized panes. For angled or curved bays, the saving often disappears because stock sizes leave gaps, and a made-to-measure roller fits better for not much more.
Can you put plantation shutters on a curved bay window?
Yes. Shutter panels are made in flat sections that follow the bay's angles, and specialist makers can step them around a gentle curve. It is one of the few coverings that suits every bay shape, though it sits at the higher end on price.
Do bay windows need professional measuring?
A simple box bay can be a confident DIY measure. Angled and curved bays are where a professional measure earns its keep, because the join angles and varying pane sizes are easy to get wrong and costly to redo.
What window covering is best for a hot, sunny bay?
For a north- or west-facing Sydney bay, look at sunscreen roller blinds, Venetians or shutters with adjustable louvres, all of which let you redirect glare. Cellular blinds add the most insulation if summer heat through the glass is your main concern.
Get Expert Advice on Bay Window Coverings in Sydney
If you would rather not climb a ladder with a tape measure, leave the angles to the specialists. Blinds in Style brings 28 years of experience and an award-winning record to made-to-measure window coverings, and the team will supply and install across Sydney and New South Wales. Book a free measure and quote, and a consultant will bring samples to your home, check every join and pane, and give you peace of mind that your bay fits perfectly the first time!
Also in News
