9 tips for designing a room with a bay window + photo

Someone considers the bay window as a relic of the past, someone sees in it continuous problems and does not even consider buying such apartments. If you approach the process of arranging the bay window zone wisely, you will be able to extract one solid advantage. The bay window is a source of a large amount of light, additional space and effective decoration of any room. There are a lot of ideas to organize the design of a room with a bay window - the main thing is to determine your wishes and stylistic features, well, and we will help you with this.

No. 1. Features bay window ledge

Bay window - a word of German origin, and in translation means "ledge in the wall", "lantern". Under the bay window, it is customary to call an architectural element, the protruding part of the facade of a semicircular or multifaceted shape. Most or even the entire area of ​​the bay window ledge is glazed, so there should be no problems with a shortage of natural light. The bay window is not a balcony or a loggia, although they certainly have something in common. The difference is that the bay window is practically not separated from the main space of the room.

Usually the bay window is decorated with living rooms, but there are also kitchens, children's rooms and bedrooms with a similar architectural element. The protrusion can be of various sizes and shapes:

• semicircular, trapezoidal and polygonal bay windows are found most often;
• cubic and angular-rectangular bay windows are more reminiscent of traditional loggias and balconies;
• two-story bay windows are usually equipped in private homes.

Depending on the characteristics of the house, the bay window can be very compact and can accommodate only a couple small armchairs from coffee table, or be so huge that half of the living room will fall on this particular part. Anyway, bay window - this is so noticeable, strong and dominant part of the interiorthat it would be better to develop a design project, starting from this particular part.

No. 2. The main advantages and disadvantages of the bay window

The bay window is a real find, no matter what room it is in. Today, more and more people understand this fact, therefore, developers are reacting accordingly, erecting more and more apartment buildings with a similar architectural detail. In order not to be unfounded, here are the main advantages of rooms with a bay window:

• penetrates a large area of ​​glazing huge amount of sunlight at different angles, and it’s saving and comfort, and a well-lit room always looks bigger than the one in which there is not enough light. In the summer, curtains will help to combat the excess of sunshine;
• bay window is useful extra spacewhich can be used for different purposes. If the area the rooms are small, then the bay window becomes generally a lifesaver;
• with the help of a bay window you can easily enough zoning room space, highlighting several independent sections in it;
• the glazed ledge in the room, whatever shape and size it is, is room decoration and its zest, giving space solemnity. For each person who enters, the gaze will immediately be attracted precisely to the bay window;
• if the apartment is at a sufficient height or in an area with beautiful natural landscapes, then only one view outside will make the bay window fall in love with all my heart;
• due to the fact that the room with the bay window will be filled with enough light, in its design dark and saturated colors can be usedwhich for small and dark spaces are taboo;
• in terms of choice of style and color design there are practically no restrictions.

You can add to the list of benefits multifunctional bay window ledge, because it can be adapted for the dining area, and for the office, and under sports section, and under the place of relaxation with a cup of coffee and a gorgeous scenery outside the window - there are an infinite number of options, and we will stop on them. It is worth noting that the bay window also looks great from the facade.

Minuses hard to find in the bay window, but they are. If there is too much light, you can always use blackout curtains, moreover, they can be very compact and assembled practically take up no space. Sometimes they find fault with ventilation bay window but modern window systems in this regard, they are perfect: opening parts are provided for in the glazing, so there will be no problems with a lack of fresh air. The most important minus is more complex repair and finishing work, because when it comes to non-standard architectural forms, ledges and niches, you always have to spend more time and refuse some materials, but in our case, everything is not so critical. You will also have to bother with more complex glazing, and on warming in some cases, it will be necessary to pay closer attention.

No. 3. Bay window and room type

When it comes to apartment buildings, the bay window in the vast majority of cases in the living room or combined living room kitchen. Owners of private houses have wider scope for imagination: a bay window can be designed in the kitchen, in the bedroom, in the nursery, and even in the bathroom.

