Panels lend themselves to many decorative touches.
A decorative, freestanding screen may be the most familiar definition of a room divider with panels, but they're also available as panels suspended from the ceiling or secured to the floor. Commercially available in a variety of designs and materials, the screens can be a discrete addition to a room or a design focal point. Does this Spark an idea?
Fabric
Creating room divider panels from fabric affords flexibility. Use solids, plaids, florals or geometric designs that match the room's decor. A vertical pattern or stripe makes the room look taller, while horizontal stripes and patterns make it seem larger. Bold colors go well in a contemporary room; think stainless steel and black leather furniture with a bright geometric pattern. Soothing pale green or cool blue adds an element of tranquility to a bedroom. Using different fabrics on the front and back of the dividers makes them reversible.
Pictorial
Spanning two or three room divider panels with a blow-up of a favorite movie poster, city skyline or pastoral scene turns the room divider panels into a freestanding work of art. Have an original photograph blown up, cut it into two or three vertical sections and glue it to the screens. Add a frame-like border on the top, bottom and sides. Use the same treatment for a painting. Blow up works by modern artists like Warhol in a contemporary room, a peaceful Japanese woodblock print for a bedroom or a reproduction of a classic Cezanne for an elegant room.
Open Design
An open design lets light from one side of the screen filter through to the other side. Vertical or horizontal slats have clean, modern lines. Small, open squares add an Asian touch, especially when painted a high-gloss black or red. A basket weave is typically more casual or rustic and works well in a beachside home or family room. Create an unusual room divider by attaching sections of bamboo or palm fronds to the top and bottom of the dividing panel.
Ornate
Some rooms lend themselves to more ornate room divider panels. Mirrored panels make rooms look larger. Gilding the frame around the mirror suggests an upscale home with elaborate decor. Wrought iron filigree adds a New Orleans, Tuscan or Spanish countryside look. Add a hint of the exotic with elaborate cutouts that evoke a prince's harem or an elegant Moroccan home. Victorian fretwork adds an authentic touch to a home of that era, especially when combined with the Oriental rugs and heavy furniture of Victorian design.
Tags: divider panels, room divider panels, room divider, room divider, contemporary room, especially when, lend themselves
