Adding a Shoji Screen to your Decor

Wall decor like abstract wall clocks, wine wall sculptures and wrought iron decor are certainly capable of adding a great deal of beauty to your home; but for something understated and unexpected, consider using a shoji screen. Japanese homes use beautiful shoji screens to make spaces more functional as well as more decorative. They are typically used as room screens, to divide a space for privacy or to make a space more useful. Shoji screens can be similarly used in Western homes for both practical applications and to add a dose of simple, yet elegant style. Here are some decorative tips on using a shoji screen in a typical modern home.

Adding Privacy with a Shoji Screen

It’s easy to add privacy wherever you wish with a shoji screen. For example, in a bedroom, a shoji screen can be used to create a dressing area. Since a shoji screen is translucent rather than solid, it allows light to pass through; so it provides privacy without making the dressing area dark or requiring the addition of a light source. They also work very nicely for creating hidden storage: You can use one to disguise a clothing rack, for example; and the screen offers the extra function of providing a private changing room. In a multi-purpose bedroom, it can also be used to separate home office space from sleeping space.

A shoji screen adds a beautiful touch of elegance to the bedroom as well. You can find them with beautiful Asian floral designs, simple Japanese calligraphy, waterfalls and landscapes and more. Their simply beautiful designs are a perfect complement to minimalist, Zen, contemporary and many traditional decors.

A shoji screen is a modern and effective way to divide a bedroom that is shared by siblings, so that each can have privacy and a quiet study area. In a family bathroom, a shoji screen can also be used to provide extra privacy, allowing more than one person to use the bathroom at one time.

Using a Shoji Screen in Living Spaces

A shoji screen is also a beautiful choice when living areas need to be divided for greater functionality and better visual flow. For instance, a small home office can be divided from a living room area with a shoji screen. This provides a private place to work and also prevent office clutter from visually detracting from living room or family room style. A shoji screen can be used in any living space to section off a reading nook or private sanctuary just by adding an inviting chair or comfortable floor pillows to the space.

Create a Decorative Backdrop with a Shoji Screen

A shoji screen can be used for purely decorative purposes. It can soften a corner or provide a backdrop for a seating area or a plant display. Place a light fixture behind a shoji screen and you’ve created an interesting and luminescent focal point that can be used on its own or as a backdrop for artworks or furnishings. A shoji screen makes a beautiful headboard while taking up very little floor space, so it is a smart choice for a minimalist style bedroom. A shoji screen can also make a less-than-attractive feature more appealing; for example, in can be used to hide cracks or flaws on a wall or block off an odd shaped alcove and help square off a room.