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.

These can also be used to decorate a room without making any drastic long-term changes. Right now, open floor plans are in fashion. While open spaces are wonderful in terms of making the living space seem larger and the family feel a bigger sense of togetherness, they also have their drawbacks. One big downside is the restriction it causes to decorating options. Many people are forced to have everything in the house match one theme or color scheme because several rooms are in view at the same time. Portable room dividers can help define spaces and draw a line where one decorating theme ends and the other begins while still maintaining that open feel. This gives you more freedom in terms of choosing furniture and other items for your home. A folding screen can be as tall or short as you’d like so you can set apart the space without making it feel closed in.

Furthermore, portable room dividers do not have to be purchased with just one particular space in mind. They can be used in different locations throughout the house as needed. Perhaps you have a full house with holiday visitors and need a privacy screen so you can fit more relatives into your guest room. Then, in the summer, you may want to put the same room divider outside to make a private space where people can change into their swimsuit by the pool. There is always some reason to need a folding wall and their portability enables you to recycle their use over and over again, making it a great investment, especially if you use cheap room dividers. Even if you decide to change the color scheme of your room or house completely, you can always change the color using stencils or paint.

Another big draw of the portable room divider is that it doesn’t take up very much floor space. This makes it deal for smaller rooms that still need some sort of division, like you might find in a studio apartment or other small open space. It can also add an interesting focal point to a room without using up the amount of space that another piece of furniture would occupy.

Anyone who is looking for a great way to change up their home without investing a lot of time and money would be wise to try a portable room divider. If you want a change but aren’t completely sure where or how, this is a great way to experiment and find out what works best for your home.