Which Shutters Are Best for Bay Windows?
Bay windows add character to the outside of your house and light and space indoors. If you’re lucky enough to live in a home with bay windows, you’ll want to make the most of the benefits they provide – which is why shutters are the perfect choice of covering.
At the Bespoke Shutter Company, we fit stylish plantation shutters to homes in Herts, London and Essex. Here we look at the advantages of shutters for bay windows.
The History of Bay Windows
In the Gothic period, churches and chapels often relied on private donors to survive. Often these benefactors had their own worship space built for them, protruding from the building. Windows were needed for lighting purposes – and so the bay window was born.
Their two key features were that:
- They projected beyond the main walls
- No part of their structure ever touched the ground.
The English Renaissance period, from the late 15th to the early 17th centuries, first saw bay windows used in people’s houses – but only in lavish mansions and stately homes. Typically, they were used on the upper storeys, when they were known as oriel windows. But they were also found on the ground floor, often outside the mansion's main hall.
Bay windows became more common in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, as a relaxation of the domestic building regulations meant you were permitted to install windows which stood proud from the façade.
Different Types of Bay Windows
There are several different types of bay windows. Typically, they have between three and five panels.
Box bay windows have three flat sides in the shape of a rectangle.
Standard-angled bay windows also have three sides, but they are set at an angle to create a rounded appearance outside the house.
Multi-angled box windows, which are also known as bow windows, have additional panels set at angles to create a more rounded appearance outside the house.
Why are Shutters the Best Option for Bay Windows?
Bay windows provide an elegant and characterful living space as well as kerb appeal, which has made them sought-after by those seeking period and modern homes alike. They make the room feel more spacious and mean you can enjoy more extensive views. They are a great place to add a window seat and watch the world go by.
However, this also makes effective window coverings essential to provide privacy and shade. Plantation shutters are a great option because they enhance the look of bay windows, whereas blinds and curtains can detract from their appearance.
Shutter Styles for Bay Windows
Our bespoke plantation shutters are ideal for all types of bay window. We can supply and install three distinct styles, both inside and outside, to box, angled and bow bay windows. All are made to measure to the exact size of your window panels.
Full length shutters cover the length and breadth of the window. Beautifully simple in their design, they create a clean, stylish impact and are ideal for rooms with bay windows which require full privacy and shading, such as bedrooms or living rooms. The louvered panels are tilted to provide light and/or privacy.
Café style shutters, meanwhile, cover only half the window, to allow natural light to enter the room while screening the inhabitants from passers-by. First seen in French cafes, they are now often used in kitchens and livings rooms to create a cosy but light private space. They can be made with louvered or solid panels.
For many people, tier on tier shutters offer the best of both worlds. These consist of two sets of shutters, one above the other, which can be opened or closed independently.
Plantation Shutters from the Bespoke Shutter Company
If you’d like to find out more about shutter options for your bay windows, whether they are box, angled or bow, contact the Bespoke Shutter Company. We supply and install full length, café style and tier on tier shutters for homes across London, Hertfordshire and Essex.
You can get in touch at info@bespokeshutters.com or call us on 020 3131 3155.
Tweet