Breakfast Nook “Before” & “After” + How to Hang Curtains in a Bay Window

When it comes to dressing up a bay window, the right curtains can add softness and a layered look that completely elevates the space. But figuring out how to hang curtains in a bay window? That’s where things can get tricky.

I recently tackled the bay window in our breakfast nook, and today I’m sharing the exact rods and drapes I used to bring it all together. Plus, I’ll share a few tips I picked up along the way that’ll save you time and second-guessing 🙌🏻. But first… let’s do a little “before” and “after” look at this space. (post includes commissionable links; for more information, see my full disclosure statement {here})

Breakfast Nook “Before” & “After”

To see where things started, we’re going to dial it back to what our breakfast nook looked like when we first moved in:

We started our makeover by removing the dated wallpaper (see my post on how to remove wallpaper for details) and painting the walls Simply White. Then more recently, as part of our kitchen remodel, we refinished our hardwood floors (see my post on hardwood floor refinishing for stain details), removed the blinds, and added {this matte white chandelier}. It has the prettiest petal design:

I also love the decorative canopy on this chandelier – it’s such a beautiful touch:

With white walls, a white chandelier, and a white table, the next step was to add some softness and color with curtains. I originally planned to use {these toile drapes} but once I had them up, I realized that the 50″ width (the only size they came in) covered too much of the end windows given the limited wall space for stacking them back. The drapes were already pricey, and if I added on alterations to decrease their width, it would get too expensive, so I pivoted to a plan B.

Plan B was choosing {these drapes} (40″ W x 95″ L, dusty blue) which come in multiple width options and are SO reasonably priced (under $100 for a pair!). They’re just what our breakfast nook needed! After installing new rods and hanging the drapes, here’s what that same nook looks like today:

Source Links: Curtains | Chandelier | Table | Chairs

Details on Our New Curtains

Initially, I only ordered one pair of curtains because I had my doubts about their quality given their low price. But they ended up completely exceeding my expectations! They’re blackout lined, so are a really nice weight that makes them hang well, and the double pleats give them a high-end look:

They’re made with a polyester fabric, but you wouldn’t know it – they have the look of linen. And because they’re polyester, it was really easy to remove any wrinkles (they came out with a few passes with my steamer).

Before moving on to the details of our bay window curtain rods, I’ll share the remaining sources for our breakfast nook..

Other Breakfast Nook Sources

We’ve had {this table} and {these chairs} for over five years now, and they’ve both held up beautifully. I love how the chairs look as pretty from the back as they do from the front (this is an older pic from when we had {this round jute rug} under the table):

We have {this marble lazy Susan} in the center of the table, topped with a small fern in {this striped planter}, {these salt and pepper shakers}, and {this acrylic napkin holder} with {these block print napkins}:

I also have {these block print placemats} that tie the blues and neutrals in our kitchen space together:

Now let’s move on to the details of our…

Bay Window Curtain Rods

While you could use individual rods on each window section in a bay window, it’s not going to give you the cohesive look that makes the whole bay feel like one intentionally framed space. Instead, it can end up looking a bit choppy and pieced together.

The key to a look that’s seamless and feels more intentional is to use hinged corner brackets like this one in the angled corners of your bay window:

Because they’re hinged, they can be rotated to match the exact angle of your space.

Budget-Friendly Bay Window Curtain Rods

The least expensive option for a bay window curtain rod is one that comes in a complete set. A few options include {this 1″ curtain rod set} that comes in four finishes and two sizes or {this ¾″ curtain rod}, which is a similar option with a smaller diameter rod and different finial design. Both come complete with everything you need (other than curtain rings), including three extendable rods, two pivoting corner brackets, five mounting brackets, and two finials (end caps):

The negatives of budget-friendly sets like these are (1) the rods are sometimes flimsier than pricier sets and (2) your window measurements have to fall within the ranges specified on the product listing.

Higher-End Bay Window Curtain Rods

Higher-end bay window curtain rods are typically made with better materials that resist bending and can hold heavier curtains. They also generally have prettier finish options. And lastly, higher-end rods are usually sold in separate pieces so you can choose the best length for each of the windows in your bay.

Option 1 (Our Breakfast Nook)

This is the route I took for our breakfast nook since none of the budget-friendly options matched my window sizes. And I love the aged brass finish option:

The specific pieces I used are:

2 of {these ¾″ adjustable drapery rods} (28 -48″, aged brass) for my two outer windows (includes finials & brackets)

1 of {these ¾″ adjustable drapery rods} (60-108″, aged brass) to span my two center windows (includes finials & brackets)

2 of {these pivot corner brackets}

And a few sets of {these drapery rings} (I removed the clips)

This is how everything is arranged:

Note that if my end windows were wider, I would have used the remaining two support brackets on the left and right rods (since mine are so narrow, the rods are very stable without them):

Option 2 (Our Primary Bedroom)

Pottery Barn also has a good bay window rod option that I used to hang {these drapes} in our large bedroom bay window:

My window rod order included:

3 of {these telescoping curtain rods} (0.75″, antique bronze)

A pair of {these finials}

Two of {these corner connectors} (0.75″)

A few sets of {these 1.25″ curtain rings} (I don’t love Pottery Barn’s ring options)

The Two Final Touches!

There are two final touches that I add to any expanding/telescoping curtain rods. First, I place a strip of {this glide tape} that’s virtually invisible along the entire length of each rod. It makes your curtains glide back and forth easily on your rod and not get hung up on the telescoping joint:

And secondly, I clip acrylic curtain wands like {these} onto the inside curtain ring of each panel.

It makes opening and closing your curtains easy and keeps your curtains from getting dirty due to using your hands to open and close them. See my post on curtains that get stuck on a telescoping rod for more details on both of these final touches.

And with that, this post is a wrap! If you haven’t already seen it, be sure to check out the rest of our kitchen in my kitchen remodel reveal! You also might find my post on how high to hang curtains to be helpful. I’ll see you all back on the blog soon!