Consider the key features of arranging a bay window in different rooms of the apartment:

• bay window in the living room often used to organize recreation areas with a sofa, armchairs and a small coffee table. The gaze of the seated can be directed inside the room or on the street landscape - it all depends on the view outside the window. In the combined kitchen-living room, a bay window is often used to position the dining area. A widespread option is when the bay window space (usually small) remains free, so that nothing would interfere with admiring the landscapes that open. The only thing that is useful in this case is elegant curtains. Another option in this case is winter Garden;
• bay window in the bedroom suitable for the location of a reading zone or a secluded pastime, so it’s better to put a small soft sofa, bench or a couple of chairs here. If the apartment or house has few rooms, and Personal Area If it is required, then it can be equipped just in the bay window;
• bay window in the kitchen can be used to create a spectacular dining area. Each meal will be like a celebration! However, you can do otherwise, using a bay window to set the working area. In this case, the hostess, while cooking and washing dishes, will always have the opportunity to enjoy the view and to have a moral rest;
• bay window in the nursery infrequent guest, and its arrangement depends on the age of the baby. If this is a student’s room, then the bay window is appropriate to use for the location of the working area with a desk. Lack of lighting when writing and reading can lead to vision problems, and there is always a lot of sunlight in a bay window. In the preschooler’s room, the protrusion can be used to organize a play area with houses and places for storing toys, just make sure that the distance to heating radiators was safe;
• bathroom with bay window - it is a rarity. Such an idea can be realized only in a private house, and then, if the window faces a dense forest, and even then, not everyone will agree to such a decision. The reward for courage will be the unique interior and water procedures, practically alone with nature, if the landscape outside the window is suitable.

As you can see, there are many ideas - everyone can find something of their own, and we will focus on the most interesting options for arranging the bay window interior in the room.

Number 4. What can be placed in a bay window: some practical ideas

The bay window is interesting in that you can actually equip it as you wish. But what exactly can be placed in the ledge?

Sofa zone

Most popular option - place a soft sofa in the bay window and equip a comfortable sitting area. Depending on the size of the bay window ledge and your own wishes, you can choose different furniture:

• the most expensive and effective way - make a sofa to order in the form of a ledge and put it right next to the bay window. The cozy semicircular soft zone will be a great place to relax after a hard day's work, family gatherings and fun parties with friends. To increase the number of seats, on the contrary, you can put a couple of chairs or poufs;
• also in the ledge will look great a small sofa or a pair of comfortable soft chairswhich can be turned in any direction: to the window or from it. You can complement the relaxation area with a coffee table;
• on both sides of the ledge, opposite each other, you can arrange a pair of small identical sofas. This will bring harmony, symmetry to the interior and visually increase the bay window itself.

The sofa zone in the bay window can be independent or be a continuation of the general recreation area.

Tea area for two

An option for those cases when the bay window cannot boast of a sufficient area, or you just don’t want to clutter it too much. A pair of armchairs, a small table, rugs - and a cozy area where you just want to relax in silence, drink coffee sutra or read a book, is ready. Such a place would be appropriate both in the living room and in the bedroom.

Dining area

Lunch, watching what is happening on the street, or admiring the beautiful views, is a special luxury available to all those who decide to organize a dining area in the bay window. Will need to pick up a table suitable size and shape. Together with it, you can use both familiar chairs and soft sofas. Part of the seats can be arranged with the help of a neat sofa bench, which will repeat the shape of the bay window ledge. Both celebrations and ordinary family dinners will be held in a special atmosphere, especially since the capacity in any case will be quite large. The dining area can be placed in the bay window, which is part of the kitchen or living room.

Bay window as a place for a kitchen set

If the kitchen is decorated with a bay window, and for some reason you don’t want to make a dining area there, then you can use this space to install a kitchen set. Firstly, on countertop enough light will always fall. Secondly, the routine process of cooking and washing dishes will become more exciting and interesting. Thirdly, you can save useful space. Finally, such a kitchen will look very impressive, but there are many difficulties in this case. You will have to transfer communications, and if you remember that sewer pipes stacked at a slight angle, then some difficulties may arise. In addition, there will be difficulties with the selection of suitable furniture, and, most likely, kitchen set will have to do to order.

Workspace

The bay window is great for organizing an office in it, and it can be located both in the bedroom and in the living room. There will be no problems with the lighting of the workplace - panoramic light admits enough natural light.You just have to choose a desk of suitable size and design. As a rule, the table is arranged so that the seated person is facing the window, but there are also opposite options. If the protrusion has a sufficient area, the table can be placed diagonally - it will look quite interesting. Storage can be arranged in cabinets under the window or in the table itself.

If there will be plenty of sunlight in the afternoon, they will come to the rescue jalousie. In the evening, the issue of lighting is solved using a table lamp. If the view from the window is decent, then landscapes and beautiful sunsets can be distracting from business - this is the main minus of the working area in the bay window. However, the view outside the window will serve as a source of inspiration and help to relax and rest. Work chair It should be convenient, but it is not necessary to choose strict office options - for the home environment they produce a lot of comfortable and pretty models.

