The main subjects of the pictures depicted on Sugi-shoji were the beauty of nature and prancing horses of Yamato-e, although karae were sometimes seen like found in Fusuma-shoji.
杉障子に描かれる絵は、襖障子と同様に時に唐絵が描かれることもあったが、多くは大和絵の花鳥風月や跳ね馬であった。