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The Spruce / Illustration by Amy Sheehan / Photo via Amazon
Like many others, I started working from home during the pandemic. I was blessed with a safe and quiet abode, but didn’t have a separate place I could use as an office. So, my WFH station ended up in a corner of my bedroom.
I was able to make it nice — tucking it in front of a window, dressing it up with plants and colorful trinkets. Still, working, sleeping, and lounging all in the same room made my days feel like a blur. Each morning, I’d blink open my eyes to a beautiful view of my... monitor. In other words? It wasn’t ideal. I was itching for some work-life boundaries. So, I decided it was time to get a divider and make my bedroom feel like my own again.
The first thing I noticed in my search was that screens (or room dividers) were not as modestly-priced as I anticipated. They run anywhere from around $100 to easily upwards of $500. As much as I wanted to buy one from my favorite home goods store or vintage shop, I realized my best bet would be through Amazon — especially since I was trying out this concept for the first time and wasn’t ready to splurge quite yet.
Wanting a screen that matched the light tones and white accents in my room, I opted for the Roundhill Furniture Four-Panel Divider. It was a stylish and seemingly reliable pick, with over 1,300 reviews and 4.5 stars.
Roundhill Furniture Giyano 4 Panel Room Divider, White
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Amazon
One of the initial pros was that it arrived within a week, already assembled. Rather than having to lug it from a store and squeeze it into my car — or bust out my toolkit — I saved quite a bit of time and energy. My initial thoughts while unpacking it, though, were mixed. I liked the terrazzo-esque pattern. But, the stencil design inside seemed to be made of a styrofoam-like material. I was skeptical of how long it would hold up. Now, after having the screen for over six months, I know it’s sturdy enough. There are some rough edges, though, which you can spot if you look very closely.
On the other hand, one thing I love is that the main fabric is somewhat sheer. This allows sunlight to shine into my room, despite the fact that I keep the screen in front of a window. It’s just opaque enough that I can’t see my desk or monitor through it, too — which was my main goal. The crisp white hue has retained its color beautifully, with no scratches or fading in sight so far.
The frame itself, constructed from pine wood, has proven durable as well. It folds away with ease when it comes time to work, becoming slim and compact so I can easily maneuver it and store it to the side. It’s the perfect length and height. So, as a whole, it looks very chic.
As for drawbacks? When set too straight, the screen has a tendency to tip over. You have to accordion it properly to get it balanced, which took some trial and error. As for look, the terrazzo design can feel a bit busy if you already have different patterns and textures in your space — so keep that in mind.
Overall, this screen works great for me now. If I were to move, it’s not necessarily an item I’d be keen to take with me. The divider is stylish and functional, and though someday I'll probably upgrade, it's perfectly good for now.