Ideas for Dividing Living Rooms and Bedrooms

Screen Dividers

• The classic way to divide any room is, of course, the screen divider. Screen dividers separate a living room and bedroom area into two distinct spaces, but are easily removable in the event that the space no longer needs dividing. Use several screens side-by-side to divide a large space. If paper or fabric screens seem too flimsy, accordion-style wood or vinyl closet doors also work as screen dividers.

Curtain Dividers

• A quick, inexpensive way to divide a living room and bedroom is to use a curtain to split the space. Tension rods can be used to hang a curtain to divide a narrow room. In larger rooms, a clothesline or aircraft cable can be used to hang the curtain. For best results, bolt the fasteners for your clothesline or aircraft cable into studs on either side, and, if using clothesline, consider securing the line to the ceiling in the middle to prevent sagging, preferably securing to a truss or other support in the ceiling.

Movable Dividers

• Often sold in office supply stores, a movable room divider creates a sturdy partial wall between your living room and bedroom space. Office dividers come in an array of styles and sizes, and can easily be customized to avoid that office-cubicle look. Plain fabric-covered dividers can be recovered with a chic fabric, and plastic or vinyl dividers can be painted or embellished to add style. What's more, movable office dividers allow you to easily customize your space at any time.

Furniture Room Dividers

• One of the easiest ways to divide your living room and bedroom space is to use your furniture to create a division. A tall, open bookcase is a common furniture room divider, but you can also consider closed-back bookcases, using wallpaper, fabric, or even cork to cover unattractive bookcase backs. Other tall furniture items, such as armoires or cabinets, also make great room dividers; again, cover or repurpose unattractive furniture backs by covering them, or even using them to hang lightweight art.