How to Make a Privacy Screen
Privacy screens serve several purposes. Some people use them to section off part of a room, such as an office in the living room. Other uses include placing them in front of bedroom windows or sliding glass doors, creating a dressing area, dividing a shared bedroom or creating a sitting area within a larger room. You can make a privacy screen in an afternoon with basic household tools. This is an easy project for beginners. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Measuring Tape
- Plywood
- Hinges
- Batting
- Fabric
- Crown Molding
- Nails
- Staple Gun
Instructions
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1
Measure the width of the area where you will use the privacy screen. Make the screen slightly larger to account for the folding of the panels.
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2
Choose the best height for your intended purpose. Although most screens are between five and six feet in height, you may want to go nearly to the ceiling when sectioning off part of a room.
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3
Count how many panels you will need. Privacy screens less than six feet tall should have good balance with panels that are 18 inches wide. Taller heights, however, need narrower panels of 12 inches to have good balance.
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4
Select plywood that is 3/8-inch or ½-inch thick. Avoid thinner plywood, as it is too flimsy to provide good balance and long life. The difference in price is minimal.
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5
Arrange for the carpenter at the lumberyard or home improvement store to cut the panels for you. Some stores provide this service free.
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6
Select the hinges to connect the panels. Brass looks nice in public areas such as the living or dining rooms but choose whatever will match your decor. You will need three hinges for each panel connection.
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7
Staple the batting to the panels. Quilt batting has a nice loft and will make the screen look nicer.
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8
Staple the fabric over the batting.
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9
Attach crown molding around all four sides of each panel. It will hide the stapled areas and give a professionally finished appearance. Use white nails for white crown molding and hammer into place.
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10
Attach all three hinges to the connecting side of the first panel. Make sure that the hinges are equidistant from each other as it would be a noticeable flaw. Place the first hinge in the center and then measure the same distance in both directions. Do not connect the first panel to the second panel yet.
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Attach all three hinges to the side of the second panel that will connect to the third panel. After you attach these hinges, then connect the first panel to the second panel. Follow this procedure for any additional panels. It is much easier to attach hinges before the panels are connected.
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