Room Dividers & Bookcases

Classic Bookshelf Divider

• A studio becomes a one bedroom apartment with the judicious use of an open bookcase to divide the space. If the bookcase is wide, place books with the spine out on both sides. If it is shallow, keep the spines visible on the living room side and intersperse the books with sculptures and other items so the bedroom side has some visible interest, too.

Library, Office, Gallery

• Take two matching bookcases, line them up side by side and fill them with books in a dining or living space. Then, cover the backs with cork board or a fabric-covered bulletin board. Place your desk against the bulletin board side of the room divider for an instant office with a message board conveniently at hand. If you have the space, use three bookcases, turning one to face the office area to hold supplies and books and facing the back of it with art or a wall hanging to decorate the living area.

Instant Foyer

• Create an entry and a breakfront with two horizontal bookcases. Stack the bookshelves on top of one another and fasten them with flat braces in the corners or along the sides, if necessary. The weight will probably be enough to hold them in place. Face the top one toward the dining area and, in the entry, face the bottom one toward the door. Attach hooks to the top bookcase in the entry so you can hang jackets and hats there. Use the bottom shelves for boot trays, shoe racks and storage -- just add sliding doors made from plywood and painted to match the shelves. Use the dining area top bookcase for attractive serving platters or the family china. Each area has a functional shelf system that looks like a wall and effectively separates the two, giving you a much-needed foyer inside the front door.

Multipurpose Bookshelf-Divider

• A closed bookshelf is more than a library when it's a room that unfolds to divide a space into separate areas and then closes up to disappear. A tall bookshelf with doors opens to reveal folding screens hidden inside the doors. The screens accordion out to create a space in any configuration that suits you for an instant office, a guest room made from a sofa bed in the living area, or a child's craft and playroom that vanishes when it's time for dinner. The shelves hold your library and boxes for office supplies, crafts and toys, or space for guest belongings. The screens are lightweight and fold either way for maximum flexibility. The entire package fits in a very constricted space and looks elegant and unobtrusive when it is shut.