How to Make a Floor Screen

Use three wood shutters to make a folding floor screen.

Floor screens are known by many names including room divider, partition, paneled screen, room screen, boudoir screen, shoji screen, privacy screen and folding screen. An item by so many names seems like it should be a complicated affair to produce, but it isn't. Historically, the floor screen provided some privacy in crowded living quarters. Today, the floor screen, more than likely, serves as a decorative accessory in your home. In about an hour, you can make a 3-paneled, folding floor screen from pre-painted wood shutters purchased at a home improvement store.

Things You'll Need

• 3 wood shutters measuring 15 inches-by-48 inches, pre-painted, louvered
• Yardstick
• Pencil
• 4 hinges measuring 3 inches-by-3 1⁄2 inches
• Wood screws (length determined by thickness of the shutter)
• Screwdriver
• 6 vinyl furniture gliders for wood
• Nails (included with gliders)
• Hammer

Instructions

1. Align the length sides of the shutters so that all three are lying next to each other. Use a yardstick to align the bottom edges so that the bottom is straight and even across all three shutters. The bottom edge will sit on the floor and if it isn't even, the screen will tilt.

2. Fit the hinges into the space between the shutters to see how far apart the shutters need to be positioned in order to fold. You will be attaching hinges on both sides of the center shutter to attach to the left and right shutters. Adjust the spacing on all of the shutters and re-check the evenness of the bottom edges. Your hinges will determine how far over from the shutter's edge they will need to be attached.

3. Measure 12 inches down from the top edge on the left side of the center shutter. Mark with a pencil. Align the top hole of the right side of a hinge over the pencil mark on the left side of the center shutter. Use a pencil to outline all of the hinge holes on the left side of the center shutter and on the right side of the left shutter. Screw the hinge to the shutters.

4. Measure 12 inches up from the bottom corner on the left side of the center shutter. Mark with a pencil. Align the bottom hole of the right side of a hinge over the pencil mark on the left side of the center shutter. Use a pencil to outline all of the hinge holes on the left side of the center shutter and on the right side of the left shutter. Screw the hinge to the shutters.

5. Turn the two joined shutters over so the joined shutter is now to the right of the center shutter and the hinges are under the shutters. The second pair of hinges will be on the opposite side of the center shutter so you can fold the floor screen accordion-style for storage.

6. Align the bottom edges of the single shutter with the joined shutters. The single shutter is now the left shutter. Repeat Steps 3 to 4 to attach the hinges.

7. Center a vinyl furniture glider about 1 inch from the outer corner of the left shutter. Use a hammer to tap in the furniture glider with the included nail. Measure 1 inch from each bottom corner of all shutters and hammer in a furniture glider. Each shutter will have two gliders. According to "This Old House Magazine," furniture gliders eliminate floor scuffs and scratches when you move the floor screen.

References

• This Old HouseMagazine: Making a Floor Screen

Resources

• This Old House Magazine: Making a Floor Screen