Do-It-Yourself Divide a Room

Privacy screen and room divider.

Room dividers are a great way to add privacy to a large space. Divide a studio into a bedroom and office area or separate a large room into two smaller rooms for the kids. A few ways to divide a room without professional help are to install a movable wall, put up a curtain or strategically place a divider screen.

Things You'll Need

• Operable (movable) wall
• Movable wall installation kit
• Screwdriver
• Yardstick
• 2 hooks
• Plastic-coated cable
• Curtain
• Wire cutters
• Privacy screen

Instructions

Getting Started

1. Decide where to put the divider. Choose whether you want to divide it down the center or have one area larger than the other.

2. Choose the type of divider to use depending on your design idea. If you are dividing a room into two, consider a movable wall for sound insulation. However, if you are sectioning off an area for extra privacy or a home office, a divider screen is acceptable. Curtains are great for children's rooms to separate the play area from the sleeping area.

3. Place the divider screen or multiple screens where you want to divide the room. Movable walls and curtains require more installation.

Movable Wall

1. Install a movable wall for total privacy and sound insulation. Measure the height and width of the new wall. Buy a movable wall to fit the room. Mark where you want the wall placed in the room.

2. Install the track brackets to the ceiling with a screwdriver and the provided screws. Adjust the sliding nuts on the track by sliding them along the track so they are spaced evenly across the entire length. The manufacturer of the wall will provide the necessary fixtures for installation with the wall.

3. Lift the wall to the track and attach the wall to the sliding nuts on the top of the wall. The sliding nuts should already be in place, but if not, attach with a screwdriver and the provided screws. If you have any problems, contact the manufacturer of the wall. Movable walls differ slightly in make and model, thus do not require the same installation fixtures or steps. Read the instructions thoroughly before beginning the wall installation process.

Curtain Divider

1. Mark where you want the curtain on the wall. Use the yardstick to mark equal distances from an opposite wall so that the curtain will be parallel to the side walls and not diagonal across the room.

2. Install a curtain hook on the opposite walls where the curtain will hang. The height at which you install the hooks will depend on the height of your curtain. If the curtain is as tall as the wall, place the hook directly beneath the ceiling. If the curtain height is shorter, move the hooks down slightly to adjust.

3. Make a loop at the end of the plastic-coated cable and place it over the hook. Thread the cable through the top of the curtain or the curtain hooks. You can use either a curtain with hooks or a curtain with a space for a rod. Both styles work with this type of wall divider.

4. Pull the cable across to the other hook. Make another loop at the end of the cable and place over the second hook. Spread the curtain out to divide the room.

References

• Homedit: How to Divide a Room Without a Wall
• Apartment Therapy: Hang Curtains Across Any Space
• Movable Wall: How to Install Operable Walls