Curtains for bay and corner windows: curved and box & bay tracks
Curved, box and bay, or straight across the front? How to choose a track for a bay or corner window, and which of our guides to measure it with.
The best way to hang curtains on a bay window is usually a curved or box and bay track that follows the shape of the window, so the curtains travel around the corners and close neatly. A straight track across the front of the bay is the simpler alternative, and a corner window can take either a curved track or two straight tracks butted together. Which works best depends on how the window is built and what you want to do with the space inside it.
In short
- Three main options: a curved or box and bay track that follows the window, a straight track across the front, or separate straight tracks butted at a corner.
- Our curved and box and bay tracks come as Designer or Motorised, in S Fold, pencil pleat or pinch pleat headings only.
- Curved tracks can have up to two 90-degree bends online. Box and bay tracks are made for 45-degree and 90-degree corners.
- Measure with our box bay curtains measuring guide for bays, or the curved curtains measuring guide for corner windows, and send a photo and plan sketch.
- Butting two straight tracks at a corner leaves a small gap at the junction.
Your options for curtains on a bay window
There are three ways to dress a bay.
| Option | How it looks | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curved or box and bay track | Curtains follow the window and travel around each corner | Bays where you want the curtains hugging the glass | Needs specialist measuring; Designer or Motorised only |
| Straight track across the front | One curtain closes off the whole bay like a wall | Bays with a seat, plants or furniture you want to hide or include | The curtain does not follow the glass, so it needs ceiling or wall fixings across the opening |
| Separate straight tracks on each face | Each window face has its own curtain | Bays where you want to open one window at a time | Gaps at the corners where the tracks meet |
For most bays, the curved track is the tidier choice. The straight track across the front works well if you want to treat the bay as part of the room, and separate tracks suit windows you use individually.
How curved, and box and bay tracks work
Our curved curtains and box and bay curtains pages cover the two track shapes. Here is what they have in common.
- Track types. Curved tracks are Designer or Motorised only. That means the plain, straight-profile Designer track, or a motorised track, and no Half Moon.
- Bends. Curved tracks can have up to two 90-degree bends online, which either fit into or wrap around the corner. Box and bay tracks are made for 45-degree and 90-degree corners.
- Headings. S Fold, pencil pleat or pinch pleat only. Inverted pleat is not available on curved or box and bay tracks.
- Fit. Ceiling (top) fit or wall (face) fit, chosen when you order.
- Fabrics. Choose a sheer or a blockout to suit the room, as with any curtain.
The point of a curved track is continuity. The carriers run around each bend without stopping, so there is no gap where two tracks meet. That is usually the most noticeable difference from butted tracks, which leave a small break at every corner.
Fabrics, headings and bay window curtain ideas
A sheer on a curved track is popular because the waves stay soft as they turn the corners and the window keeps its daylight. S Fold gives regular waves and is one of the three headings available on curved tracks. Pinch pleat gives a more tailored look and pencil pleat a softer, gathered one. Our guide on curtain headings explained compares all five headings.
Some ideas that work in real bays:
- Keep it light. Sheers in a soft white or warm neutral, such as Bali Pearl or Cassis Sand, on a curved track keep the bay bright by day and let the shape of the window show.
- Add a night layer. For a bedroom bay, a blockout fabric gives night privacy. If you want the sheer alone by day and a blockout on demand, double curtains use two tracks and project 220 to 250 mm, so check the bay has the depth and ask our team whether your layout suits a second curved track.
- Close the bay off. A straight track across the front turns a bay into a nook you can shut away, which suits a desk or a reading spot.
- Match the track to the frame. Tracks come in white, silver and black, so you can blend with the window frames or contrast with them.
- Decide the hem early. Just off the floor keeps a clean line and stays clear of dust, while touching or puddled feels softer. Record the finish with your measurements.
Motorised curtains are possible on curved and box and bay tracks. They are not available with free-flow tracks or multiple openings, and hardwired motors need a licensed electrician. See motorised curtains for the options.
How to measure a bay window for curtains: use our guide
Curved tracks are measured differently from straight ones, so use the guide written for your window rather than a general method.
| Your window | Measuring guide | Installation guide |
|---|---|---|
| Box or bay window (45-degree or 90-degree corners) | Box bay curtains measuring guide | Box bay curtains installation guide |
| Corner window (90 degrees) | Curved curtains measuring guide | Curved curtains installation guide |
| Straight track across the front, or butted straight tracks | Curtain measuring guide | Curtains installation guide |
If your bay does not have 45-degree or 90-degree angles, our guide says to contact us and we will guide you through the measuring. We also ask for a photo and a plan sketch of the window, so photograph the whole bay and note the ceiling, cornices and anything near the track path.
Tip: Decide the fit (ceiling or wall) and the finish at the floor before you open the measuring guide. The guides ask for both.
How to hang curtains on corner windows
A corner window, where two windows meet at 90 degrees, has two good answers.
A curved track with a 90-degree bend. The curtains travel around the corner in one run, with no gap. It needs the same plan sketch and photo as a bay, and the curved curtains measuring guide in the table above covers it.
Two straight tracks butted at the corner. This suits windows you use separately, but it leaves a small gap where the tracks meet. The track lengths need sizing so the ends do not collide, and the curtain measuring guide explains how to do that for single and double curtains, so follow it for your layout before you order.
Fitting a curved track
Curved and box and bay tracks have their own installation guides, linked in the table above. Follow the one that matches your order, together with the instructions supplied with your track.
When blinds or shutters suit a bay better
Curtains are not always the answer. If you want a hard-edged, tailored look on each face of a bay, roller blinds can be made for each window separately: see roller blinds. Plantation shutters are another option, and bay (45 degree) and corner (90 degree) shutters are confirmed with our team before manufacture. See plantation shutters.
Questions
How do you hang curtains on a bay window?
Use a curved or box and bay track that follows the shape of the window, or a straight track across the front of the bay. Our box bay curtains installation guide covers fitting, and the curved-track instructions ask for a photo and plan sketch.
How do you measure a bay window for curtains?
Use our box bay curtains measuring guide for 45-degree and 90-degree bays, and our curved curtains measuring guide for corner windows. Both ask for a photo and plan sketch.
How do you hang curtains on a corner window?
Use a curved track with a 90-degree bend so the curtains travel around the corner, or butt two straight tracks and size them with our curtain measuring guide. Butted tracks leave a small gap at the corner.
Can I have motorised curtains on a bay window?
Curved and box and bay tracks come in Designer and Motorised. Motorised curtains are not available with free-flow tracks or multiple openings.
Build curtains for your bay window
Choose your fabric, heading and track, then see your price before you order.
Keep reading
CurtainsCurtain tracks explained: wall, ceiling, curved and motorisedHow curtain tracks work and how to choose one: Designer, Half Moon, curved and motorised, ceiling or wall fit, fixed or free flow, brackets and wands.
CurtainsCurtain headings explained: S Fold, pencil, pinch and invertedHow S Fold, pencil pleat, pinch pleat and inverted pleat headings look, hang and stack, with a comparison table to help you choose the right one.
Room ideasCurtains for sliding and bifold doors: what to planCurtains suit sliding and bifold doors when the track is longer than the opening. Plan the stack-back, hem height and handle clearance before you order.
