I am struggling with a design dilemma in my 1960's ranch style home that has a living room/dining room combo so it is a long, narrow room. Because I don't use my dining room for anything except storing odds and ends of furniture, I have put a Shoji screen up as a room divider. Some day I plan to make the dining room a functional space that can be open but right now, I need to "hide" it.
A Shoji screen is a wooden frame - mine is a natural color - with rice paper as the screen part. Because I am on a very tight budget I would love to figure out a way to make it look better as my room divider.
I have been searching Pinterest for ideas on what to do to somehow make it look better - maybe even pretty - but not having any luck. I have thought about painting the entire thing white but not sure how that would work on the rice paper part. I have thought about trying to remove the rice paper (not an easy task) and replacing it with a pretty fabric or paper. I have also thought about simply stapling some lacy curtains or fabric on it.
So I thought I would turn to my blogging friends for ideas and thoughts on what I might be able to do.
Have any of you ever repurposed a shoji screen?
Any other ideas - i.e. hanging a curtain rod, etc. as a divider rather than the screen?
I am open to ANYTHING. Except - sewing -- cause I don't sew. lol. I realize it isn't the greatest option - but it is what I have and what I can afford.
Thoughts? Ideas? Please forgive the mess -- I didn't "stage" these pics so there are a few random wires, etc. hiding in there. lol.
Oh My Goodness... You are asking the wrong person since I am not the least bit creative with things like this.... Our home is open (huge living/dining/etc. area---called a Great Room. That is one thing which attracted us to this house. We wanted openness--so that is what we got... SO--I know nothing about partitions or anything like that... Wish I could help. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
Ha! Thank you for your honesty Betsy! I am the opposite -- I love small spaces and creating little nooks. I am on the lookout for a dining room table/chairs at a bargain to just make it a proper dining room!
DeleteHi just found your blog I think that screen looks gorgeous as it it as does your room but you could just hang interesting colourful bits and pieces of fabric/ prints/ pics etc if you needed to. I wouldn't change it tho
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy! So glad you found my blog so I could find yours! I do like the idea of bits of lace and fabric but I also appreciate you saying you like it the way it is. It has been that way for awhile and I just feel it needs a little something. It is great to get other opinions! Thank you so much for your suggestions!
DeleteSorry. Redecorating a Soji screen is a new one on me. I have no idea. I can tell you what I did in my little apartment. The door between living room and bedroom, and the door between living room and kitchen had been removed. There are basically four rooms. Because I needed to close off the room from time to time - like heating or cooling one room when I was keep electrical use down - I used Command hooks at each side inside door and used straight curtain rods to hang store bought curtains. It works perfectly for me but I think your Soji screen looks just as good, if not better.
ReplyDeleteI like your screen too, simple and clean, easy to move when needed. Since you seem to like/love crocheted lacy pieces, you could incorporate them onto this piece as well. Have you checked out Pinterest?
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend in your lovely home.
FlowerLady
I agree with all your other commentators that the screen looks good just as it is. It has a simple elegance that could be spoilt by making alterations. If you're feeling like a change why not shuffle your furniture round a bit and buy an orchid or oriental -looking plant to keep your screen company?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment! I probably will move the furniture around - that always has a way of freshening up a room! Thanks for visiting! I enjoy the stunning English countryside on your blog!
DeleteI really like this screen as a room divider but it might need to have a softer look, especially with your feminine couch. I'm thinking lace panels on either end, maybe stapled back like curtains? Or how about buying a couple of yards (I'm guessing on the measurements) of a sheer fabric and draping it in waves across the top of the screen?
ReplyDeleteMay I ask you a big favor? I got your reply to my blog post in my email, but I was on my phone and accidentally deleted your comment instead of publishing it! (The links are SO tiny on the phone - I hit the wrong one!) It's in my "trash" folder and now it won't let me publish since it's been deleted. Here's your comment (copied and pasted)...can you please send it in a comment again? I am so sorry for this trouble.
"So sorry about your knee problem. I've had the meniscus tear surgery and it really helped my knee cause it was very painful. Sending healing thoughts your way. Funny you should mention about picking up after horses. In my town you must pick up after your dog so I carry bags everywhere so why don't horse owners have to pick up after their horses? THAT would be a big job! "
I just resent the comment so you can publish. No problem at all! Thanks for the suggestions. I like those ideas - especially the lace curtains on each end. I think that would soften it quite a bit which is my goal.
DeleteHello, I'm new to your blog, have found it via another blog, so I'm enjoying reading it!
ReplyDeleteAs for your room divider, I'd focus less on this screen, which is a temporary measure as you say, something to hide your bits and pieces of furniture until you sort out that end of the room. It's a bit like with clothes or anything else come to that, i.e. buy cheap, buy twice. So don't waste money and time on the screen, as it's a nice screen as it is, but consider other aspects of your living room. If you really can't sort out the dining end now, and dispense with the screen, I'd perhaps consider changing the wall colour to something a bit less neutral, or if that isn't acceptable, then some new cushion covers, a brightly coloured throw for your sofa (which you could continue to use in this room or elsewhere at any time in the future), and some attractive houseplants. There looks to be a lot of taupe, ivory, cream and pastel colours in your room. Lovely though they are, I think you need a more definite colour as backdrop, or failing that, accent colours on your sofa, even perhaps a colourful rug. But keep that lovely screen exactly as it is and then concentrate on getting the room, which looks lovely and large, 'sorted' out. Don't waste money and time on too many temporary measures.
