Decorating the Nest: Chinese Screens

Oh hello there, Palm Beach!

We most commonly see decorative screens used as a privacy tool outdoors in place of more traditionally fencing, but they're actually a fabulous indoor tool as well for visually dividing spaces without long term commitment! With the open floor plan here to stay in the States, perhaps it's time to bring these magical visual dividers indoors. They train the eye to recognize a division in the purpose of a space without being as constricting and visually heavy as an actual wall or a true furniture piece like a bookcase. 

With their carved patterns, they still allow light to pass through which creates an airy vibe. They can even be works of art on their own like two art deco inspired pieces below. What a fantastic investment in a piece  that takes the place of a stained glass window but can follow the owner to a new home or just a new room in the next remodel!

I adore the way that screens can be feminine and delicate. This looks more like a lace panel than anything and would be just right for a dressing room!

These are nice because the wood is light enough that the screens doesn't feel too heavy for the space, but they offer just enough intricacy to show off the contrast to the light behind them. On the left, we have a more modern wooden screen that is neither feminine nor masculine. It adds some visual interest with the round edged patterns, but doesn't overly draw the eye either. The piece on the right feels much more like an antique and like it would be well suited to the transition area near a dining room.

 

My preference is clearly normally for screens that feel airy, but there's something to be said for a show stopper! These are clearly meant to be the colorful focal point all on their own, and to anchor the other furniture in a room.  Just imagine the stained glass lighting up from behind, or the vibrant green serving as a substitute headboard in a Moroccan guest bedroom!

 

These screens all speak to the potential to meet your home's practical needs in unusual and beautiful ways. Instead of hanging a patterned curtain or rearranging furniture to block unsightly wall damage, a bad view, or surplus storage bins, throw in an easily portable screen that serves as a design piece in its own right!