12 Room Divider Ideas for Separating Space

If your apartment is small or has too much long, open space, creating division can prove challenging. There are plenty of ways to separate areas of your apartment without spending much money and having fun in the process.

You'll end up with more privacy and functionality, especially with the rise of remote work where having separation is more important than ever. Here are some ideas to get started.

1. Add Curtains

Curtains are the best for dividing rooms. Of course, you must sk permission from your landlord to add hooks to your ceiling, or consider adhesive options that peel off once you're to move out. Hang your curtains anywhere you need a room divider and play around with your favorite colors. Opt for heavy, ornate curtains for more privacy or translucent and airy to let in more natural light.

2. Folding Screens

Folding screens come in various styles and colors, and can add personality to your apartment. Choose vintage room dividers for a sense of antique charm or a modern, colorful look to create a signature style. Folding screens are also ideal because they quickly move around your apartment or can be tucked away at a moment's notice for more space.

3. Macrame

Embrace the spirit of hygge in your apartment with some macrame room dividers. With a soft and dreamy look, they allow the natural light to filter in. Some room divider screens are made with macrame instead of opaque fabric, or you can hang them like a curtain. However, you choose to use your macrame, make it part of your apartment decor with soft lighting, impossibly soft blankets, and cozy throw pillows.

4. Open Shelving / Cubbies

Open shelving or cubby stacks can double as room dividers without adding anything extra to your space. Arrange your favorite photos and keepsakes to turn your room dividers into a personal expression and a place to hold your memories. Move them away from your walls and create division between your office and kitchen or create a small bedroom area for a studio apartment.

5. Bookshelves

Bookshelves make for functional room dividers. Of course, if your bookshelf is open on both sides, make sure you enjoy looking at whatever side of the book is facing your space. For example, you may not want to look at the pages of your books from your living area while entertaining guests. You can also arrange your books by color, or grab some vintage options, to make your room divider look like a work of art.

6. Headboard

Smaller spaces benefit from smaller room dividers. Instead of taking up space in the middle of your apartment with bookshelf room partitions, position your bed so your headboard works as a room divider.

You can also create your own headboard with a vintage privacy screen, or make it functional by using a headboard with a flat surface for plants and photos. Choose an option with a nook above your pillows for books and an alarm clock to keep everything within reach without needing a side table.

7. Retail Display Stands

Retail display stands come in all shapes and sizes, many of which can reach over 6 feet high. Some come with shelving, and others are created like a grid to add hangers or display clothes. Instead of hanging clothes, display all of your artwork, greeting cards from loved ones, and photos for a memory wall to call your own.

8. Wine Table

If you love entertaining friends, invest in a wine table to set up your favorite bottles, glasses, and snacks. Plusm your new wine table can douvle as a room divider, giving your apartment added dimension when not in use. If you can't find a wine table that's long enough to work as a divider, try using a sofa console table and add cubbies or a small wine fridge underneath for storage.

9. Sliding Barn Door

Ask your landlord or property management if they’re okay with some minor apartment modifications. Adding a sliding barn door creates a moveable room divider and decor for your apartment. Once installed, slide it to different areas when you want privacy to read or block off your office space in a studio apartment.

10. What Are Some Cheap Ways to Divide a Room?

Some room dividers are cheaper than others, which is important if you need to stick to a budget. Here are some cost-effective ways to separate your apartment into different areas for a more satisfying living experience.

Look for Free Fabric

Like curtains, fabric can easily add division to your apartment. You can find fabric in consignment stores, second-hand shops, garage sales, and retailers like IKEA. Choose your favorite fabric and use it as a curtain, or drape over one side of a bookcase to dress up your room diver.

Use Wood Pallets

Wood pallets can be found for free and are easy to repurpose into room dividers with a bit of ingenuity. Contact smaller retailers and outdoor garden centers to ask if you can clear some pallets out for them. Once you've secured your pallets, paint or varnish them and hang them as a new divider. If you have enough, you can also stack vertically and tie together with twine to section off space in your apartment.

