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Shutters in a craft room

Minneapolis Bay Windows Need Spectacular Window Treatments

September 21, 2016

Specialty window types are typically some of the most visually charming qualities of houses in Minneapolis - and one of the most eye-catching examples of those specialty windows are bay windows. Whether from the interior or exterior, bay windows offer a sense of coziness and fashion all at the same time - granted that they’re paired with the right window covering.

But how do you know which window treatment to pick? Just as with other specialty windows, bay windows have individual features to take into account. Sunburst Shutters Minneapolis will walk you through the checklist for bay window treatments, and then offer our suggestions for the best choices for your Minneapolis bay windows.

Polywood shutters in a white bedroom bay window. 

What To Look For In Bay Window Treatments

  • Complement your bay window - A poorly-chosen, dull window covering can hide the style of a bay window. Go with a treatment that accentuates your bay window’s distinctive geometry.

  • Control of temperature and light levels - Bay windows can let in a lot of heat and light from outdoors. Choose a window covering that will make your house cozy and allows make any adjustments easily.

  • Privacy - Just like a window treatment needs to complement a bay window’s structure, it should also let you control how well you can see outside your window, and how well people outside are able to see in.

The Worst Choices For Bay Window Treatments

  • Aluminum blinds - Blinds usually hurt the glamour of specially-shaped windows, resulting in them looking somewhat generic or cheap. They also don’t deliver in controlling for light as well as in their energy-efficiency.

  • Draperies - Similar to blinds, drapes bring down the aesthetic of bay windows by hide their unique geometry, which is one of their central benefits. Control over brightness tends to be ”all or nothing” when you go with drapes.

  • Nothing - Some homeowners think it’s best to keep their bay window uncovered. The only upside to no window treatment is increased visibility, but doing so decreases your control over light and heat, and will let people passing by get an easy view inside the house at all hours.

Top Picks For Minneapolis Bay Windows

Cellular Shades for Bay Windows

Brown cellular shades in parlour bow window. 

Fashionable, budget-friendly, and easy to use, cellular shades are perfectly suited to bay windows. The reason why they work so well on bay windows is the degree of freedom cellular shades offer you. These shades are available in a range of cell sizes, from 7/16 in. to 3/4 in. and come with a top-down/bottom-up system that allows you to raise the shade from the bottom or lower it from the top, so you can get fantastic visibility while maintaining light control.

Sunburst’s cellular shades can be purchased in a wide range of opacities, from solid to sheer, so a lack of privacy is not a concern. Also, unlike some other shades, cellular shades don’t bunch up at the sides or near the top of your window when drawn, since they collapse so seamlessly. That makes it so you can maintain the beautiful look of your bay windows when the shades aren’t in use.

Plantation Shutters For Bay Windows

Half plantation shutters in den bay window.

As with cellular shades, plantation shutters can give Minneapolis homeowners the chance to showcase their bay windows’ shape while reaping the benefits of an effective window treatment. Plantation shutters outperform cellular shades however, by giving you even higher levels of control of light and visibility with their moveable louvers. And because they’re custom-fit to your windows, you can have even more flexibility in how you add to their style with full or half length shutters.

Due to the fact that bay windows tend to be some of the largest windows in your house, Polywood® plantation shutters’ energy efficiency is a massive draw. Polywood shutters can restrict close to 30 degrees of air flow in your space when used correctly, meaning that a cozy house is just a tilt away.

For that vintage wood plantation shutter look, our Ovation® shutters outperform all other wood shutters, having the distinction of being the only 5-star rated wood shutter available. Ovation shutters can also complement the wood border around bay windows.

Let Your Bay Windows Shine, Minneapolis!

You may be keeping your space from looking its best if you aren’t getting the most out of your bay windows. Let Sunburst Shutters Minneapolis help your interior design reach new heights with our professional know-how. Get in touch with the Sunburst Shutters Minneapolis team today by calling 952-856-8130 to schedule a free in-home design consultation. We’ll work around your timeline and bring window treatment samples right to your house!