How to Close Spaces With Curtains

Curtains do not just cover windows; they can be used to divide rooms, as well.

While curtains are typically used to cover windows and doors, for privacy and light control, they can also be used as room dividers to close off spaces. This technique is useful in a variety of situations. Remove the door from a closet and replace it with a curtain to add additional texture to the room. Use curtains as room dividers in studio apartments -- or, conversely, to segment rooms that are so large they become unwieldy. Using curtains as dividers can be more efficient than mounting doors, and less permanent, as curtain rods can easily be removed when unnecessary.

Instructions

1. Determine the purpose for your curtains. For example, if you are hanging curtains to act as room dividers, decide if you want them to also provide privacy, or simply a visual divider. If you are using curtains in lieu of a closet door, decide if you want the contents to be visible, or if your curtains will also be doing double-duty as a clutter concealer.

2. Choose the appropriate fabric. The gauzy fabric of sheer curtains adds a romantic, soft texture to any room -- but does not provide much privacy. Heavy curtains, like velvet, add drama and luxury. If you are on a budget, sheets can easily do double-duty as curtains, strung across the room. The primary factors to consider when choosing curtains are whether they complement the existing decor, and the level of privacy they provide.

3. Choose and install your desired mounting system. For curtains being used to close small closets, tension rods are a quick-and-easy way to install curtains. Simply slide the curtain on the rod and squeeze it into the door frame. For curtains strung across wide rooms, wire or cable mounted from wall-to-wall using turnbuckles and wire rope clips are ideal. To close spaces with an existing doorway, an appropriate-length curtain rod can simply be mounted over the doorway and the curtain hung from it.

Tips & Warnings

• Install tiebacks -- whether cloth, ribbon, metal or another style -- on either side of the closed-off space to make it easy to make the divided space usable as one room again.

References

• The Design File; Using Curtains Instead of Closet Doors; August 2010
• "Better Homes & Gardens": Smart Ideas for Small Spaces
• Apartment Therapy: How To: Hang Curtains Across Any Space