Confused about buying curtains for bay window - help!

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I'm trying to buy curtains for our bay window.

I read this guide on Dunelm

https://www.dunelm.com/info/buying-guides/how-to-measure-for-curtains

.... and I think it's saying this...

You measure the width of the window - and then you buy the curtains that say that width. However, the size "on the packet" is for just one curtain, so effectively you're buying double the material you'd need if you stretched it straight over the same space. And this makes it nice and flow-y.

So far, so good.

The measurement across my window is 284cm (112inches). Fine.

However - not fine! It seems that this is at the upper end in most shops, with a limited selection, and some don't even stock this size. Dunelm, for example, caution "284cm (112") pack sizes are available in selected ranges and online only."

So, now I'm confused! Our bay windows don't seem that massive to me. Lots of people have bay windows, surely? And plenty of them bigger than mine. Is it normal for it to be so hard to find curtains to fit bay windows? Or have I totally minsunderstood the size I should be shopping for?

Help!

I just measure the track. Never crossed my mind that it being a bay makes a difference

We have large bays. We have multiple packs of curtains to cover them but have opted for blinds in one because the poles drove us mad!

Oh I’m not sure about pack sizes. I get made to measure curtains so I just tell the company the track size.

I don't think them being bay makes a different - it's the knock on effect of hte bay being a wide window - or of me minsunderstanding something!

I thought the process was

• measure track
• find out what size I need for that track
• buy curtains for the correct width

But the process is:

• measure track
• find out what size I need for that track
• discover that very few shops stock that size, can't find anything I like
• be confused - surely lots of people have windows this wide and it's not that unusual?
• wonder if I've misunderstood something

Looks like you can get the next size down if you’re ok with a relaxed gather. Which I think I’d prefer.

If you wait for Jan then companies like Curtains 247 will have a decent sale which might make some made to measure curtains comparable price wise?

Useful info, thanks :)

We just bought a pair for the big bay in our bedroom. Our bay was 3.2m high by 4.7m wide so off the shelf wasn't an option.

https://www.justfabrics.co.uk/ - pick a fabric you like. Use their calculator and it'll show you a quote for the exact size of track vs drop. They do handmade as well as machine made to measure if you wanted a fancy top.

Your curtain measurement should be double the actual measurement.

We have large bays. Have to buy 2 sets of curtains.

Love this in principle but... at the moment we only have voile up and everyone can see in to that room. Now the dark nights have drawn in, I'm feeling I need privacy sooner rather than later!

Damn! That looked great. I picked one on the sale, and put in the measurments and it came out affordable. Win!

Until... "Our current lead time for this product is 5-7 weeks delivery will be in the New Year."

Is that what people do with bays then? Get 2 pairs of curtains.

That's what we did before, but because we just put in cheap curtains (which I got rid of when we decorated). I thought I was just being cheap! I didn't realise that's what you're meant to do - is it?

Curtains do use a lot of fabric but if they didn't, there would be no gathering and they would look really odd.

Maybe go for M2M, that way you are getting exactly the size you need (as long as you have followed the measuring guide correctly) plus you can choose your combo of material, lining, pleat etc.

We always get our M2M curtains from Dunelm, they have a 20% off sale in Jan & June so we time our purchasing for then. Good quality curtains are not cheap so a 20% savings is significant.

I think so. I’ve always done it.

These are ours. Dh drew them so they look a mess. You can see the 4.

Ooh, that opens up a lot more options, thanks so much!

Your living rooms looks lovely btw 😊

This opens up options too!

Thanks all, I'm going back to look afresh!

Brand new ones on Vinted.

Mine are ready made by John Lewis 90 wide by 90 drop gathered but not flat when drawn

We got curtains made for our bay window from Dunelm and a man from Dunelm came out and measured them for free.