Curtain pole or track for bay windows

[RidingMyBike]

We're mid-house renovation which included all existing curtain poles and track coming down. Need to put up new but can't decide whether poles or track would be better in the three bay windows. One is small (3 window panes) the other two larger (5 window panes).

Had bad experiences with curtain track in the past which means I've avoided ever since and haven't experienced poles in a bay window before!

Following as in same position

Former owners left pole that is terrible. Am think of forking out for properly measures and fitted track curtains

We're definitely going for poles on all
the other non-bay windows, that are having curtains. Will it look weird if some windows are poles and some track? The two wouldn't be mixed in the same room.

The only poles that really work with bays are silentgliss metropole but the costs are a bit eye watering.
Bypass rings are ok for occasional use but really annoying to use every day. A good quality track will work well but I wouldn't mix and match in one room.

We have a track for 5 window panes and the curtain is in the recess. We don’t regret the decision. The amount of material that would have come with floor length curtains would have been silly and looked ridiculous in the space. It would have also made the room feel a lot smaller

Does the track work ok or get stuck? I have vivid memories from childhood of curtain track having to be cleaned, curtains down twice a year, lots of faffing about, brittle plastic that snapped off.

Of course, 70s/80s curtain track may well have been very different to what's available now!

I got wrought iron poles years ago. Try Made by the Forge. There's a tutorial on how to measure. Not sure if that was the company I used it was 20 years ago! Still going strong though.

We had it fitted by John Lewis and haven’t had any issues.

We have an awkward bay, and wanted curtains to pull back beyond the sides of it. I really wasn't keen on track either. Happily husband is a metalworker and made us one to measure.

One bracket each end from the wall, and one from the ceiling to the pole in the middle. Means we can use normal rings and draw the curtains easily.

I'd go for get an idea of price from the company recommended above, and/or google metal fabrication companies or blacksmiths local to you.

We have a bay pole from here www.polesdirect.com/product/28mm-allure-stainless-steel-effect-glass-bubbles-bay-window-curtain-pole

We had problems with the bypass rings until we got a curtain draw rod. I think because ours are so tall 3.3m there is a tendency to yank them from too low down which pulls the rings off but using the draw rod it pulls the curtains from the top so they run smoothly. No problems now.
I got a fairly solid draw rod with a metal hook end rather than some of the more flimsy ones but that's because there is so much curtain and height it needed something a bit more sturdy. The lightweight ones would be fine on smaller windows.

We bought 2 wooden poles and DH chopped one in half then fitted one in the middle and 2 halfs on each end.

I had a really awkward window to get a pole for I used a shop called
thehomeofinteriors.co.uk - I send them a pic and some measurements, they were brilliant at giving me a solution, delivery got a little delayed but advice was perfect - I'm not connected to them - but I really needed some good advice - they were cheaper than elsewhere too.

Hi! Made - to measure pole or tracks indeed can cost you a fortune. If you have standard sizes of your 3 and 5 pane windows, check Poles and Blinds: www.polesandblinds.com/bay-windows/curtain-poles-for-bay-windows/3-sided-bay-poles
www.polesandblinds.com/bay-windows/curtain-poles-for-bay-windows/5-sided-bay-poles

Screwfix curtain track for £15, if it's a disaster then you've not lost a lot of money. We have just fitted it and it's fine, we bought really good wall plugs though to suit the plasterboard ceilings. Also went for floor to ceiling curtains and love the look of lots of fabric unlike PP. Looks really luxurious like a hotel, and massively warms up the room.

Where did you get your current rod pull thing please?

Dudsville we have this one https://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/curtain-draw-rods on one set
And for the other window this one

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pole-Hook-Opening-Skylight-Fanlight/dp/B081SR9HBR/ref=mpssa1117?keywords=velux+window+pole+opener&qid=1669753918&sr=8-17

@wonkylegs thank you so much I have been trying to figure out what I needed to pull our curtains as the windows are so high.

I got a made to measure pole from here.
www.merrick-day.com/acatalog/19mm_Wrought_Iron_Bay_Window_Pole_Packs_.html
I agree that passing rings can be a pain but this is for dining room so not used that often