9 Bay Window Ideas for Your Home’s Exterior

Bay windows add charm to a home’s exterior and can break up the monotony of a flat façade. While bay windows were initially popular on Victorian homes, today, they can be seen on a wide variety of home styles. Our designers love working on homes that feature bay windows and know all the best ways to highlight this design element. Keep reading to see some of our favorite bay window ideas.

FROM BAY WINDOWS TO BUMP OUTS TO BALCONY RAILINGS, WE’LL HELP YOU VISUALIZE UPDATES TO YOUR HOME EXTERIOR THAT WILL MAXIMIZE ITS CURB APPEAL. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR VIRTUAL EXTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES.

Our designers only use and recommend products that we know, love, or would use on our own properties. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

What is a bay window?

A bay window consists of three or more windows that angle out beyond an exterior wall. Bay windows are most often three-sided and can be made up of casement, double-hung, or picture windows. The home above has two bay windows — one to the left of the entry and another to the right. 

Curious how a bay window differs from a bow or box window? Check out our exterior design dictionary to learn more. 

#1 // Front porch bay window

This home’s screened-in porch once obscured one of the most charming elements of its exterior: the bay window. By changing the porch type to an open-air design, the bay window becomes visible from the curb. The bay window trim is the same color — Benjamin Moore’s Cloud Cover — as the rest of the trim, as well as the eaves, columns, and porch railing, creating a sense of cohesion. 

#2 // Add interest to a flat façade

As we mentioned earlier, bay windows can help add visual interest to a flat home exterior, as demonstrated in the rendering above. Breaking up the two levels of the home by using different paint colors also makes this exterior appear more dynamic. Finally, an off-white hue on the window trim, belly band, and eaves draws attention to these design elements. 

#3 // Painted brick bay window

This client felt the dated bay window trim and large garage wall were distracting from what she wanted the focal point of her home to be — the front door. To fix this, we suggested painting the exterior with a cool white hue — Sherwin Williams’ Aesthetic White — and replacing the old front door with a black one. By keeping the color palette of the bay window area the same as the rest of the home, it now feels like a cohesive part of the façade rather than a distracting element.

#4 // Stand out with stone

This home’s combination of cladding materials — painted brick, vertical siding, and stone — gives it great depth and curb appeal. We love how the bay window, rendered in stone, pops against the dark siding but also ties into the stone on the base of the porch columns. 

#5 //Two-story bay window

The bay windows on this home are unique because they span two floors. While most of the exterior features limewashed brick, the bay window area is rendered in stucco painted with Benjamin Moore’s Willow Creek. The difference in cladding material and paint color draws the eye to these bay windows.

#6 // Paint it black

This home’s exterior was underwhelming, but a fresh color palette brought it to life in our design. Two sections of painted brick anchor the façade, while the middle area features warm wood siding. We suggested painting the bay window with Sherwin Williams’ Iron Ore to match the other windows and the covered patio columns.

#7 // Beachy bay windows

This home got a beachy upgrade thanks to a new color palette and some other coastal design-inspired updates. The light blue hue used on the lower level brightens up the area and makes the bay windows more visible. Each bay window is framed by a pair of wood columns, further emphasizing them. Using a white hue on the bay window trim and the home’s upper level adds to the light and air feel of the exterior.

#8 // A bay window that blends in

Sometimes you want certain design elements to be attention-grabbing. Other times, it makes more sense for them to blend in. The above design is a perfect example of the latter. By rendering the bay window in the same paint color used on the home’s brick, stucco, and shingle siding and using the same grid pattern seen on the other windows, the bay window blends beautifully into the façade. 

We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.

#9 // Make space for a seating area

This home lacked functional outdoor space, so we cleaned up the landscaping under the bay window and extended the patio. This made room for two chairs and a small side table. The bright bay window acts as a charming backdrop for this new space. 

Bay window ideas for your home

When it comes to designing the home of your dreams, bay windows can play an important role. Whether you have a mid-century modern home, a ranch, or another style entirely, bay windows can elevate your exterior and boost your curb appeal. We hope this roundup of bay window ideas has offered you plenty of inspiration for your home renovation project.

FROM PAINT COLORS AND CLADDING TO LIGHT FIXTURES AND ENTRY DOORS, THERE’S A LOT TO CONSIDER WHEN DESIGNING YOUR DREAM HOME EXTERIOR. INSTEAD OF STRESSING OVER EVERY LITTLE DETAIL, LET US DO THE WORK FOR YOU. BEGIN YOUR EXTERIOR DESIGN PROJECT TODAY.

Subscribe for more content like this!

Subscribe Now