How to hang beaded curtains, and how to look after them

Before you start: unpack without tangling

Most beaded curtains arrive with the strands fixed to a rod or dowel and kept in order in the packing. Keep it that way.

Lay the package flat and open it fully before lifting anything.

Lift the curtain by the rod, not by the strands, and let the strands fall straight.

If strands have been bundled or tied for transit, hang the curtain first and then remove the ties one at a time from the top down.

Lifting a curtain by the strands is the most common cause of tangles.

Fixing options for hanging beads on a door

Tension rod: fits inside the door frame with no drilling. Best for light curtains such as acrylic, bamboo and wood, and for renters.

Cup hooks or screw hooks: two hooks in the top of the frame or the wall hold the rod or the loops on the dowel. Simple and strong.

Curtain rod and brackets: for heavier glass curtains, wide openings and room dividers. Choose brackets rated for the curtain's weight.

Ceiling hooks or track: for room dividers hung away from a wall. Fix into a joist or use anchors suited to the ceiling.

Whatever the fixing, check the weight. Glass curtains are much heavier than acrylic or wood, and a tension rod that holds an acrylic curtain may slip under glass.

How to shorten a beaded curtain

If the curtain is too long for the door:

Decide the finished length and mark it with a strip of masking tape across the strands.

Work one strand at a time. Hold the strand above the mark so beads do not slide off.

Undo or cut the end knot or stopper, then remove the beads below the mark, keeping a few spares.

Re-secure the end with a tight double knot, a crimp bead or the end stopper the curtain came with, then trim the excess cord.

On a patterned curtain, remove the same number of beads from every strand so the pattern stays level; check first, because the bottom of the motif will be lost. For shaped edges such as arches and scallops, shorten every strand by the same amount so the shape is kept.

Storing a beaded curtain

Take it down by the rod. Gather the strands into a few loose bundles and tie each bundle loosely at two or three points with soft ribbon, then lay it flat or roll it around a cardboard tube. Store it dry and out of direct sun.

For retailers: care cards and packing

If you sell beaded curtains, a short care card in the pack saves returns. We can include your care text in the packing to your specification, alongside your labels and cartons. When you order, tell us the quantity and the packing you need, and we will confirm what is practical for that run.