DIY Room Separators

Use furnishings to separate the areas. A large, sturdy piece can do a sufficient job. Use a shelving unit, a couple of low bookcases, a wardrobe, an entertainment center -- any piece that has visual weight -- to enhance the sense of separation. Another option is a folding screen that you can make yourself. Simply use hinges to attach three wooden panels. You could even use three interior doors.

Create nontraditional separation. This can be done in a number of inventive ways. Use a row of artificial trees or large potted plants between the two spaces or a row of tall vases that contain spray-painted branches. Put up a ceiling-mounted track, and hang a curtain. Or try visual instead of physical separation. Paint each space a different but complementary color, and then strategically place rugs and furniture to create two separate zones.

Put up a wall. A prefabricated freestanding temporary wall can be placed wherever you need it. This room-dividing solution is a portable interior wall that you put together yourself. Temporary walls are available in a range of colors and styles and are constructed from materials such as glass, aluminum, acrylic or wood, so you can find one to fit the decor of any room. Shop in home-furnishing stores or online. Some manufacturers even arrange to come to your home to put the wall together for you.