A folding screen is perfect for obscuring something that you need to have in a room but perhaps is not something you’d like displayed. For example, you could use it to hide video equipment with lots of cords or an old ugly furnace. You can also use it as a makeshift storage space by simply placing the screen against a wall in front of those boxes of holiday decorations or dusty old family photos. They are particularly useful as basement room dividers to help hide boxes from view of a recreation area. Did you accidentally make a dent in your drywall moving furniture? No need to bother getting out the plaster- just throw a folding screen there and make it look like an intentional design element!

Another great use of a folding screen is for privacy. These are especially great in shared rooms so that one person can dress in private. You could also use it as a privacy screen in a bedroom or bathroom where you don’t want to use curtains, perhaps because there is a panoramic window with a lovely view. Those who work from home may want to create their own little private work space by placing one of these screens around their computer desk. Like portable room dividers, you can always move the folding screen from one room to another as your needs change.

You can also use a folding screen for no reason at all as a purely decorative element. They are beautiful pieces that are cheaper than most furniture. In Asian-themed rooms they are a must-have. They are also great to stick in a corner to add some excitement since corners are notoriously tricky areas to decorate. If you have a modern sectional sofa, you can easily change the placement of your folding room screen at the same time you rearrange the sofa sections. They can even be used as outdoor privacy screens.

If you are the crafty type, you could even make your own folding screen room divider. Find some old closet doors or shutters that you like and glue or nail some hinges on them. You could choose doors that you like or just use plain ones and then paint them as you wish. It doesn’t get any easier than that. This is a really cheap way to get the look of an expensive room divider without spending a lot of money.