What to do with my bay window?

poppy3

Our lounge has a large bay window with radiator beneath. I previously had curtains that were slightly longer than sill length. On winter nights I would draw them and tuck them behind the radiator to stop heat being trapped in the bay. I am now redecorating and would ideally like full length curtains. This would mean losing the heat from the radiator unless I treat the full length curtains as dress curtains and use an additional window dressing inside the bay for privacy. Do you think a second pair of curtains inside the bay would look odd? Another option is a large expanse of roman blinds across the bay (the bay is 3 metres wide). I would add the windows open inwards which is another problem of obstruction. Does anyone have any suggestions or guidance please?

Austin_Allegro

poppy3 wrote: »

Our lounge has a large bay window with radiator beneath. I previously had curtains that were slightly longer than sill length. On winter nights I would draw them and tuck them behind the radiator to stop heat being trapped in the bay. I am now redecorating and would ideally like full length curtains. This would mean losing the heat from the radiator unless I treat the full length curtains as dress curtains and use an additional window dressing inside the bay for privacy. Do you think a second pair of curtains inside the bay would look odd? Another option is a large expanse of roman blinds across the bay (the bay is 3 metres wide). I would add the windows open inwards which is another problem of obstruction. Does anyone have any suggestions or guidance please?

I don't see why two sets of curtains would look odd, after all a lot of people have net curtains and full length curtains.

penguine

A few years back I saw a magazine article which showed multiple sets of curtains as a design feature -- I think there were actually 3 different contrasting sets of curtains each with their own curtain rail.

jackieb

My aunt has this. It looks really nice. Not odd at all. Long ones on the outside, and short ones to draw shut.

rachbc

I had this dilema and planned curtains and roman blind, however I really wanted full length curtains to draw-so got dh to move the radiator! I think 2 sets of curtains could make a dramatic feature if you had co-ordinating fabrics and kept the curtains that draw fairly simple

maman

I have a similar set up to yours but we just have a tiny radiator in bay and big one on another wall. Previously I have had full length 'dress' curtains and roller blinds on windows. At the moment we have full length 'real' curtains which we close across bay for privacy and keeping the heat in. It makes the room a bit smaller but is quite cosy at night.

organic_wanabe

In my bay window I have long dress curtains at each end which are kept back with tie-backs. On a rail underneath I have shorter curtains (in the same fabric) which, when drawn shut, sit above the radiator. The top has a pelmet (again in the same material) which hides the different rails. It looks good and saved us going to the expense of moving the radiator.