Decorative Screens: Ways to Make Use of Them in Your Home

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Reduce, Reuse and Recycle - In Style!

I love furniture, ornaments and other pieces that have a history to them. Almost everything in my home has a story behind it: I have a coffee table made out of old fishing boats from Bali, a light fitting that was first used on a cruise ship in 1902 and a bedstead I put together myself from pieces of driftwood! Furniture like this adds beauty, texture and depth to any interior design scheme--and it's easier to find than you might imagine, too. I've started this blog to share my passion for reclaimed and recycled furniture with the world, and I hope you're able to learn something new and exciting here.

Decorative Screens: Ways to Make Use of Them in Your Home

5 December 2016
 Categories: , Blog


Although decorative screens are not new to interior design, not many homeowners know how best to make use of them. Decorative screens actually originated in Japan. They are referred to as shoji screens, and although they would be used primarily for privacy, there are a myriad of other applications that they can be put to good use. The following are some of the creative ways that you can make use of decorative screens in your home.

Use decorative screens to demarcate a room

If you live in an open plan home or perhaps stay at a studio apartment, you may find that your residence is too open for your liking. As a renter, it may not be feasible to construct walls that will divide the room up for you. Luckily, you do not have to resort to extensive renovations to demarcate different spaces. Decorative screens can help you establish separate living quarters while also enhancing the flow of traffic around your home.

However, investing in decorative screens does not mean that your space has to stay permanently divided. If you are hosting guests and would like to keep the original open floor plan, you may want to consider adjustable screens. These have the capability of being slid up and down their poles to open and close up a space at whim. Another thing to note is that if you are using multiple decorative screens, then you should leave some space in between them. This will allow free airflow between the demarcated spaces.

Use decorative screens to create a functional space

Another way that you can use decorative screens is to create spaces that were not there before. For example, you may have wanted a home office but find that you do not have enough rooms in your home to accomplish this. A simple fix would be to use a decorative screen to create a small office space for yourself. However, to make the most of this application, you would have to consider some additions to the decorative screen.

For instance, installing a corkboard panel on one side of the decorative screen will give you a place to tack your documents, pictures and more. Another thing to keep in mind is that creating this type of functional space would be best done at a corner. This helps you take advantage of the walls rather than having to purchase numerous screens to create your alcove.