Can Beaded Curtains Be Cool Again?

Beaded curtains make us think of a couple things, and we're sorry to say they're not good. The first looks something like this:

An Imbibing Gentleman

Think dated, '70s interiors where strands of wooden beads adorned kitchen doors, surrounded by shag carpeting and DayGlo orange. (Don't get us wrong, there's a lot to love about 1970s decor ... but there's also a lot not to love.)

And then came the '90s, when all of a sudden the grooviest decade was back, and with it came lava lamps, trippy floral decals, and yes, beaded curtains. This time, they were shiny and colorful, and the culprits for making this trend sweep teenage bedrooms across the nation were Britney Spears (remember this album art?) and the Delia's catalog.

Delia's Catalogs Tumblr

So, it's been a while since we've even thought of this accessory, but as they say, "What goes around comes around," and usually Urban Outfitters is first. So it's not surprising that the retailer recently started selling beaded curtains — and really, they're the only (attractive) game in town. You can find some handmade and vintage wares on Etsy, but UO's offerings are by far the coolest.

Take this Big Dot Bamboo curtain ( $49 ), which brings a boho-minimalist vibe:

Urban Outfitters

And then there are a couple in a more tropical/floral motif, like this one ( $59 ):

Urban Outfitters

So, could you legitimately work a beaded curtain in your home? Thanks to UO, we're entirely confident it's possible — it might just require figuring out subtle or unexpected placements. The best use we've seen recently is in the kitchen of this Milan apartment, where a white, beaded curtain acts as unoffensive divide in front of shelving:

Studio 29 Architects

Of course, if you're not quite ready to go all in on beads, you could try a small macrame hanging. This DIY from The Wicker House doesn't even require you to decorate an entire doorway:

The Wicker House

So: Yay or nay on beaded curtains? Here to stay? Or not really?