The Weekend Warrior
Free-Standing Shóji Screens

In conjunction with this month's Inner Space feature -- "Breathing Space" -- we thought we'd devote our Weekend Warrior to the subject of free-standing screens.  ...

Of course, free-standing screens can be store-bought.  There are plenty of them out there.  But, especially if you stick to a simple design, they're fairly easy to make.  ...

The screens are most often used as dividers -- a way of setting off or defining an interior space without building walls.  They can offer privacy, or simply accent a corner or other area of the house.

The classic free-standing screen is the Japanese shóji.  Of course, many of the Japanese designs are very intricate, often with complex joinery, too.  But you can use the basic design, or go for as much complexity or simplicity as you like.  ...  The covering for the frames of the screens likewise provides and opportunity for simplicity or complexity.  The traditional simple covering is a rice paper.  It's beautiful, especially when back-lit; but it's fragile.  Other traditional coverings range from bamboo weaves to painted silk.  The only real requirement here, though, is that you find something you like.  ...

The Basic Design:  The basic idea here is simple.  You're going to construct at least 3 screen panels which will be hinged together so the individual screen panels can be staggered and, thus, free-standing, and so the unit can be folded up and take up less space when you want to put it out of the way.  ...  Once you've constructed the frames, you choose a covering, mount it, and that's it.

Materials:  All we're looking at is some 2x2 stock -- hardwood or soft.  {Of course, these days, good luck finding softwood 2x2's pre-cut.} ... hinges {a pair for each screen panel minus 1} ... and the covering of your choice {anything from fabric to wood, though the preferred material will be at least somewhat translucent}.

Notice we didn't say anything about nails, screws, or other fasteners.  That's because the option is yours, and how you fasten the pieces will depend on what sort of joinery you want to use.

Step-by-Step ...

• Cutting the pieces ...  The minimum here is 2 pieces of 2x2 for the sides, and 1 each for top and bottom.  Our diagram shows a 3rd horizontal center piece, but it's not essential.
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  Depending on how you join the pieces, you'll have to make some adjustments.  But the finished frames should stand at least 72" high, with a minimum width of 15", though the 17"-20" range is preferable.  The width generally shouldn't exceed 24".
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• Securing the corners ...  Obviously, a simple rectangle, even with a center horizontal section, isn't going to provide much stiffness.  To address this, there are a number of ways to go.  Square up your frames.  Then, you can use some 2x2 stock for angled corner braces.  How small or large depends on you.  You wouldn't need anything bigger than, say, 12" here.  But if you do go larger, you can incorporate the angled braces as part of the design.  You can use angle hardware instead to secure the corners -- in-set or out.  Of course, you can also decide to lap the joints, and use dowels instead of nails or screws ... or go for something fancier, like glued dovetails.  ...

• Finishing the frames ...  Decide on a finish for your frames.  The most common choices are either a simple polyurethane finish, alone or over a transparent stain ... or the high-gloss black 'lacquered' finish associated with much Japanese woodwork.  But you certainly don't have to be limited to those options.  ...

• Mounting the covering ...  How you mount your covering depends, of course, on what you're using.  ...  Again, the preferred choice is something translucent, since part of the beauty of these screens becomes most apparent when they're back-lit.  ...

  If you choose a cloth covering, then simply cut & stretch the material over one side of the frame -- not so tight as to stretch it out of shape.  A quick way to fasten the cloth can be accomplished by stapling it intermittently, then covering the edges with strips of luan or other thin material cut the width of your nominal 2x2 stock.  This works ok if you'll be painting the frames, since you can paint the strips the same color.  But if you'll be using a natural finish, then you'll have to go another route, unless you don't mind the back side of the frames a different finish.

  Keep in mind that, unless you go with a full-blown rabbet along the entire interior of the frame and in-set a second frame or wood slats, etc., since you will be mounting something on one side of the frame, the two sides will never be identical.  ...  This is generally not a problem, since one side only usually faces the living area..

As we said, these screens can be as simple or complex as you have the time and skill for.  But if you stick to a simple design, you can probably turn out a 3-frame screen in an easy weekend.  ...

Beyond that, you can extend the screens to 4 or more panels, or even make a set for an entire wall, like the ones pictured here.

Meanwhile ... enjoy your weekend.

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