How to Make Decorative Indoor Screens

Japanese design uses movable shoji screens.

Decorative indoor screens can turn one room into two without the expense and hassle of building interior walls. Screens also provide more flexibility than interior walls, allowing you to remove the screens when you need one big room, or move them around to create different configurations. High quality screens can be beautiful works of art as well as practical domestic tools.

Things You'll Need

• Pieces of 1-inch-by-1-inch wood
• Screws
• Drill
• Measuring tape
• Glue
• Small nails
• Fabric
• Wood veneer
• Rice paper
• Hinges

Instructions

1. Plan the screen based on the size of the area that you want to divide. Making hinged folding screens allows you to adjust their horizontal spread and helps the screens to stand up without external support.

2. Build wooden frames by screwing together two vertical and two horizontal members for each section of screen that you are making. A three-section screen requires six vertical members and six horizontal members. Make a 6-foot tall screen for total privacy or a 4-foot tall screen to hide a desk or table.

3. Cover each section with fabric, wood veneer or rice paper. Rice paper is the traditional material of Japanese shoji screens. Depending on the material you choose, you can attach it to the frame with staples, glue or small nails.

4. Connect the sections of the screens together with small hinges. Screw the faces of the hinges onto the sides of the screens so the hinges don't show as much on the screens.

References

• The Shoestring; Decorative Screens on a Dime; Shaunna Privratsky; October 2005
• Bamboo and Tikis: How to Build an Indoor Bamboo Privacy Screen