43 Airy Bay Window Ideas to Light Up Any Room

Bay windows add scene-stealing character to any room as well as a luxurious amount of natural light. A hallmark of Victorian architecture, they add interest to a building's exterior and create a natural centerpiece in a room, but can also take on a supporting role as the anchor for a reading nook, dining area, or bedroom home office.

Check out these bay window ideas for every room in the house to help you celebrate and elevate this architectural feature, with ideas for paint, window treatments, furniture layout, and more.

Keep Windows Bare

A round white tulip table and a pair of natural wood Scandi-style chairs are nestled in the floor-to-ceiling bay windows of this home library from Emily Henderson Design, 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 a variation that are known as bow windows.

Build a Window Seat

The dark green paint on the walls of this home library from Kate Marker Interiors has a calming effect that invites relaxation and gives definition to a cozy window seat that is built into a recessed bay window that provides views and a stream of natural light.

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 and unwind that isn't the bed.

Match Shades to Trim

Match the color of your bay window shades to the trim to make them disappear when not in use. In this London Victorian manor house living room designed by Emilie Fournet Interiors, a curvy vintage loveseat is positioned in the bank of bay windows, which are left free of curtains to allow a maximum of natural light to pour in.

Paint It All-White

White paint on the walls and bay window trim will create a seamless feel. This San Francisco condo living room reading nook from Cathie Hong Interiors has a bank of modern bay windows with a large central pane-less picture window and trim painted in the same bright white as the rest of the room.

Accent With Black Paint

Soft textures, layered textiles, natural elements, sculptural lighting, and a neutral palette make this living room from Leanne Ford Interiors feel cozy and relaxing. A painted black bay window with black metal grid panes add a graphic touch and a focal point.

Add Banquette Seating

Oversized modern bay windows will allow you to highlight a wide open view. OreStudios installed a wrap-around banquette in this eat-in kitchen to create a cozy place to enjoy casual meals.

Soften With Curtains

This bedroom home office designed by Jess Bunge and styled by Emily Bowser for Emily Henderson Design is nestled in a large rounded bow window. Sculptural furniture, an antique chandelier, and floor-to-ceiling drapes in a pale salmon pink create an elegant space that takes full advantage of this lovely architectural feature while adding function to the room.

Hang a Bubble Chair

In the London flat of interior designer Sarah Vanrenen, white floors and walls are livened up with mustard, gold, and pink accents. A hanging bubble chair designed by Eero Aarnio in 1968 allows light to flow through the bay windows while adding a fun place to chill.

Install a Breakfast Nook

Tyler Karu Design and Interiors created a charming breakfast nook in the shadow of a bank of black gridded bay windows in a renovated 1790 house in Falmouth, ME. A round table echoes the curves of the space, while high-back Scandi style chairs echo the window trim.

Install Wrap-Around Curtains

Kate Marker Interiors turned an oversized bank of bay windows into a grown-up conversation corner with comfortable armchairs around a circular table. Wrap-around curtains in a light check pattern complement the neutral palette of the room.

Decorate with a Garland

In this Scandinavian design-inspired playroom from Emily Henderson Design, a play kitchen is set in a floor-to-ceiling bay window flooded with light and decorated with garlands for a whimsical, kid-friendly feel.

Install Patterned Shades

While it can be tempting to leave the blinds off a bay window out of fear that it will detract from the natural beauty of the design, in a room where privacy and light control are concerns, installing stylish window blinds can enhance the architecture.

Kate Marker Interiors chose Roman shades with a bold gray-and-white pattern to add coziness above a large soaking tub in this spacious bathroom.

Choose Natural Blinds

If you need light and privacy control but have a more low-key style, install natural wood, woven, or bamboo blinds, like this San Francisco Victorian bedroom decorated with light wood tones and hanging and floor plants.

Try Adjustable Half-Shutters

Simple white shutters on the bottom half of bay windows will complement a traditional space. This historic row house living room from Brexton Cole Interiors has cozy bones with its bay windows and original moldings, plus a cozy mix of vintage and antique furnishings and a velvet couch.

Hang a Hammock

Bay windows are beautiful on their own, and decorating and placing furniture around them takes finesse. In this fun use of space, a generous bay window becomes a dedicated sun-soaked spot for an indoor hammock perfect for napping no matter the weather or the season.

