Bay windows are a classic design feature in homes around the world. However, designing a room with bay windows can be challenging if you don’t know where to start. Luckily, we have put together a guide to help you easily design your living room with a bay window.
Here are the steps you need to follow to design a stylish living room with bay windows:
- Select your furniture and fixtures.
- Choose the curtains and blinds.
- Decide on your furniture arrangements.
- Consider your style options.
- Make use of extra space.
- Add the finishing touches.
Read on to learn more about how you can design your new living room with a stylish bay window. We will explore some style options and furniture configurations to make sure your new living room meets your specific needs. By the end of this article, you should feel confident in designing your new living room.
Contents
1. Select your furniture and fixtures
The selection of furniture you want to incorporate into your new design is the best starting point for your design. Before you can consider what furniture you will have, you need to assess your requirements and desires for your new living room. A careful consideration of your needs will ensure that you can enjoy your new living room without any issues.
To figure out what furniture you need, you need to take into account a variety of factors, including the number of people living in your house, what other functions you desire, and how much space you have to work with.
For example, a couple living alone might only want a small sofa in their living room, while a large family might need a couch, chairs, and additional seating. The need (or lack thereof) for coffee tables and tall lamps should also be considered when deciding what you need.
Your interests will also play a significant role in your new design. For example, if you are a fan of art, you may want paintings to be hung in your living room. Similarly, families may want to display family photos in frames on walls or the mantelpiece.
Another crucial decision to make is whether to incorporate a television or not. Televisions are often crucial to the design of a living room, so deciding whether to include one will greatly impact the end product. In recent years, more and more homeowners are choosing not to incorporate a television – instead, they opt for using laptops and tablets for entertainment.
Now that you’ve figured out what items and features you want to incorporate into your new living room, you can start focusing on the details of your design. Don’t worry about where your furniture and items will go – I will help you figure that out later.
2. Choose the curtains and blinds
Bay windows are large, which inevitably lets in more natural light into your new living room. Natural light is a huge bonus for any living room as it brightens up the space. However, large windows can have a significant drawback – privacy. While oversized windows let in more light, they also make it easier for curious neighbors to see into your home. Fortunately, you can do something to prevent this.
Curtains and blinds are a great way to add style to your bay windows while also creating more privacy in your home. However, choosing the wrong curtains and blinds can block too much light and make your living room appear dark and gloomy.
Therefore, you should carefully choose your window treatments. Avoid blackout shades and heavy curtains – both will make the room much darker and ruin the aesthetics of your new living room.
However, having overly bright window treatments can let too much direct sunlight into the room. If you live in a hot area, this can lead to heating and cooling issues in the summer. Therefore, it’s important to keep the weather in mind when selecting your curtains and blinds. You may even find it advantageous to have two options – one for summer and one for winter that you can switch out as the seasons change.
You should also consider the pattern, color, and style of your curtains and blinds to ensure they match the aesthetics of the rest of the room.
Once you’ve figured out what you need from your curtains and blinds, it’s time to move on to one of the most important steps in designing a living room with bay windows – furniture placement.
3. Decide on your furniture arrangements
Deciding on your furniture arrangement is not only the most challenging step in designing a living room with bay windows but also one of the most important. The bay window makes this step particularly difficult as it leaves behind an irregularly shaped space. However, the irregular space can be a huge advantage if you know how to make use of it.
One way to make use of your bay window is to place furniture inside the bay. This allows you to utilize the space while also bringing more life into your living room. Depending on your needs and style preferences, you have several options for what furniture you can place in the bay.
You can place two small chairs with a small coffee table in between. This provides you with an excellent space for entertaining guests and visitors. Placing two chairs in the living area is also a great way to create an inclusive atmosphere as people will be sitting almost in a circle.
Another seating option for your bay window is a small sofa. This can provide you with a cozy atmosphere that can help create a relaxing and warm environment. However, some bay windows may be too small to accommodate a sofa, so this needs to be considered during your design process.
Another important component to consider during your plan is where your focal point will be. A focal point is a place that naturally draws people’s attention when they are in the room. If your room has a television, the television will usually be the natural focal point.
