How to Make a Room Divider Screen

Paints

Room divider screens can create a sense of privacy, hide problem areas in the home or mark the point between one living space and another. Room dividers are very useful in large, open spaces and lofts that cry out for separate, smaller and more intimate living areas. They're also handy for bedrooms, to create a private place to dress and undress.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 3 20-inch-by-68-inch-by-3/4-inch thick birch plywood panels
• Sandpaper
• Cloth
• Decorating materials, such as paint and primer
• Screwdriver
• Screws
• 4 3/4-inch screen hinges
• Varnish or shellac

1. Go to a home improvement store and purchase birch plywood panels and hardware. They may be sold in large sheets, but they can be cut to the right sizes for you at the store.

2. Sand down your newly cut panels, including the corners, to rid them of any roughness that may snag clothing or be unsightly. Rub off any dust from sanding with a soft cloth.

3. Decide on the type of finish you want to use on your panels. Consider where the screen will be used and the existing decor. You might try a decoupage technique with nature scenes or favorite photos or a faux-finishing painting technique such as sponging or ragging. The soft look of shabby chic would be appropriate for a bedroom. See Resources for more finishing ideas for your screen.

4. Paint your panels with primer. A primer will allow better paint adhesion and help create a smoother, finished appearance. To do this, prop all three panels up against a basement wall, and paint one side and the edges with primer. Allow the panels to dry for 24 hours, and then apply a coat of paint. Allow that to dry.

5. Turn the panels over to paint the other sides with primer. Allow them to dry overnight, and apply a coat of paint. If you're applying faux-finishing techniques or creating your own art on the panels, apply the techniques and let that layer of paint fully dry. Seal your finished product by applying a coat of varnish or shellac.

6. Lay your panels out again on a clean floor after they're fully dried, with the exterior (or finished) side flat on the floor. Measure where you'll be putting your hinges. For example, if your screen is 6 feet high, your first hinge should be attached at the 2-foot mark, and the next one up would be at the 4-foot mark. Mark the measurements with a pencil on all three panels.

7. Place the hinges on the marks you've measured off on the screen's interior and attach them with 1/2-inch screws, or use the screws that come with the hinge assemblies. (See Resources.)

References

• Privacy Screen
• Need for Primers

Resources

• Primer
• Room Divider Ideas
• Screen Hinges