I talk a lot about using bamboo in your garden or outdoor space. But today I’m looking at something you can use to bring the outdoors, indoors… bamboo beaded curtains!
When you imagine a beaded curtain, you may not immediately think about incorporating one into your home decor. As a kid, I can remember them screening the back rooms of local shops from the prying eyes of customers.
But today, bamboo is firmly back in fashion – even the likes of Urban Outfitters are on board! And we’re discovering all sorts of uses for this old favorite.
Let's take a look in more depth…
But before we do — interested in why we love bamboo products so much? Check out our Why Bamboo page.
What Are Bamboo Beaded Curtains?
There are lots of products and textiles now being made from bamboo. So we need to point out the difference between bamboo beaded curtains and bamboo curtains.
Advances in fabric technology mean that it’s now possible to buy textile curtains made from bamboo! Yes, really! They block out the light and keep in the heat. If you’d like to know more about those, check out this helpful article.
But, if you’re interested in the less solid variety – read on…
Bamboo beaded curtains could be seen as the precursor to vertical blinds – but much simpler to make. Strands of string or twine are suspended from a horizontal bar and allowed to hang free. Then, bamboo beads are threaded onto each string in a pattern. Easy!
So where did the idea come from?
Brief History of Bamboo Beaded Curtains
With huge amounts of bamboo grown in Asia, it’s logical to assume that’s where the first bamboo curtains came from.
In fact, one of the earliest dated accounts of a bead curtain comes from China. In the time of the Jin dynasty (265 – 420 AD), bead curtains shielded the emperor’s concubines from the rest of the imperial court. This allowed the concubines to view the comings and goings of the court, without anyone seeing them.
It’s not clear exactly when bamboo bead curtains first gained popularity in the East. But we know they’ve been used in homes for at least a couple of hundred years.
And when the hippie movement first burst onto the scene in the United States in the 1960s, it started an interior design revolution. The communal living, open attitudes and harmony with nature it encouraged, promoted many to make their homes less formal. Part of that was adopting decoration ideas from India and the far East.
The movement continued through the 70s. And we still associate accessories and trinkets from Asia with that hippie vibe today.
So, if you’re thinking about incorporating a vintage bohemian look into your home, read on…
What Are Bamboo Beaded Curtains Used For?
Doorways
I’m not a fan of doors. Unless they’re absolutely necessary, of course.