| Room Divider |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-301 |
|
|
|
advertisement
|
Q: I live in a city loft and need an inexpensive, creative way to divide up my space. Can you help me find a design solution? A: (from Nancy Golden, Ask DIY Decorating & Design expert) I have a one-of-a-kind room divider that's so easy to make. Just follow the simple steps listed below.
Materials:
Matte board in the color of your choice (matte craft board is readily available in art-supply stores and craft centers)
Acrylic paint
Paintbrushes
Paint pens
Utility knife
Ruler
Decorative drapery rod with clip hooks
(Note: When buying your materials, remember that matte craft board and the material used to cut mats for framing are two different products.) If you plan to create a large-scale divider -- 4'x8', for example -- you'll most likely need to have the art-store staff order oversized matte board for you; larger sizes are usually not kept in stock. - Once you've decided on a size for your divider, select a color that will complement your decor and one that will allow you to add other colors you like for an attractive final product (figure A).
- Now you're ready to plan your design. Be creative -- the design featured here is fun, colorful and easy to do. If you're unsure exactly how to create a look that works, Golden offers this suggestion: Look at a design on a ceramic piece (such as a plate) or a piece of patterned fabric (such as a pillow) and select a small portion of that motif to repeat on a large scale.
- Before getting started, you may want to practice your design on scrap paper to get it just right. Then lay out your matte board and set to work!
- Here Golden uses circles, wavy lines and dots to form her pattern. Using just enough acrylic paint on her brush, she begins by painting a simple circle (figure B). Then she accentuates the circle with an outer ring painted in a contrasting color (figure C).
- After painting a smaller circle in a third color, Golden uses more of that shade to paint the first wavy line (figure D). Then she repeats variations of her pattern across the rest of the board.
Once the basic elements of the pattern are in place, it's time to add details. Golden uses paint pens in two shades to add thinner wavy lines (figure E) and dots (figure F) among the larger shapes. - Though Golden paints only one side of the board in her demonstration, she explains that if both sides of the divider were to be visible, it would require painting both front and back. (In some cases, a different design on each side would be preferable.)
- The next step is to mark off even increments of space across the width of the board with a pencil (figure G). These marks will serve as guidelines for the individual strips and can be erased later. Depending on the size of the divider, the width of the strips will range from as little as 2" (as shown here) to as wide as a foot for larger versions.
Remember: You'll need the same number of strips as you have drapery-rod hooks. - Before starting to cut, place the board on a craft table or find an extra-thick sheet of cardboard to place beneath it; cutting the strips on an unprotected surface will ruin the finish beneath. (You'll also want to make sure the paint has had sufficient time to dry before you begin cutting.)
- Handle the utility knife very carefully -- its blade is extremely sharp! (And of course, always keep this tool out of children's reach.) Place the blade at the top edge of the craft board, aligned with the first penciled mark. Then press down firmly and begin making the cut (figure H). Continue the cut all the way to the bottom of the board, then repeat the process, aligning the knife with the next mark in the row.
(Golden uses freehand curved lines for her cuts, but keep in mind that the lines can be fashioned in a variety of ways -- use your imagination!) - Finally the divider is ready to hang. Keeping the strips in order to maintain the design, simply clip a drapery rod hook to the top of each strip (figure I), then place it on the prehung rod for a fresh, fabulous effect.
RESOURCES :
ITT Technical Institute
Special thanks to the ITT Technical Institute for providing the personnel for the Ask DIY Web site video.
ITT Technical Institute
Website: www.itt-tech.edu/
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
