A fabric shoji door based on a traditional Japanese design with ebony stained wood. Simple to build and very attractive for interior design.

Step 1: Materials

For this project, you will need to measure your door accordingly. I used a hardwood and a composite wood for style and strength. I also used stainer to follow a theme of the room. A cotton fabric with excess is more useful in this project yet if there is a budget then specific measurements can work as well. There are many types of styles that traditional shoji Japanese doors use, but again, I am designing my own design and a specific theme. At the end of the project, I will include different designs that you can personally choose from and critique.

Step 2: Tools

These tools will add more depth in quality to your shoji door as well as make more efficient.

Step 3: Framing

Before I did a layout for my frame I stained my wood so I wouldn't have to go through the process of carefully staining with the fabric suspended in the complete frame. (Account for the gap at the top bottom and swing clearance for the door. The less amount of space for the door will mean that the door will be stiff. )
I first placed the hardwood on the ground, placing the smaller cut within the longer cuts of wood.
My initial design would overlap one another providing a little more privacy and a more tranquil design.
Nail the frame evenly and securely.
Steam Iron the fabric then place the fabric across the frame.
In order to get a crisp look, nail one side of the door onto the hardwood then evenly stretch for the equal opposite side. (Remeber to first nail a verticle length, then a horizontal length for maximum quality in the project. )
Depending if you would like to create a two-piece slide/folding door or a one peice, understand that a firm frame will not sag over time.
(Optional) Instead of placing the smaller beams within the frame I decided to stitch the individual beams to the fabric and glue the tips to the horizontal lengths. This as well is a possibility.

Step 4: Maintaining the Fabric

After nailing the frame sure that the frame matches the doorway to your liking. Then cut the excess fabric. There will be a small amount of fabric in the frame. There are 2 possibilities to resolve this problem.
- Trimming the side painting the fabric/ seeming the edges.
- (Warning) Burning the edges can be efficient but stainer is known to be flammable if used in your project.