DIY Sliding Room Dividers

Decide where the curtain rod will be placed in the room. Ideally, you should use a stud finder to find two studs directly across from one another in the room. Stud finders work differently depending on the model, so follow the manufacturer's directions. If you cannot find a pair of studs that will work, then mark where you'd like the curtain rod to hang; you will anchor those spots later.

Measure the distance from one side of the room to the other to determine how wide your curtain and curtain rod will need to be. Then measure the distance from the position where the curtain rod will hang to the floor to determine how long the curtain should be. Purchase the curtain rod, appropriate brackets and curtain. A closet rod is just as useful as a curtain rod — so you can pick either one. The length of the curtain should actually be somewhat longer (a foot or so) than the length of the room, because the curtain will naturally bunch a little bit on the rod.

Drill a pilot hole into the wall on each side where you plan to hang the curtain rod. If you aren't using a stud, hammer an anchor into each hole. If you're drilling into a stud, you won't need an anchor. The hole should be only slightly smaller than the screws or anchor that you'll be inserting into the wall, so the fit will be snug.

Screw the curtain brackets into the stud or anchor with a screwdriver. Slide the rod into the brackets.

Attach the curtain hooks to the rod, all facing one direction.

Attach the curtain to the hooks. A heavier canvas will serve to block some light and sound in the room, while a lighter curtain will simply serve to divide one side of the room from the other and provide visual privacy.