Play area for children

Anyone who is lucky to have a bay window in the children's room can use it to organize additional space for games. Here you can lay bright rug, arrange racks with toys, put houses, miniature swings - yes, anything. Another interesting option is to place a small couch in the depths of the ledge, where the young dreamer will be able to read books and watch the world around him, and sometimes even sleep.

Winter Garden

Plants are the best decoration of any interior. They are especially suitable for residents of urban apartments. Depending on the area of ​​the bay window and which side it faces, the most suitable plant species are selected. It is important that the amount of sunlight and temperature conditions are not harmful to the colors. If the area allows, it will be possible to dilute the greens with interesting figures or even a small fountain, and to make it convenient to admire the beauty, do not forget to put a sofa or chair. Such a bay window will definitely become a place of relaxation and relaxation, however, you will have to look after the flowers. If you are only confused by the issue of care, then you can choose the most unpretentious varieties.

Some more ideas

If the bay window is small and the whole area cannot fit, the designers recommend installing there an object of attention that has artistic value:

• it will look good interesting statuette. Naturally, it should be tall and voluminous. You can also put a vase or a group of vases;
• decorative fountain;
• electric fireplace;
• a musical instrument is an ideal way to design a bay window. It is worth putting in a ledge pianoas the interior instantly becomes noble and aristocratic. Instead of a piano, there may be a harp or even a drum kit. The mood of the room will change with the type of instrument used.

Ideas do not end there. In a small bay window you can arrange bar counter overlooking the city landscape. It is worth supplementing it with the necessary amount of high bar stools, and the perfect place for evening gatherings is ready.

A good idea for a bay window is rocking chair, hammock chair or full hammock.

Those who lead a healthy lifestyle and go in for sports may consider organizing in a bay window. sports corner. The ideal option is to put there treadmill or exercise bike. Sports in this case will bring double pleasure.

The bay window is a continuation of the room, which is inextricably linked with it, but in some cases it may be appropriate to at least briefly separate this zone from the rest of the space. In this case, the best solution would be a decorative screen.

No. 5. Bay window and interior style

Bay window may be a continuation of the room, made in any style. However, most successfully this element complements the following styles:

• classic, baroque and rococo. Given that bay windows still adorn ancient buildings, this is not surprising.In new homes, the ledge is often ennobled with decorative columns, resulting in an ideal dining area;
• in the room made in ethnic style like country and provence, the bay window will also look great, especially if the windows are complemented by pretty curtains with floral or checkered patterns;
• modern interior styles (minimalism and hi-tech) involve avoiding curtains or using blinds, Roman and roller blinds. In such a bay window, both a bar counter and a sports or soft zone will look great. The main thing is that the decoration and furniture should contain a minimum of details and decorations;
• bay window in the room in modern style can be decorated with colorful stained glass. The ideal option is round window openings;
• only with loft style difficulties may arise, but here you can get out of the situation by abandoning the curtains and decorating the walls with brick or concrete.

No. 6. Bay window trim features

Choosing the color and type of finishing materials for the bay window, follow one rule. If the bay window is small and cannot accommodate the functional area, it’s best to trim it the same way as the rest of the room. If, however, a full-fledged functional zone is placed in the ledge, then it will be appropriate to use several different (but not striking) finishing materials to delimit the space. Since the bay window is part of the room, no radical combinations and too bright contrasts should be.

The floor can be trimmed the same material as the whole room. Harmonious combinations are admissible. For example, if in the living room bay window you want to arrange the dining area, then the floor there will be appropriate to tile, while the living room - laminate flooring, parquet flooring or linoleum. To highlight the soft zone, you can limit yourself to just a nice rug. If the goal is to create bright and obvious emphasis on the bay windowcan be arranged in this low zone podium, and decorate its end with built-in lights. A tea area with two armchairs and a table will comfortably settle on the podium.

With ceiling liningAs a rule, no questions arise. The vast majority choose the same material for finishing the bay window ceiling as in the rest of the room, and this is the right decision. True, it’s worth remembering that, for example, price of suspended ceilings grows as the shape of the ceiling becomes more complicated and its form moves away from the rectangle. If you want to put a bold emphasis on the bay window, then the ceiling is worth highlighting. It may be some kind of specific bend. plasterboard false ceiling or even wooden beams.

