HGTV’s wealth of designers and hosts often have the best ideas for adding unique and distinctive character to the spaces they work on. This includes their own homes, where they can put their professional acumen to use in a personalized way. Hilary Farr, host of “Love It or List It,” unveiled an ingenious use of an old decorative screen in her bedroom that adds enormous texture, charm, and character to her space. The effect is dramatic, making the vintage panels look like large-scale, beautiful floral art. Not only is this a great way to fill a large and ungainly space, but the panels complement the room’s soft and romantic vibe. 

Farr’s approach is a great alternative to other large-format artworks that most people use to fill that expansive space on the wall near the end of the bed. While oversized frames and large paintings can be expensive, using a vintage, antique, or thrifted room divider could be much more budget-friendly. Even if a genuine antique is pricey, the character and uniqueness could make this a distinctive decor statement you may be willing to spend a little more money on.

To hang the panels, Hilary Farr removes the hinges on the tri-part frame, placing the panels equidistant from each other on the wall (the picture above still has the hinges intact). Not only do they add architectural interest to a large and empty wall, but their vertical lines draw the eye up to emphasize the lofty ceilings of this stylish bedroom. 

You can often find at thrift stores room dividers and screens that would work for this star-approved look, including those made from paper, wood, or woven materials. The various designs make finding one that fits your aesthetic easier than you might imagine. This is a great chance to upcycle an old or thrifted room divider you have on hand or update a secondhand one with paint, fabric, or added details. You can even repair a broken screen by restringing it with bamboo, rolled caning, or paper to give it a fresh new look. 

To get a look similar to Farr’s, you could also use three planks of inexpensive plywood, slightly curved at the top with a jigsaw, then hand-paint floral details or stencils on it. Or add wallpaper to the wood. You could also adapt this style for a more rental-friendly approach by just leaning the pieces against the wall, where they will give a trendy boho style look to your space.