I got this to replace a door where space was tight, and it has worked wonders ever since. I keep it tied back (simply got a piece of natural twine which closely matches the color of the bamboo, and hooked it to the wall) so that I don't have to go through it all the time. I feel like if it had to constantly have people and pets passing through it that pieces would break off, because it's quite delicate the way the beads are attached. A couple of thin pieces at the end needed to be reattached, as they fell off in the shipping box. However for the price, this product is awesome and looks beautiful. I don't mind that it tapers at the bottom, although of course I would have preferred it to be equally full from top to bottom - that would have been way more expensive though, I'm sure. Since I am not in need of total privacy, it suits my needs perfectly, at a very affordable price point.