Repurpose Some Rugs

Not all room dividers need to be vertical. Many people repurpose rugs and create sections in their apartments. Each rug can represent a different area, from your eating space to the living room.

You can find inexpensive rugs at second-hand stores or scour Craigslist and Facebook marketplace. Some people give rugs away for free if you come and take them. All they need is a little cleaning and sanitation, and they're ready to go as room dividers.

Rearrange Your Existing Furniture

Use what you already have in your apartment and avoid spending a dime. Start rearranging your existing furniture to create more division and block off functional areas. Your couch can section off your living space while the space behind it serves as a dining area.

Create a hang-out area by turning your chairs towards each other and placing an ottoman or small table in the center. Use the space next to to that as your office.

Position your bookcase in between for additional separation that makes you feel like your apartment suddenly has different rooms.

Paint Your Space

Painting your walls in different colors is an easy and innovative way to divide your room. Choose gray or blue for a cozy studio bedroom space and your living area a neutral shade. Just make sure to think through your color palette and carefully plan a strategy to keep your apartment from being overwhelmed by conflicting colors.

Use Free Crates

Crates double as inexpensive and easy room dividers as well. Ask around your local shops about free storage crates or go online to Nextdoor or Facebook Marketplace to look for options. You can leave them looking rustic or touch-up with a quick coat of paint. Once they look refreshed, just stack them like a bookcase or a staggered design for a creative room divider.

Grab Some Oversized Pillows

Small apartments or long, awkward spaces benefit from strategically placed floor pillows. Arrange oversized options around a low-profile table for a cozy gathering space to eat with friends.

If you sleep on a low-profile bed or a lone boxspring, floor pillows can create division when you're ready to turn in for the day. If you're a master at crafting and the DIY movement, make your pillowcases in your favorite colors and textures.

11. How Do I Create a Room Partition?

Whether you’re on a budget or ready to splurge, you can join the DIY movement and make your own room partitions or dividers with these ideas.

Old Window Frames

Old window frames add rustic-chic charm to your apartment. While you can repurpose them from old buildings or with a little sleuthing online, many retailers sell window frames that were manufactured to look vintage.

Hang a few in a row from ceiling hooks to create some division in your space. Make sure the windows are light enough to hang and that there are no loose nails or chipping paint on the frames. If you live with pets or children, buying faux vintage frames may be a safer option.

Handmade Macrame

While macrame is usually inexpensive, you can also make your own with the help of some free YouTube tutorials. Some basic knots and twists create long pieces of macrame in no time. Hang with a dowel rod or repurposed curtain rod to hang anywhere in your apartment. You can also drape your new DIY room dividers over your existing partitions or a clothing rack to quickly move around your apartment.

Clothing Rack

You can instantly be repurpose clothing racks into a room divider with little to no effort. Hang your clothes on your rack and position near your bedroom area in a studio. Or try hanging your new macrame designs, favorite fabric, curtains, or plants on a clothing rack to bring more personality to your room partition.

Vertical Garden

Beyong a rolling clothing rack, another option is a living wall that involves permanently installing a vertical garden to an apartment wall. For more DIY room dividers ideas, try open shelves filled with plants, vertical planers, and hanging plants are a few places to start. Arranging tall, potted plants also help create different spaces in your apartment while adding more green to your life.

Twinkling String Lights

Illuminate your apartment with the help of twinkling string lights. Drape them across a screen divider, curtain rods, or your ceiling for elongated separation. You'll get more use from them if you pair them with a current partition to enhance your look. Otherwise, your new lights may not look that impressive or offer much division during daylight hours.

Final Thoughts

Room dividers are an easy and stylish way to make your apartment look larger than it really is, offering more privacy and separation. Whether you want to create separation for a home office or bedroom area, you can accomplish your goals with easy room divider ideas that help make your space more functional.