Margaret P
Glad you found me Margaret and thank you for your comments and suggestions!
DeleteHello there, I just found your blog from a comment you made on Simple and Serene Living! So came over here and I've been entranced ever since! I want to take the time to comment on some of your other posts too.. but as for this one...... your decorating style looks "cottage" to me.. so to me, the screen is a little too angular and not soft.. and me.. I love fabric and sewing, so I would put a pretty cottage type fabric on the screen, hang it somehow so that it can be removed and changed out. I think I would use velcro dots.. some of the screen and some on the fabric, and hang it all the way across with a little bit of a gather. I would pick it so that it would match some of the couch pillows or maybe make some to match. I love the cottage look and lace that you use, and the color of your wall! You could also do the same thing with panels of lace curtains as I think keeping it somewhat "unbusy" would look best. I love all your antique and thrift store touches! Since I love to craft, and scrapbook, etc. I would use that dining room area as my fun space.. to sew or scrapbook or make cards, or to make puzzles or paint, etc. Or.. since you are a reader (me too!) I would make it into a little "library" room with bookshelves and notebooks with my notes on the books I love to read. I'll be back soon! Marilyn from Oregon
ReplyDeleteWelcome Marilyn and thank you for visiting my blog! I am looking forward to reading more of your posts because we are like-minded when it comes to PINK! I MUST have it in my home at all time! I like your ideas about my screen - thank you so much for taking the time. I am really liking the velcro idea - never thought of that one either! Also the curtain panel idea and will be keeping my eye out at estate sales and thrift stores for fabrics and curtains. I do use the dining room for some crafting too -- my jewelry making supplies are in there and my work table, along with all the other odds and ends. I am really grateful for all of the creative ideas my blogger friends have posted!
DeleteI agree with what Marilyn says, too. Pink is a lovely warm colour and would look right with our other furnishings. I've even written about the colour pink for various magazines, it has an interesting history. And yes, the dining end, if not used as a dining room would make a wonderful craft area.
DeleteMargaret P
I meant "your other furnishings" - fingers can't spell!
DeleteMargaret P
Pink is a color that makes me really happy and it will give the pop of color I need in this room. Do you have a link to your articles? I would love to read the history of pink. I know about the Mamie Eisenhower pink tile bathrooms but would be interested in more info about my favorite color. I am going to be on the lookout for a chunky pink throw to add interest to my sofa, and some vintage fabric for my screen to soften it. I bought some beautiful creamy pink hydrangeas for my vintage vase that I am also using in there. Thank you Margaret!
DeleteThe first thing I thought of when I saw the screen was that it didn't quite mesh with its surroundings. I like the idea my friend Marilyn suggested. I would focus on something soft and simple, such as a cream colored sheer. Although soji screens are simple in design, they can also be a bit busy due to all the squares, and my eye went straight toward it which I don't think is your goal.
DeleteI stopped by to see how you were doing and I'm happy to see you're still blogging. I wish you many years of fulfillment with your blog. All the best!).
I'm commenting again on your comment on PINK! I too love pink so much! It has been my love for years... I can't explain the feeling I get when I see pink things! I think your living room would just love some pops of pink! ... and a softer looking screen. So glad your dining area is somewhat of a crafting area too!
DeleteDoreen -- Thank you so much for checking in and weighing in with your suggestions about my screen! I feel the same way -- it is just too harsh with my soft surroundings. I am keeping my eye out for fabric/curtains/lace, etc. to soften it up a bit like you and several others suggested. I sooo appreciate all of the helpful comments and ideas! I love blogging but find myself going a while between posts. My job has gotten more stressful and I that has drained some of my energy. I do love it tho and especially the connections I am making with others, like yourself!!! Thank you for your well wishes!
DeleteMarilyn - YES -- there is just something about the color PINK! I am going to do a post about my bedroom soon. I just redid it TOTALLY in shabby chic pink and white. It makes me feel sooo happy!
That's funny, I just bought one of these screens at a yard sale the other day to use as a privacy screen for a sofa bed in my family room downstairs. I rarely use that sofa bed, but since I have visitors coming from Ireland, it will be in use. The sofa bed is right at the bottom of the stairs, so I figured at least it will give them a tiny bit of privacy, or at least the illusion of privacy! The paper is torn in a few spots and I thought (briefly!) of swapping in a pretty fabric, but I think it's more trouble than it's worth for the few times I will use it....and the small amount of money I shelled out for it. I look forward to seeing what you end up doing with yours, though!
ReplyDeleteThat is a perfect use for it. In another house I had, I used mine in a corner of a larger room to hide my treadmill. It has also been used to provide a "nook" of privacy. In this house, I have had a harder time with it. I finally just moved my furniture around so that the sofa in't in front of the screen. I like it better cause now the eye doesn't go directly to the screen when you enter the room.
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