How to Use Curtains As Room Dividers

Add a bit of privacy with a curtain room divider.

Large spaces sometimes need dividing, and erecting a wall isn't often the ideal choice. Curtain dividers are useful for adding rooms in a finished basement, for breaking up a large loft or warehouse-style apartment and for delineating personal spaces in a shared children's bedroom. From sheer to opaque, monochrome to patterned, traditional to contemporary, curtains come in a range of styles, providing the opportunity to also use curtain dividers as decorative elements.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Curtain rod
• Ladder
• Stud finder
• Drill
• Ceiling hooks
• Anchors (optional)

Instructions

1. Measure from the desired length of the curtain divider. Measure the distance from the floor to the ceiling.

2. Choose a curtain. Find one that does not have backing attached so it looks the same from both sides. Pick a pattern and color scheme that goes well with the current decor of the space. Find a height that is a bit shorter than the distance from the ground to the ceiling to prevent the curtain from dragging on the ground or being stepped on. Also, choose a length that is 3 to 6 feet longer than the measured length to ensure drapery-like folds.

3. Press the curtain with an iron to remove any wrinkles, folds or creases.

4. Acquire a straight curtain rod that is extendable to the desired curtain divider length.

5. Climb a ladder in the general areas where the divider ends will go, and scan the ceiling with a stud finder to locate the nearest ceiling joists.

6. Drill one pilot hole for each curtain rod end through the drywall and into ceiling joists. Screw ceiling hooks into the holes. If joists are not available -- only nonbacked drywall -- squeeze together the anchor wings of toggle bolts, insert them into the pilot holes, screw the hooks into the threaded holes, and push the wings to release and support the hook from the topside of the drywall.

7. Slide the curtain rod into the curtain rod pocket. Rest the protruding curtain rod ends into the ceiling hooks. Redistribute the drapery folds so they are consistent across the width of the divider.

References

• "'Happy Living' magazine"; How to Choose Curtains for Your Home; Michelle Gaut; 2009