A traditional shoji screen is a wooden frame which has been covered in rice paper or other handmade papers using different fibers. These screens are an important element of traditional Japanese architecture along with tatami mats. In many cases, homes in North America can be fitted with a modern version of a shoji screen made from glass.
The shoji screen is actually not as much a screen as it is a sliding door. In many cases the screen is not just used as the door into the room, many of the interior walls of the home are also screened which allows for great flexibility in how the rooms are configured for use. They can be opened in the summer months to let the breeze cool the home, in the cooler winter months they are simply closed. As Japan tends to suffer numerous earthquakes, homes built in the traditional manner using shoji screens are quick to be rebuilt.
Although the traditional screen is a sliding door arrangement, a similar manufacturing technique is used for movable, freestanding screens. These movable screens can be put up when necessary and quickly taken down and stored. In many western homes which use a Japanese decorating theme, these portable screens are used to add authenticity rather than have them built into the homes as they are in Japan. As they use rice paper, they are light and easy to move.
The rice paper or other natural fiber paper that is used is naturally translucent; this gives the screen a glowing appearance when light is directed on it. Some of the more exotic screens have been painted in beautiful colors or even made with multi-colored paper which also glows beautifully. The entire screens appearance can be altered depending on the wood used and the finish, it is also possible to use thicker rice paper which makes it opaque.
When you are considering a modern version of a shoji screen for your home, pay particular attention to the color of the framing material and the glass inserts. Although the screens are made from modern materials and produced with different methods, today’s shoji screens are every bit as beautiful as the original, they create a warm and cozy space when closed and an inviting space when opened.
Beautiful and practical shoji screens are available from The Sliding Door Company of Canada. Their sliding closet doors can be custom designed and built to your exacting specifications. The Sliding Door Company of Canada ship to all Provinces and have showrooms in Toronto and Vancouver. Visit them at website for more details.
