Door Curtain

Doorways give viewers the first impression of a room. Maybe the door seems too secretive or is just boring. With a little decorating savvy, you can replace that door with a more artistic and expressive door curtain. There's a door curtain to complement every decorating style. You can use shimmering transparent fabrics, velvets, lace or even make a patchwork or applique door curtain of your own creation. Beaded curtains are another attractive alternative.

The first thing you need to do is to measure the width of the doorway. With fabric, you'll need 2 ½ to 3 times the width of the doorway for your finished door curtain. The added yardage gives a richer appearance. Beaded curtains come in standard widths.

You'll need a curtain rod for fabric door curtains. Hardware and department stores carry many types of rods to complement your fabric. Wrought iron rods are elegant, with elaborate finials and twisted or rolled rods. Brass rods are attractive and go well with a Victorian theme. White painted metal, spring-loaded rods work well with heavy fabrics where the rod is not exposed. If your choice is a beaded door curtain, you needn't buy a rod, as these come with a built-in rod.

Now comes the fun part! Choosing your door curtain may be like trying to choose between two dresses. Both are great and it's hard to choose between them. Focus on the style of the room and the effect you want to create to guide you.

For an alluring look reminiscent of the Arabian Nights or the exotic, incense-laden fragrances accompanying graceful Indian dancers, look for sheer and shimmering fabrics with metallic threads. This type of fabric exudes mystery and grace, with a delicate and airy quality that floats on the breeze as you pass through the doorway. This type of fabric must be kept clean and dust-free to retain the sheer gossamer effect.

Velvet door curtains hint at Victorian luxury and a rich feeling of comfort and softness. Deep shades are the best candidates for door curtain use. Short cut velvets and velveteens are best used in well-lit areas. To show velvets to best advantage, consider tying them back with gold tassels at one or both sides.

For quaint, country decor with that “yesteryear” feel, a patchwork door curtain can set the stage to perfection. Handmade patchworks, appliques and wall-hanging styles in picture form can be just the thing. Picture-style wall hangings can tell a story or simply display an artistic design.

Beaded and bamboo style curtains display a mix of 1960's hippie expressions and an Eastern flavor. Faux-crystal beads and cute plastic bead shapes are other choices to consider. Glass beads are pricey, but give a sparkling, luminous effect from ambient light.

Whatever your desired effect, with a little imagination and a bit of foot work, you can change a doorway into a portal of style.