Window Treatment Ideas: Using Rice Paper Shades
If your décor has a touch of Orient then the best window treatment for you is a rice paper. In addition, if you’ve got a window with an unusual shape or in an awkward location and you want to dress it up, a rice paper window shade is the answer.
Rice paper can provide an austere, enchanting, and economical alternative to drapery. The traditional Japanese shades, called “shoji”, are being assembled by stretching rice paper over a wooden frame. These shades can then be affixed to the window frame or hung from the top of the window frame. Though the word “shoji” means “something that blocks the way”, rice paper shades allow light to filter to. When the lights filter through, it is when you really get to see the beauty of the paper fibers. The rice paper shades create a feeling of light and space much better than cloth curtains.
There are types of rice paper window shade that you can choose to fit your window. A true rice paper is a very thin, translucent paper made from rice grass (Oryza sativa). However, there is ‘rice paper’ that is much sold that made from the vast fiber of the mulberry tree and is more properly called unryu paper. The distinction of this paper to the pure rice paper is it has a coarser texture and more visible fibers. I can assure you that both types of will work well in a window shade. Just keep in mind that rice paper is available raw and sized, with the sized type being thicker and better suited for use in a shoji shade. When choosing the color of the rice paper to your window, white or off-white tones of rice paper shade should be place in your window where the sunlight passes through. White or off white tones can stay looking good longer than strong patterns or deep colors. Another is you can use the acid-free paper for it last longer than papers with acid content.
Do I need to add decorations with the rice paper shade to coerce it to be more elegant and beautiful? Traditionally, rice paper window shade is left undecorated however nowadays you can add few unique touches before the paper is attached to the frame. One of the most prominent decorations to add to rice paper shade is Chinese calligraphy. If you are into the authentic look, you can try painting the rice paper shades with a combination of Sumi-e ink and watercolor paint. Rubber or sponge stamps dipped in ink is suggested if you are not into complex symbols. This is more convenient because it provide a faster and simpler way to add style to the shades.
Remember that rice paper window shades can provide an elegant solution for hard-to-cover windows, can be made inexpensively in less than a day and with proper care, you can maintain the attractive appearance up to 8-years or more.
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