How to Make a Bead Curtain Designs

Crystal, glass, polymer, clay, wooden or plastic beads can make beautiful DIY beaded curtain designs. You can make your bead curtain thick and full enough to cover an entrance to a room, or create something more ethereal with a few simple strands to catch the light in a window. Online bulk bead suppliers offer volume discounts as well as a variety of bead curtain patterns and designs available, many of which are free of charge.

Select the size, style and color of the beads you plan to use to make your beaded curtains for doorways. Beads range in size from 4 to 10 millimeters and larger in a variety of cuts, colors and materials. You'll need to measure the height of the space you are covering with your bead curtain so you can get an idea of how many beads you'll need for the project. For example, to make one 6-foot strand of 6-millimeter round beads, you will need approximately 234 beads.

Different shapes and sizes will also affect how many beads you need to make your curtain designs. Look for online retailers like ibead.com that sell beads by the strand, usually 8 inches, so you can determine how many beads you will need to make your curtain. Incorporating large beads into your designs will account for more space along the strand.

Design a pattern for your strands by laying out the beads as you would place them on the strand. Pattern designs are generally repetitive, so you need to only lay out the first section of your pattern, up until the repeat begins. For example, your pattern may be six 6-millimeter red bicones, followed by 12 8-millimeter crystal bicones, followed by one 10-millimeter round hand-painted bead repeated seven times to create your strand. Lay out the red, crystal and hand-painted beads to visualize how the beads look together and to tweak your design, if needed. Once you have the pattern for your DIY beaded curtain as you like it, write down the sequence to make stringing easier.

Cut a length of fishing or monofilament line 7 inches longer than the length of one strand of your bead curtain. Make a loop and tie a strong knot 3 inches from one end of your line. This is the top of your bead strand and will slide over the curtain rod.

Thread the beads onto the line according to your design plan, leaving about 3 inches at the bottom to tie a strong knot. Make as many strands as you need to fill your doorway or window.