Screens are a great way to provide temporary or movable separation of areas within a room, while adding a design option to an overall interior plan. If space is at a premium, a screen can provide a privacy area, such as a changing area, within a bedroom. They can also be used solely as a decorative element in a living area. Screens with beautiful landscapes or decorative scenes have been used for hundreds of years in Japan.

Building a Screen

The screen will need to be strong enough to be freestanding if it is to be used as a room divider. This means the base will need to support the weight of the screen, and it must be designed tactically.

Flat Screen

A flat screen can be built of a single sheet of plywood or of material stretched across a frame. Since it does not fold, the feet of the screen will have to be broad enough to support it. This may intrude in the room and cut down on usable space. On the other hand, it is easier to build because you don't need hinges or anchoring.

Screen Mounted to Wall

A flat screen can be mounted to a wall, in essence creating a free, partial wall in the room. The down side is that it is immobile. Brackets can be used to mount one edge of the screen directly to the wall, or if you prefer to hide the hardware, mount one edge of the screen to the wall and build the screen into it. A third option is to place two slats parallel to each other directly onto the wal and slide the screening material between them.

Freestanding Folding Screen

A folding screen has the advantages of not needing feet or wall support. It can be folded to save space and stored when not in use. It is more time consuming to build because you need three sections for optimum stability. Each section needs to be built separately and attached with hinges.

Decorating the Panel

If you want to decorate the panel, use a material for the partitions in the panel that takes paint well, such as wood. Stretching canvas or linen over a frame also works well; size the material with an acrylic gesso or acrylic sealer, such as matte medium, and paint with acrylic paint. Paper is also a traditional material to use for partitions in the screen, but it is obviously more fragile and difficult to mount.

Source:

ThisOldHouse.com: How to Make a Folding Screen Using Old Hinges and Shutters

Art Gallery of New South Wales: The Art of Japanese Screen Painting