How to Make a Japanese Room Divider

A Shoji screen or Japanese room divider serves functional and decorative purposes.

Japanese or oriental room dividers provide the required privacy in a residential or commercial setting without blocking out the light. Commonly featured in Japanese homes, the lightweight, durable and attractive freestanding dividers are also becoming increasingly popular in Western buildings. The screen comprises 5- to 7-foot identical rectangular panels or frames attached to one another with hinges. Sheets of rice paper are glued to the rectangular frames and decorated with wood strips to form lattice or grid patterns for enhanced visual impact.

Things You'll Need

• Basswood or cedar boards
• Miter saw
• Sandpaper
• Glue
• Paint and paint supplies
• Wood strips, 1-inch
• Handsaw
• Rice paper
• Hinges
• Screwdriver
• Screws

Instructions

1. Cut the lengths of 1 1/2- to 2-inch basswood or cedar boards to your desired dimensions using a miter saw. Sand the edge of each wood board to smooth out sharp splinters and corners.

2. Dry-fit the frames for each panel on the floor, ensuring the corners are flush and square. Spread glue over the edge of a board and hold the adjacent end next to it to form a secure joint. Repeat the process of gluing the ends of the remaining boards, so the rectangular frame is secure. Let the glue dry for the duration of time specified on the label.

3. Paint the frames so the Japanese screen blends with the theme of the room you wish to place it in, or leave the wood as it is for natural appeal. Apply two coats of paint on each side to get a bold color. Let the frames dry overnight.

4. Cut 1-inch strips to the desired lengths to form the lattice or grid on each panel. Determine the locations for the horizontal and vertical strips, and the spacing in between, so you know how many strips you need to cut. Sand the edges of the strips to smooth out inconsistencies and paint them the same shade as the frames.

5. Lay a rectangular frame on a level surface. Apply an even layer of glue over its exposed edges. Align the end of a rice paper roll against its end and unravel it over the frame, pressing its edges over the glues sides. Continue to unroll the paper over the glued frame, pulling it taut and pressing it over the edges to prevent it from folding. Cut excess paper that extends beyond the end of the frame with scissors and leave to dry. Continue to cover the remaining rectangular panels with rice paper.

6. Glue the horizontal and vertical strips to the rice paper on each panel according to your desired spacing. Cut lengths at intersections with a saw. Glue the vertical panels along the width of the frame and horizontal panels along the length. Let the glue dry.

7. Spread the frames in line with each other on the floor and determine the locations for the hinges, preferably near the top and bottom. For longer panels, consider an additional hinge near the middle. Mark identical spots for hinges along the sides of every panel.

8. Join one side of each hinge to the edge of the frame with screws. Extend the hinge to the adjacent panel and insert it over the marked spot. Continue to insert the remaining hinges to the frames.

References

• Screen Room Divider: How to Build a Shoji Screen Room Divider
• eShoji.com: How to Choose Shoji Paper for Shoji Screens
• Room Divider Shoji: About Room Divider Shoji Screens
• "Shoji: How to Design, Build, and Install Japanese Screens"; Jay van Arsdale; 1988