Install Cellular Shades

This Victorian house in London designed by Emilie Fournet Interiors has a bank of bay windows that are painted in a darker shade of gray than the walls to create an accent. Discreet white cellular shades on the bottom half of the windows provide privacy without blocking light.

Mix Painted and Natural Wood

The tall bay windows in this spacious dining room create an air of grandeur that do a lot of the interior decorating work on their own. Accenting white paint on the window bay with natural wood trim on the windows adds contrast and warmth.

Choose Simple White Shades

This spacious bathroom from Emily Henderson Design has a large soaking tub that is positioned to take full advantage of the leafy view from the bay windows. Discreet white shades keep the focus on the outside and can be pulled down at night for privacy.

Add a Bubble Light

This San Francisco living room designed by Leanne Ford Interiors has a bank of bay windows with a carved wood surround that creates room for a seating area with two vintage chairs, while a bubble light hung in the middle of the room adds personality without blocking the light or the view.

Contrast with Dark Wallpaper

Dark wallpaper will help your bay window to stand out. In this dining room from Emily Henderson Design, a long rectangular table set for a crowd floats in the center of the room, in front of a large bay window that allows light to flow through and stands out against the patterned black-and-gray wallpaper.

Add Built-In Seating

Kate Marker Interiors added a u-shaped built-in banquette beneath a large bow window that hugs its curves and provides room to host a crowd. Add under-bench seating for extra functionality.

Anchor the Couch

Jessica Nelson Design backed a warm cognac leather sofa up against a large bay window that is roughly the same width, allowing natural light to flow in for afternoon reading sessions.

Should I put a couch in front of a bay window?

Yes, you can place a sofa in front of a bay window, but take care that it is the right scale. The back shouldn't be higher than the bottom of windows so that it doesn't block, and it generally shouldn't be wider than the windows so that it doesn't look out of proportion.

Hang Fixed Panels

Hang fixed semi-opaque shades that can be left closed for privacy without compromising natural light. This luminous pink bathroom from Caroline Andréoni Interior Design has simple white fabric shades that cover the curved bow windows over the soaking tub.

Enhance Shades With Trim

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.

Hang Colorful Drapes

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.

Enhance With a Valance

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.

Layer Curtains

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.

Add a Curved Bench

Complement contemporary bay windows with simple white shades in a semi-opaque material for a contemporary minimalist feel, like this New York City living room from Sissy + Marley Interior Design. A custom curved window seat bench softens the clean lines of the space.

Add Some Unexpected Red

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.

Install Half Curtains

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.

Paint Trim Darker Than Walls

Paint the trim darker than the walls to draw attention to the form of your bay windows. Tyler Karu Design and Interiors chose a dark blue shade that is carried onto the baseboards, then layered the windows with natural shades and floor-length curtains in a complementary blue-and-white pattern.

Hang Ceiling-Height Drapes

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.

Hang Pinch Pleat Curtains

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.

Match Window Treatments

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.

Choose Colorful Roman Shades

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.

Hang Cafe Curtains

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.

Mix Shades and Curtains

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.

Build in a Storage Bench

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.

Add Subtle Stripes

Turn your bay window wall into an accent by painting it in a subtle color that 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.

Define Sash Windows

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.

Double Up on Curtain Panels

Double up on curtain panels to adequately cover a wide bay window, like this space from Michelle Berwick Design. Choose a fabric that isn't too bulky so that you don't block the windows when the curtains are open.

Try Stained Bamboo Shades

Choose stained bamboo shades to coordinate with the palette of your room. Tyler Karu Design and Interiors chose a light gray to cover the bay windows and complement the soft neutrals in this elegant bathroom.

How do you make a bay window look better?

Paint the trim in a contrasting color to make the shape of your bay window stand out. Build a banquette with hidden storage that fits the space perfectly for a tailored look. Choose custom window treatments like patterned or textured shades or window shutters.

What can you put in a bay window?

Use a bay window to anchor anything from a reading nook or a dining table, a cozy seating area, or a home office workstation. Or turn it into an indoor greenhouse with a selection of plants hanging in front of the windows and arranged in decorative planters.

Read the original article on The Spruce.