20 Bay Window Ideas to Fill Your Home With Light and Character

Carve Out a Dining Room Window Seat

A bay window in a dining room gives you a chance to add some softness to all of the case goods that are typically found within this space. You can add drapery and a window seat cushion to soften the look. “This dining room features the prettiest nook with this bay window seat cushion and soft Roman shades. It’s the perfect perch for after-dinner cocktails,” says Kara Cox, interior designer and founder of Kara Cox Interiors.

Create a Bedroom Sitting Area

This bedroom made use of a bedroom bay window with a stunning view by creating a small sitting area with two chairs and an ottoman. “Designed to showcase stunning natural vistas, we like to strategically incorporate seating near bay windows to create an inviting and tranquil space to unwind and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landscape,” says Heather Kates, lead designer at MDI Luxury Design.

Lean Into Surrounding Nature

Even if space is at a premium, a bay window can still be utilized for a small seating moment. In this bedroom from MDI Luxury Design, a bench is placed in the bay window to echo the colors of the greenery surrounding the home. It feels as if you’re sitting in the trees.

Build a Cozy Breakfast Nook

A round table is just the right shape to turn a bay window into a cozy breakfast nook. Pair it with pillows and shades that bring texture and pattern into the space. “Bay windows are perfect for creating a cozy kitchen café nook or a relaxing retreat to lounge in, says Sallie Lord, founder of GreyHunt Interiors.

Use the Bay Window as a Focal Point

If you have a room with plenty of seating and it feels like the bay window is going unused, use it instead as a focal point for display items. This bay window has a console table holding beautifully styled books and plants.

Give the Window a Pop of Color

The windows for this bay are lower to the ground, making it difficult to do a traditional built-in window seat. Instead, Andrea Sinkin Jaffe, founder of Andrea Sinkin Design, created custom seating. “We created a custom banquette that could pass the windows in a durable vinyl ostrich fabric. And then, we added the Pierre Frey wallpaper to give it some pop. It makes the most magical moment and you see it right from the front door,” she says.

Flank It With Bookshelves

A small bay window with just enough room for a window seat gets a grand moment thanks to built-in bookshelves flanking the window and extending out across the wall. It’s an unexpected twist on a library-meets-dining room setup.

Place a Bistro Table

This sophisticated and classic bay window from Restart Renovation and Design uses a bistro table and two swivel chairs to create a seating area that’s perfect for sipping a morning cup of coffee while reading the newspaper.

Frame the Window With a Light Fixture

A dramatic and modern light fixture gives this bay window from Mendelson Group, Inc., a contemporary, bold look. The cafe curtains add a softness to the space, plus, a little extra privacy at night.

Go to the Ceiling

Want to add even more drama to your bay windows? Go beyond the window’s frame and reach towards the ceiling. Thanks to the transom windows at the top, this home office from Mendelson Group, Inc. packs a major punch.

Add a Second Seating Area

Even if it’s separated from your living room’s main seating area, a bay window can create a cozy nook where you can curl up with a good book or have an intimate conversation.

“If you’re lucky enough to be gifted with a bay window in your home, think of it as a wonderful opportunity to nestle another comfy seating zone in your room,” says Ashley Powell, partner at Roseberry Allen. “In this living room, the bay window created an opportunity for a second seating area, which comes as a bit of a fun surprise as you enter and explore the space. ”

Frame It With Black Paint

Give your bay window even more presence by framing it with a dramatic paint color. This draws even more attention towards an incredible view just beyond the home. “This bay window is a kitchen nook where the family gathers daily, drawn in by breathtaking backyard views,” says Alice Benjamin, founder and principal designer at Alice Benjamin Interiors. “Framing the bay with bold black paint anchors the space, offering a striking contrast against the kitchen’s airy elegance. It’s a perfect balance of warmth and sophistication.”

Add a Statement Chandelier

Depending on the size of your window, you may have a chance to give it a big visual moment with a large-scale light fixture. “This thoughtfully designed breakfast nook, framed by expansive black steel windows, welcomes natural light while offering a picturesque view of the landscape. A statement chandelier anchors the area, striking a balance between modern elegance and rustic charm,” says Laura Britt, president and managing principal at Britt Design Group.

Leave the Visual Path Clear

Avoid obscuring a light-filled bay window by choosing furniture that sits below the window’s profile and avoiding heavy window coverings. “When I encountered this bay window, I saw an opportunity to leave all sight lines to the outdoors unobstructed and design a bold, custom chaise with curves that mirror the gentle bend of the window,” says Christine Jahan, principal interior designer at Christine Jahan Designs.

Create a Space for Working

Why not use the gorgeous light and views of a bay window to create a charming workspace? If you have to sit at a table all day, it might as well be pretty! “I am a fan of a bistro table with comfortable chairs in a bay window when there is already a primary seating area in the room,” says Sarah Montgomery, owner of Sarah Montgomery Interiors. “This can break up larger upholstery groupings and be a great designated area for coffee, games, or working.”

Wrap It in Whimsy

This colorful bedroom from Theresa Butler Interiors proves bay windows don’t have to be classic and sophisticated. You can have fun with them by adding colorful and whimsical wallpaper, vibrant Roman shades, and an extra dose of pom-pom drapery.

Add a Game Table

If you don’t need another purely practical seating area in your home, use a bay window as a spot for a fun game table and comfy chairs. This space from Margali & Flynn Designs has a moody look that’s perfect for rainy afternoons and post-dinner chess sessions.

Layer On the Pattern

A banquette that wraps around three sides of an oval dining table is the ideal way to use a big bay window. Make the space feel cozier, like this one from Margali & Flynn Designs, by layering multiple patterns in the wallpaper, window treatments, and pillows.

Add Dramatic Drapery

This modern living room from Brad Ramsey Interiors will inspire you to frame your bay window with dramatic drapery. They ran a drapery rod straight across the wall in front of the window, then hung imposing drapes to create a stage curtain effect.

Tuck Away Extra Chairs

If your dining room has a bay window, you have a built-in area to tuck chairs that aren’t needed when the table isn’t fully extended. “There are two chairs in the window for extra seating from the dining room. It made a little moment,” Sinkin Jaffe says of this space.