If you have ever been inside of a Japanese home, you have surely seen a shoji screen. These screens are very popular in Japan and in the homes of Japanese Americans. Over the past few years, however, more and more other people have found use for these functional, decorative screens and these days, you can find them at most furniture or door stores. Here are some ways that you can effectively use this type of screen in your home:
Use the Screen for Privacy
One of the traditional uses for shoji screens is for privacy. They can be used in almost any room of the home. For instance, you can easily add a screen to the bedroom in order to make a private area for getting dressed. These screens are translucent, so you get the light to come in, but you cannot see through them, giving you the privacy you desire. On top of this type of functional use, they are also very beautiful and elegant, giving you the best of both worlds. They are also good for keeping some items private, for instance, if you don’t have a lot of closet space, you can store items behind a screen so they remain out of view.
Use the Screen to Divide a Room
Another common use for a shoji screen is to visually divide up a large living area. If you have a desk or home office in your bedroom or living room, for instance, you can use your screen to divide it from the rest of the area. This will clearly divide the space and give you your own office area that is private. You can do similar in other rooms of the house as well in order to make things like a private study, personal reading room or even as an area of personal retreat.
Use it as a Decorative Addition
Finally, you will find that these screens are great as a decoration. They can easily hide architectural flaws or features and can even be used as a decorative headboard behind a mattress and bed frame. Other ideas include using the screen as a way to hide an old unused fireplace, to accent a certain wall or to even soften some harsh architectural features that some homes may have.
