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10 Refreshing Ways to Use Flexible Screens & Partitions

Screens bring instant style and intimacy to all kinds of spaces

Becky Harris 2 October 2017

Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected." I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.

Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More

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I love design moves that don’t require much commitment because I like to switch up my decor all the time. If you’re craving an accent wall without wallpaper, would like to divide your space without construction, or want to add a Zen feeling without calling a plumber to install a Buddha fountain, a room screen could be your answer. They come in a wide range of styles, and there are so many ways to use them. Here are 10:

Elizabeth Gordon

Use a pair to add symmetry
These ornate room screens add glitz and style to this formal living room. Flanking the fireplace with them also adds balance and symmetry.

Studio Marcelo Brito

Adapt a room screen into a portable accent wall
This geometric room screen enlivens this white wall without a big commitment. It adds an exotic pattern and creates a backdrop for the console table.

Jerry Jacobs Design, Inc.

Here a room screen in a very different style adds some shine and dimension to a beige wall. Note the way the light reflects off the metallic gold finish on the screen.

BAAN design

Create a transparent division between rooms
All right, so this example is a little more permanent than I implied in the introduction, but I could not leave it out. This beautiful built-in screen helps delineate the boundary between the living room and the dining room in a very open floor plan. It also adds wood, vertical lines, and a bit of Japanese-inspired style to the space.

Susan Jay Design

Bring on the Zen with shoji screens
Shoji screens are a common Japanese design element that let in the light and add to the calm, spa-like feeling of this bathroom.

Browse through images of Shoji screens

Amelie de Gaulle Interiors

Imply a separate space without actually closing things off
This Art Nouveau screen provides a sense of separation for this loft’s sleeping area.

User

This room has three beds in it, and each bed has an Eames screen beneath it so that the girls can grab a little privacy from each other.

Jace Interiors & CreateGirl Blog

Bring dead space back to life
This screen draws our eye down the centre of the room to the corner, which would be a dead spot without it.

Check out these 10 clever ways to style dead corners

Vintage Renewal

Add print and pattern to a room
This room screen adds botanical artwork to the space, and hems in the living area a bit, making it feel more intimate.

Raina Kattelson

Similarly, this screen adds a healthy dash of Chinoiserie to this traditional room. It also enlivens a dead corner and creates a good spot for intimate conversations.

Interiors with Attitude, LLC

Create a sculptural piece
Intricate and exotic screen panels can function as sculpture when mounted on the wall.

Fashion one into a headboard
This exotic and intricately carved screen serves as a unique headboard that adds a layer of global style to the room.

Take a look at these 10 ideas for headboards

Seura

Add reflection to the room
This pair of screens keeps the television from floating in a sea of wallpaper, and its mirrored shapes create interesting reflections that bounce light around.

Read more:
Outdoor Screens That Offer Beauty and Solitude

Tell us:
How have you used screens inside your home? Share images and your thoughts in the Comments below.

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Nan

Thanks for the reminder..... I had one 25yrs ago in a studio for separation. It was similar to the one in #9 mid-century with wood frame and fabric. I changed the original fabric to have a different fabric on each side. Reminds me to look for it in my parents attic and reclaim it!

1 Like 29 May 2011 at 7:29pm