The most interesting thing is the decoration of the walls. The classic and win-win option is to use the same material as for cladding in the rest of the room, but experiments are also allowed. If you want to choose a different shade for the bay window walls, then it is better to limit yourself to the tones of the main color so that there is no strong contrast. Combination of various finishing materials is allowed. For example, living room walls decorated with wallpaper, and for cladding a bay window, you can use paint, but it is better to choose a tone close to what dominates the wallpaper.

As for the specific finishing materials, there are no special recommendations here - you can use anything you want. However, if the ledge will be actively illuminated by the sun, check with the purchase to the material was UV resistant.

A room with a bay window in itself is already quite expressive. Additional accents are not needed here - it is important to correctly and tastefully emphasize what is, therefore, designers recommend refraining from finishing materials and textiles with large patterns.

Number 7. Furniture for bay window

We have already indirectly mentioned all the pieces of furniture that take place in a bay window. This sofas, and tables, and bar counters, and rocking chairs, and even hammocks - you choose, taking into account your own needs and budget.Please note that the furniture located in the bay window should be in harmony with the furniture in the room. Harmonizing does not mean to be part of one set.

Think over the furniture, try to use the available space with maximum benefit. Empty corners may look disharmonious, so try to choose the most suitable furniture and decor items. On the other hand, cluttering the bay window is also not worth it.

Number 8. Curtains for bay window

The main, and sometimes the whole, area of ​​the bay window walls is glazing. Of course, the peculiarity of the bay window is precisely the ability to pass a large amount of sunlight, and depriving yourself of this advantage would be foolish, but sometimes it may be necessary to hide from the rays. In principle, you can use any type of curtains, but to dwell on excessively dense and deaf is undesirable.

Such curtains are ideal for framing a bay window:

• jalousie perfect for an office, will also be appropriate in a conservatory, where it is very important not to take leaflets with massive textile fabrics;
• rolled and Roman curtains - A win-win universal option. They will be appropriate in the office, and in the recreation area, and near the dining table. The main thing is to choose the right picture;
• classical curtains with pickups and lambrequins or without them will become an ornament of a recreation area or a dining area, will fit into the classic style of the interior;
• filament curtains help create an atmosphere of mystery and mystery, without greatly obscuring the room.

When choosing a color and pattern for curtains, remember golden rule. If the walls are decorated with a pattern, then the curtains should be plain. If the walls are made in a calm color and have no patterns, then the curtains can be either neutral or with a pronounced pattern.

Somewhat more complicated things are with cornices. The bay window, as a rule, has a semicircular or multifaceted shape, so a standard direct cornice will not work. There are several ways out of the situation:

• make cornices to order. They are bent in a certain way on special equipment. Curtains can be moved along the entire length of the cornice, but its production will cost a lot;
• conventional metal and wooden cornices can be mounted on separate sections of the bay window using brackets. Suppose a bay window has the shape of a trapezoid. Then you have to fix three cornices. Naturally, there will be little freedom in moving the curtains;
• string cornices are also fastened with brackets located on both sides of the window, but light curtains made of organza are suitable for installation.

If you do not want to bother with cornices, remember that there is always an option with Roman or roller blinds in stock.

No. 9. Artificial Bay Lighting

If there are no problems with the natural light of the bay window, then with the onset of night it is necessary to solve the issue of artificial lighting. Which lighting devices to use and in what quantity depends on many factors. First of all, this is the functionality of the bay window (which zone is located here), as well as its area and glazing area.

For the bay window you can offer the following lighting scenarios:

• floor lamp if there is a small tea area with a pair of armchairs in the ledge;
• table lamp, if the bay window fits the desktop. However, the cabinet does not interfere with lighting and its own upper light source. It can be point ceiling lights or even chandelier - it all depends on the area and style;
• several sconces, if a soft zone is located in the bay window;
• a chandelier or a series of suspended ceiling lights is ideal for the dining area.

A universal solution is to integrate several spotlights into the ceiling above the bay window. If the ledge occupies a decent area, then, of course, it will be difficult to do without your own chandelier. Do not forget about decorative lighting. Feel free to use LED strip.The lamps located near the floor look great, and if a podium was created to organize a bay window, then several light sources can be built into it. It is convenient when several lamps are located in one zone: you can always create the most suitable atmosphere.

In conclusion

In conclusion, we note that if the bay window faces the south or east side, the choice of curtains should be taken with special care. By the way, they can be combined with other textiles in the room. Since there will be a lot of light in any case, try to use objects with a glossy and mirror surface very carefully.