To ensure you have a relaxing living room, you should arrange your furniture so that it is facing or adjacent to the focal point. This will ensure that you can see the focal point no matter where you sit in the room.
4. Consider your style options
When designing a new space, you have almost endless options to choose from. However, it’s always important to keep your personal aesthetic, the room’s aesthetics, and your budget in mind when deciding on a style so that you won’t be disappointed once you bring the design to life.
Here are a few design ideas to consider if you want to make the most of your living room with bay windows:
Customized – A customized style essentially means creating something that suits your needs, even if it doesn’t necessarily fit into an established design style. For example, if you like art deco and Victorian elements, you can combine the two to make your room stand out.
Customized designs give you all the freedom in the world, and you’re not limited by design traditions. One popular individual detail you can add to your design is installing wooden shutters on the inside of your bay windows. This allows you to control the amount of light entering the room, and you can even have your shutters carved and designed to your liking, adding a more personal touch to your living room.
Contemporary style – A modern contemporary design is a popular way to design living rooms with bay windows. Look for straight lines with light colors for this style. Another option for a contemporary design is using matte film on the windows instead of blinds. This provides you with both privacy and a stylish, modern finish.
Classic – Bay windows were a popular architectural feature during the Victorian era. As a result, you have a huge range of options if you love something more classic. Floor-to-ceiling curtains, accompanied by a heavy valance, are a great way to give your living room an elegant, classic finish. You can also add vintage finishes and hardwood floors.
There are many more design possibilities out there. One great way to get inspired is by looking at Google Images and websites like Pinterest for living rooms with bay windows.
5. Make use of extra space
One of the most important things to consider when designing your living room is to remember that bay windows give you extra space in your living room. You can use this extra space for a variety of purposes.
Some people choose to use the extra space as additional seating. By leaving the area below the bay window empty, you can create a spacious feel in your living room. This can help enhance the atmosphere in the room while also providing you with a relaxing space.
Another excellent use for this bonus area is for storage. You can place a dresser or even a cabinet in the space beneath the window. This creates space elsewhere in your home or provides you with a place to tidy up some clutter. You can also set up a display case to showcase your valuable belongings.
Using furniture is likely the most common way to utilize this extra space. By adding seating and one or two coffee tables to the bay, you can create a space that feels like a room within a room. It’s not only a great place for conversation with guests, but it can also serve as a cozy nook when you’re alone in your living room.
6. Add the finishing touches
The finishing touches have a significant impact on the outcome of pretty much any design. A well-designed room with stylish elements can still look messy and incomplete without the right finishing touches. Therefore, you need to take the time to address the small things to round out your design.
Lighting is an essential aspect to consider. If your living room doesn’t get much natural light, you should invest in additional lights or even some lamps for a more relaxed atmosphere. Proper lighting is an integral part of room design.
You should also take the time to consider what wall coverings will work best for your needs and style. Some people like to use wallpaper to achieve a specific design, while others opt for finished walls. The color of the paint or wallpaper you choose will also make a significant difference in the outcome, so choose wisely.
Decorating your walls and surfaces may also be a priority for you. If so, figure out what images, artwork, or other items you want to display in the room. Once you have what you want for the walls, figure out where everything should go.
It’s important to remember where your focal point will be located in the room. The focal point will naturally draw attention, so you should place any paintings or pictures you want people to see near it.
The flooring is another important finishing touch that you’ll need to decide on. The type of flooring you choose can influence the aesthetics of the room and even your utility bills in the future. There’s a multitude of flooring options to choose from, including hardwood, laminate, tile, and concrete floors.
Final thoughts
Designing a living room is a challenging task without a clear plan and thoughtful design. First, you need to decide what atmosphere and style you want for your living room and what furniture and features you want to incorporate. Once you’ve done that, you need to decide on your furniture arrangement to ensure you’re making effective use of the space.
Lighting is another important aspect to consider. Bay windows provide a lot of natural light, which can have tremendous benefits for the aesthetics and atmosphere of a room. So, make sure to select your blinds and curtains for your bay windows carefully.