First of all what exactly is a bay window? Well in short it is actually a window space that protrudes out from the main walls of the house or building. It forms a bay in the room and it usually comes with a few window panels although the common ones are three but it can be more or less. Bay window is useful to increase the space of the room and it also increases the influx of sunlight into the room. Therefore bay window is a favorite place for reading among home owners because it is probably the brightest spot in the house.
There are plenty of options when it comes to window treatments for bay windows. You can either choose to cover the windows with just blinds, shades, shutters or curtains (drapes). Nowadays a combination of blinds and curtains is getting to be quite popular as they provide the best of both worlds in decorating your bay windows.
If you choose to use roman shades or roll up blinds you will need to have a separate one for each window panel. These types of window treatments for bay windows are great in providing tidy and neat ambience to the home décor. They are great for privacy when lowered and they also filter light although not completely as there is no need for that. Wherever possible especially if your bay windows come with window frame you should go for the inside mount shades and blinds. In my opinion inside mount shades on bay windows look better and neater as compared to the outside mount ones. The other option is to use plantation shutters which are perfect for both modern homes as well as the more rustic and country type of bay windows. Apart from light filtering and privacy, plantation shutters also protect the window from intrusion something which the other types of window treatments would not do.
If you have a more traditional bay window or want a softer look you can opt for curtains and drapes. You can use separate curtain and rod for each panel but if you have a scenic view you might want to go for one curtain rod that runs across all the windows and the curtains at the side. If you intend to hang draperies on the top of the windows try to hand them as high as possible to give the illusion of a higher ceiling. Wherever possible the side curtains should be floor length as they are more elegant and provide the illusion that the windows are higher.
The final option is of course to use a combination of blinds or shades with curtains at the side. Use roller blinds or roman shades on each of the panel of the window. Do not hang any draperies on top of the window. The draperies or curtains should be at the side for decorative purpose only. The actual light filtering is done by the blinds and shades on the window panels.