Screen style

Not all rooms are created equal and you’re often faced with a space that needs to fulfil more than one purpose.

Are you dividing a studio space to accommodate a sleeping nook and study space? A screen is a simple and elegant solution and can be easily personalised to suit your current colour fancy. A natural rattan screen trimmed with Resene Summer Rose gives a whimsical touch to this bold room.

Screens or room dividers originated in China around the 4th Century BC. Created as large works of art they were heavy, ornate and wildly expensive, commissioned only for royalty and the very wealthy. Thankfully these days they are far more available and affordable, and for the keen DIYer a fantastic opportunity to let your creative mind run free.

When you select a bold rich colour for your walls like this Resene Forest Green, it’s a great idea to choose a soft complementary colour. While we’ve chosen Resene Summer Rose to add a touch of colour to the trim of this screen, you could make more of a feature and paint the entire screen in the warm mandarin shade of Resene Corvette, another great complementary colour for Resene Forest Green.

Continuing to bring light to the room these natural timber floorboards finished with Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy complement the palette and add to the character of the room.

Choosing the light rattan screen also works in with the floorboards and amplifies the natural style of the room. Painting the headboard in the dusky pink of Resene Coral Tree creates a curved frame for the bed, reflecting the tonal similarity of the screen trim, while the similar tones of the linen and pillows harmonise the natural theme.

When looking at accessories, bring bursts of colour to the room by painting your vases, enabling you to get just the right shade. We’ve painted the vases in Resene Forest Green and Resene Coral Tree, mirroring the colours in the walls and headboard.

Screens are also great for simply hiding an area that you’d rather wasn’t seen. It’s an elegant solution to screen off washing baskets and drying racks with ease. They also work well to create a separate dressing area in a bedroom or studio.

Screens are a wonderful canvas for your creativity. Don’t be afraid to add a little artistic flair to your room by painting the screen. You can simply opt for a trim in your favourite colour or if you’re feeling bold, create a full mural to reflect your personality.

There’s endless options of screen designs these days too, giving you a vast range of possibilities with everything from simple rattan folding frames to beautifully ornamental Art Deco styles. When choosing your screen consider the style of your home, the space in your room and what you need the screen to do for you.

Separating a bedroom space to allow for a home office or study nook can make a solid textured frame a great option. Choosing to paint each side of the screen a different colour further delineates the use of the space. If you prefer a more ornate space divider, why not take the time to create an artwork of your own on either side of the screen.

Room dividers also come in many different shapes and sizes, half height screens are a great option if you need to partition a kitchen area or split your laundry space.

Whatever your space defining needs, screen dividers can be a simple and stylish solution and an elegant and easily changeable way to delineate space and create a design feature to personalise your space.

Create your own DIY artwork

Create designer artwork for a fraction of the price.

To make our 3D artworks we took a boxed canvas, MDF coasters and placemats and cut them in half.

We painted the coasters and canvas in Resene Coral Tree for the first artwork and Resene Meringue for the second, then glued the coasters to the matching canvas once dry.

Design your own on trend artworks to complete your room look.

Create your own painted arch headboard

Using the pencil and string technique draw your arch onto the wall. Paint your arch using two coats of your chosen topcoat. We used Resene Coral Tree. Our headboard is 120cm high and 130cm wide.

Colours and products mentioned in this article

Styling by Vanessa Nouwens. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2022