Unique Ways to Partition a Kitchen & Living Room

Unique solutions are available for partitioning a kitchen from a living room.

Sometimes, multipurpose spaces, such a combination bedroom and office or garage and home gym or guest room and craft space, work well in a home or apartment. But depending on the space, more privacy or more well-defined zones may be needed. If you need to partition a combined kitchen and living room, try one of several options that are easy to set up and far more unique than simply having a wall built.

Inventive

String beads onto wire to make a curtain room divider.

Think about creative partition solutions you wouldn't normally consider. Try a large fish tank or a row of tall potted plants or vases containing tall decorative sticks or branches. Create a divider by using wire to string together any item of your choosing, from place mats, bottle caps or beads to sunglasses, circles cut from cardboard boxes, plastic fruit or painted paper towel rolls. Or hang a curtain of fabric -- opaque or sheer depending on how much separation you want between the spaces.

Abstract

Paint the walls in the kitchen and living room different colors.

Use visual instead of physical techniques. Start by painting the walls in each area a different color. Use two contrasting colors, such as black and white or two complementary colors, such as pale yellow and pale blue or even two shades from the same color family, such as tan and brown. Then strategically place furniture and area rugs to delineate each area.

Reinvente

Different-colored handprints make for a unique room partition.

Make a boring partition look eye-catching. Take a plain room divider and transform it by painting on chalkboard paint or hand prints, nailing on bead board, or gluing on wrapping paper, album or magazine covers, carpet tiles or colorful card stock. For a small area, or if you don't want total separation, use a folding screen that is only half normal height (or cut one in half yourself), and paint it a bold color to emphasize the zone differentiation.

Well-Defined

Use wine racks as room partitions.

Partition the kitchen and living room using furniture. This solution is budget friendly, allowing you to use furniture you already have instead of buying more. Bookcases, bureaus, entertainment centers, wardrobes, armories, china cabinets and buffets serve the purpose well. If you don't have tall furniture, get creative with other pieces. Line up a row of bar stools with figurines or pretty potted plants on them. Take large framed pieces of art off the wall and suspend them from the ceiling between the two areas.

References

• Oddee; 12 Coolest Room Dividers; Gracie Murano; December 2009