A Shoji screen is a great decroative piece or room divider.
A Shoji screen is probably one of the most identifiable pieces of Japanese furniture and home decor. They add a little extra something to any room they are displayed in. Traditionally used as a movable wall or room divider, some decorators are now including Shoji screens in room as artwork rather than as functional pieces. Your Shoji screen can be both artwork and a functioning part of your room. Luckily, Shoji screens are something you can make at home to suit your needs, whatever they may be.
Instructions
Building Your Shoji Screen
1. Organize six frame sections that are 5 feet wide and 7 feet tall using your lumber pieces.
2. Cut the ends of the wood at a diagonal of about 45 degrees. Fit ends together, with the 7-foot pieces vertical and the 5-foot pieces horizontal. Connect the corners using the glue and small nails.
3. Repeat for until you have six identical frames.
4. Construct a grid out of the 1-by-1-inch dowels to fit in the center portion of the Shoji screen. You will want five 7-foot dowels and seven 5-foot dowels. Carve or cut notches in the 7-foot dowels every foot of the way down. The notches should be a bit smaller than the dowels as this is where the five fit dowels will fit into them, and it should be snug. Use glue in the notches as well. The dowels should be flush against one another to make a flat grid surface. Repeat this two more times so you have six grids.
5. Attach the grids to the inside edges of the frames using nails and/or glue to create six panels.
6. Paint or stain the panels if you so desire. Let paint or stain dry.
7. Glue the rice paper to the back of one panel. Once glue is dry, glue another panel on top of that, so you are sandwiching the rice paper between two panels. Repeat this for the other four panels.
8. Mark the spot on each panel where you want the hinges to go. Screw hinges into the Shoji screen panel frames. The hinges should be spaced evenly, and you should use at least three. Place wherever you want your Shoji screen to be showcased.
Tags: Shoji screen, 7-foot dowels, Repeat this, rice paper, room divider, Shoji screen, Shoji screens
