Decorative screens are rarely used
for their original purpose: privacy, but that hasn’t decreased their
popularity. Today, these flexible furnishings are utilized in a number of ways.
To cozy up a corner back a chair or chaise with a decorative screen. By adding a small table and lamp, you can
create an intimate and appealing reading retreat. You can also use a decorative screen to divide a single,
large space. The result will be two new areas that flow beautifully from one
area to the other.
When living space needs
to be divided into functional zones, nothing accomplishes this task better than
use of folding screens. Folding screens enhance your home with their incredible
versatility, mobility, adjustability, and aesthetic value. Best of all, folding
screens do not require any installation and can easily be folded and moved any
time you want. Decorative folding screens can be absolutely beautiful and
satisfy any style preferences and decorating taste.
Decorative screens are
also great ways to section off a part of your home for storage. Because of
their height, they can hide stacked boxes of items such as winter clothing or
seasonal decorations. If you don’t
have a closet for your cleaning supplies, hide your vacuum, broom, and mop
behind a tall screen.
However you use them, these
decorative elements can add color, pattern, and dimension to an otherwise
lackluster room. With the right screen play, you can be assured of a happy
ending.
Here are a few additional tidbits
about using decorative screens:
·
Use
screens to divide rooms. In 18th century England, people were taxed for the
number of rooms they had. They
often used screens to divide rooms and therefore, paid less taxes.
·
Black
lacquered screens make beautiful accents to a room. They are painted with many
layers of paint, lacquered, and then carved to reveal the underlying colors.
Use this type of screen as a headboard or in a corner that's difficult to
decorate.
·
Take the
hinges off larger screens and use the pieces separately.
·
Old
iron pieces can be used as fireplace screens. Place a plant behind it for a
touch of color and texture.
·
Hand
painted French screens add a lot of color to a room. They add a splash of color
to a living room or use in a bedroom to provide a private dressing area.
·
Contemporary,
solid-colored screens make a sophisticated backdrop for a piece of sculpture.
·
Combine
a screened section in a bedroom to provide a private dressing area.
History 101
The history of folding
screens began in China, where they appeared in the 7th century. These
sophisticated pieces of furniture were made in many sizes, from extremely large,
oversized folding screens that were used in spacious palaces, to miniature
decorative screens that could comfortably fit on a tabletop. Folding screens
used as room dividers were constructed from several panels attached to each
other.
In the 7th century
folding screens were also introduced in Japan. Due to Japanese customs and
architecture, folding screens remained a very important decorative interior
addition. Traditionally, in Japanese homes people sat on the floor while eating,
entertaining, and during official ceremonies. Accordingly, the hand-painted
design was concentrated to the bottom part of a screen. This allowed for the
most detailed part of a screen design to be visible at eye level.
Some believe that
folding screens were introduced to Europe by Marco Polo. Marco Polo was credited as the man who
brought screen to Italy from his expedition to China. Decorative screens
instantly gained popularity because of their size and beauty. Moreover, skilled
artisans could easily reproduce the uncomplicated construction of the folding
screens.