The best blinds for a tenement bay window in Edinburgh are usually a separate made-to-measure blind for each window in the bay, fitted inside the recess and lined up at the same height, with curtains across the whole bay if you want extra warmth. Roller, roman and wooden venetian blinds all work well. The right choice depends on the room, whether you have working shutters, and how you open your sash windows.
This guide is for anyone living in a tenement flat in Leith, Marchmont, Bruntsfield, Morningside, Stockbridge or anywhere else in the city with a classic bay window. We have been making blinds in our Leith workshop for over 50 years, and tenement bays are some of the windows we fit most often.
Why tenement bay windows need a different approach
A typical Edinburgh tenement bay is not one window. It is usually three: a wide sash and case window in the middle and a narrower one on each angled side. Each opening is often a slightly different size, and in older buildings very few of them are perfectly square.
That is why off-the-shelf blinds rarely look right on a bay. A blind that is a few millimetres too narrow leaves a strip of light down each side, and blinds that stop at different heights make the whole bay look uneven. Every blind we make is measured and made for its own window, so each one fits its opening and the set lines up across the bay.
Tenement bays also bring a few practical things to work around:
- Sash windows that you want to keep opening. The blind and its fixings must not get in the way of the lower sash or the catches.
- Internal shutters. Many tenements still have timber shutters that fold into boxes either side of the window. A blind has to clear them when they are folded back.
- Deep sills and window seats. A bay is often the nicest seat in the flat, so blinds that sit neatly in the recess keep it usable.
- High ceilings and tall windows. Long drops need the right fabric and mechanism to look good and work smoothly.
The best blind options for a tenement bay
Roller blinds on each window
Roller blinds are the most popular choice for tenement bays. One blind per window, fitted inside the recess, gives you a clean, modern look and lets you raise each blind independently. You can keep the side blinds down for privacy from the street and the middle one up for the view.
Roller blinds come in a wide range of fabrics, from light-filtering translucents to full blackout blinds for bedrooms that face street lights. They are also the easiest option to keep clean in a busy living room.
Roman blinds for a softer look
Roman blinds fold up into soft, even pleats and suit the proportions of a period room. On a bay, three roman blinds in the same fabric give a dressed, finished look without the bulk of curtains. They are a good choice for living rooms and bedrooms where you want warmth and texture.
Wooden venetian blinds
Venetian blinds in wood or faux wood give you the most precise light control. Tilting the slats lets daylight in while keeping passers-by from seeing into the room, which is useful in ground and first floor flats. Wooden slats also suit the timber shutters and woodwork found in many tenements.
Perfect fit blinds for replacement windows
If your bay has been fitted with uPVC replacement windows, perfect fit blinds are worth considering. They clip into the window frame itself with no drilling, and they move with the sash when you open it.
Layering blinds with curtains
Pairing blinds with curtains is one of the most popular set-ups we fit in tenement living rooms and bedrooms. The blinds on each window handle daytime privacy and glare. Full-length made-to-measure curtains on a shaped bay track handle warmth and darkness at night, and frame the bay beautifully.
A sheer voile is another option. Fitted in front of or behind the blinds, it softens the light and adds privacy during the day while keeping the room bright.
If you are torn between the two, our guide to blinds vs curtains compares them side by side.
Fitting blinds around sashes and shutters
How a blind is fitted matters as much as which blind you choose. These are the questions we work through on every tenement visit:
- Inside or outside the recess? Inside the recess is neater and keeps the shutters free. Outside the recess can make a small window look larger and block more light.
- Do the shutters still close? If you use your shutters, we position the blinds so the shutter leaves fold back and close freely.
- Can you still open the sash? Brackets and controls are placed so the lower sash, catches and any window restrictors are not in the way.
- Will the blinds line up? We set the heights so the three blinds sit level across the bay, even where the windows themselves differ slightly.
- Is the control safe for children? For children’s rooms we recommend cordless or motorised blinds, in line with the government’s blind cord safety advice.
Getting these details right on the day is the reason we measure every window in person rather than working from someone else’s measurements.
Keeping a tenement bay warmer
Bay windows lose a lot of heat, and single-glazed sash windows lose the most. Thermal or blackout fabrics on the blinds, plus lined curtains across the bay, make a noticeable difference to how warm the room feels on a winter evening.
If draughts are the bigger problem, the Retrofitting Historic Sash and Case Windows guide, produced by Edinburgh World Heritage and the University of Edinburgh, explains draught-proofing and repair options that work alongside blinds and curtains.
How much do blinds for a tenement bay window cost?
Every tenement bay is different, so we do not publish a set price. The quickest way to find out is to book a free home visit. We come to your flat, measure every window in the bay, bring fabric samples so you can see them in your own light, and give you a written quote. There is no obligation, and measuring and fitting are free.
Frequently asked questions
Should I get one blind or three for a bay window?
For a tenement bay, three separate blinds, one per window, almost always work best. Each blind fits its own window, you can raise them independently, and the sash windows and shutters keep working. A single blind across a bay is only practical on a flat run of glass.
Can blinds be fitted if I still use my shutters?
Yes. We fit the blinds inside the recess in a position that lets the shutter leaves fold back and close normally. We check this on the home visit before anything is made, so you keep the option of using your shutters on cold nights.
What blinds are best for a tenement bedroom bay?
Blackout roller blinds or blackout roman blinds are the most effective, especially in flats facing street lights. Adding lined curtains across the bay blocks light around the edges and keeps the room warmer. Our guide to blackout blinds for better sleep covers this in more detail.
Do you fit blinds in tenement flats outside central Edinburgh?
Yes. We fit blinds across Edinburgh and the surrounding area, including Leith, Portobello, Musselburgh and Fife. Wherever your flat is, the home visit, measuring and fitting are free, and every blind comes with our 3-year guarantee.
Book a free home visit
The best blinds for your tenement bay window are the ones made for each window in it. Summerside Blinds is a family-run made to measure blinds company in Edinburgh, and every blind we fit is made in our Leith workshop and covered by a 3-year guarantee. Get in touch or call us on 0131 553 1073 to book a free home visit and a no-obligation quote.