If you are looking for stylish, spacious replacement windows that make a statement, bay and bow windows are the perfect choice for your home!
Bay and bow windows originated in stately mansions during the English Renaissance, but today they are offered in multiple materials, colors, and styles to match your home. Homeowners love them for their undeniable style and ability to flood a home with natural light.
Keep reading to discover the attractive benefits of bay and bow windows—including how they will add undeniable beauty and value to your home.
Differences Between Bay and Bow Windows
If you are considering enhancing your home with a stylish bay or bow window—you won’t regret your decision!
However, while these window styles are often listed together because of their many similarities, they are two distinct windows with unique features. The description of each window style below will help you determine which type is best for your home’s architecture and your personal preferences.
What Are Bay Windows?
Bay windows are made of three window panels, and they typically feature a larger window in the center with two smaller windows on the sides. The middle window is usually fixed (often a picture window) and the smaller windows have operable features, like double-hung and casement windows, so you can open them to allow refreshing ventilation into your home.
Bay windows protrude outward from your home and are positioned at a 45° angle, creating a “bay” inside your home (hence the name). You will typically find them in a living room, kitchen, or bedroom, and they’re popular in modern architecture and contemporary home styles.
What Are Bow Windows?
Bow windows are typically larger than bay windows, and they’re made from four or more panels that are usually the same size. Traditionally, bow windows include fixed panes, but modern styles make it possible for these window systems to be operable, so you can crack them open to allow fresh air into your home.
Bow windows protrude outward from your home like bay windows, but instead of creating an exact angle, they curve into a smooth semicircle. They are commonly found in historic properties, like Victorian homes, and they’re slightly more expensive than bay windows.
5 Benefits of Bay and Bow Windows
Regardless of whether you choose to add bay or bow windows to your home, you will enjoy these incredible benefits:
1. Make Small Rooms Look Larger
Do you have a few rooms in your home that are smaller than you’d like? If so, bay and bow windows are a great way to add space to your home without investing in a home addition.
Since bay and bow windows protrude outward from your house (rather than lying flat against your wall, like other window styles), they create the illusion of extra space in your home. Plus, these windows include between three to six panels of glass, making the room they’re in look and feel larger.
2. Increase Seating or Storage
Because bay and bow windows are angled or semicircular, each features an oversized windowsill, and there are tons of creative ways to utilize this extra space in your home!
If your new bay or bow window is in your living room or bedroom, you can convert the windowsill into a cozy reading corner. If your window is in your kitchen, you can place a small table nearby and turn the area into a breakfast nook. You can even use the additional space to display picture frames, houseplants, or mementos as you would on a shelf or mantle.
Regardless of how you decide to use your bay or bow window ledge, it is hard to pass up the opportunity for extra seating or storage space.
3. Flood Your Rooms with Natural Light
Since bay and bow windows include multiple window panes that extend outward from your home, they are excellent at welcoming natural light inside. They are also angled, so at different times of the day, the sunlight will filter in from different sides of your window.
If you have a home that does not include many windows, or perhaps a room you would like to make brighter, such as your kitchen, bay and bow windows are a great choice. You can significantly enhance your home’s natural lighting with just one window!
4. Increase Your Home’s Value
If you love the look of bay and bow windows, there is a good chance future home buyers interested in your property will too.
Bay and bow windows are an excellent investment because they not only add beautiful curb appeal to your home—they also add additional square footage. Plus, if you use modern materials, like fiberglass or vinyl, you’re making an investment that will offer long-lasting performance for decades.
5. Enjoy Gorgeous Views
Do you have a beautiful backyard or picturesque view you would like to highlight from inside your home? If so, bay and bow windows are the perfect selection.
Bay and bow windows are larger than other types of windows and have more glass panels, so they are ideal for expanding your view of the outdoors from inside your home. Plus, if you add operable windows, like casement or double-hung windows, you can enjoy refreshing ventilation in tandem with your spectacular view.
Beautify Your Twin Cities Home with Stunning Bay and Bow Windows
It can be challenging to find a singular home upgrade that offers added square footage, charming curb appeal, and natural light infiltration all in one. However, bay and bow windows make all these valuable benefits (and more!) possible for Minneapolis and St. Paul homeowners.
Beissel Window & Siding can help you enjoy the many desirable benefits of bay and bow windows with top-quality materials and expert installation. For over 70 years, our family-owned and operated business has served tens of thousands of Minnesotans, and we would love to serve your family, too.
Get in touch with our experienced team for a free consultation for your bay and bow window installation!
