33 great room divider & DIY room divider ideas
Room dividers. Many of which are DIY room dividers. If that’s what you’ve come for, you’ve found what you’re looking for.
Sure, Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” And while I’m no one to question Mr. Lincoln, I do believe that sometimes dividing a house is the best way to go. Sometimes, splitting up is much better than staying together.
*This post contains affiliate links. Please read our full disclosure policy here.*
Even though House Hunters would have you NOT believe as much, often open floor plans are just too…open. And that’s when room dividers become a beautiful solution to a problem that’s pretty common. How you can divide up big or small open spaces in a way that makes sense. Or, how to create partitions in an awkward space that could use some definition.
“Great,” you say. “But how do I use a room divider so it looks like it was an intentional decision? How do I make one that looks GOOD? How do I choose which type of room divider will work best in my house?” Great questions.
Oh, and before moving on, if you have OTHER questions about how to design and decorate your home, I want to help answer ALL your room divider questions, plus much, much more! Join 100,000+ other DIY lovers who hang out with us here at the nest.
Grab an awesome design cheat sheet! It answers 15 of the most common and sizing questions like “what size rug should I buy for my living room?” or “how high should we hang the TV?” or “what size chandelier will look best in our dining room?” And it’s FREE! Click the image below. I’ll send your cheat sheet immediately ⤵…
Back to the room divider situation. Sometimes, just seeing the options that are out there is the best way to figure out which direction you want to go, don’t you agree? Today, you’ll get to peruse over 30 lovely, smart, inventive room divider ideas.
There are DIY room dividers as well as ones that are custom-made or available to buy. There are room dividers that will work for any budget here, from free on up.
How’s that song go? “Breaking up is hard to do?” While that can certainly be true, I hope that after this post, you’ll be able to become the master of the breakup. Are you ready to divide and conquer? Well, let’s get started…
33 RAD Room Divider Ideas To Try Now:
1. DIY Macrame Room Divider | A Beautiful Mess
Macrame is all the rage these days. The boho look is way in and way popular. Embrace the style in small ways at home, like this DIY macrame room divider (that doubles as an air plant holder…did you catch that in the shot?).
2. Quick-Hang Curtain Room Divider | Heathered Nest
DIY a versatile curtain rod in minutes which can hang panels from walls or the ceiling in order to create a room divider for many different spaces, like seen in our daughter’s pink bedroom below where we used this technique to create a nook for her bed and desk in an awkwardly-size, small room.
3. Rattan Room Divider | Sugar and Cloth
Sugar and Cloth embellished this already awesome rattan room divider by weaving some color into the frame. This idea opens up so many fun possibilities.
4. Vintage Window Divider | Jones Design Company
Emily added this gorgeous vintage window as not only a statement piece but a beautiful visual divide between the dining room and foyer of her home. Doesn’t block light, but it has a great effect of setting the spaces apart. It’s hung on a barn door track.
5. Green Wall/Living Wall Room Divider |Photo Credit: Leroy Merlin via Dentejardin.com
For green thumb homeowners (or renters) only, I’m afraid…unless you go faux, I suppose. But either way, isn’t this living wall/room divider idea marvelous?
6. Window Pane Wall Divider |Crazy Mary Revisita
A gorgeous glass-paned wall creates a divide between the kitchen and rest of the house while allowing the kitchen to seamlessly remain part of the flow. The translucent divider doesn’t block light, or the view but creates an effective visual boundary.
7. Pax Wardrobe Door DIY Divider | IKEA Hackers
Pax doors come in various sizes, and some of them are BIG. Smart IKEA hacker Jules created a wall using these doors to separate their bedroom area from the rest of their studio apartment.
8. Stuva IKEA DIY Room Divider | IKEA Hackers
Complicated? Yes. But WOW. What a cool space-saving room divider option for a small studio. This IKEA hacker incorporates (2) IKEA closets, a window opening with electrical outlet for lights and integrated kitchen table into one design! It’s such a smart project for a tiny apartment.
9. Fabric-covered Canvas Room Divider | Fresh Crush
My friend Jen will show you how you can use simple, inexpensive items to create this beautiful and functional visual divide. She uses it in her home to help create a designated workout area.
10. Vintage Record Divider | Terracycle
I hadn’t heard of this company before stumbling across this wall made from vintage records on Pinterest, but WOW. They’re awesome. Check out the link that has images of their worldwide offices. They have incredible art installations in their spaces, ALL made from upcycled items. The room dividers seen in the shot below are made from upcycled vintage vinyl records. Awesome-sauce.
11. Inexpensive Curtain Panel Divider with a Quick Rod Hack | Heathered Nest
Create drama in a bathroom by creating a nook for the tub using items you already may have on hand. You can offset your tub area with this quick and easy DIY curtain rod room divider technique.
12. Pallet Room Divider | My Friend Staci
Isn’t this a fun and smart way to create a home office space when you don’t have a full room set aside? People love pallet projects, and this is a useful one you could try, for sure!
13. Pallet Room Divider | Canyon Design Build via Houzz
Here is another pallet divider used in an upscale modern guest house in San Fransisco. Doesn’t it create a beautiful, rustic effect?
14. Expedit IKEA Room Divider | Home Edit
Here’s one idea for how to turn the popular IKEA Expedit shelving system into a designated sleeping nook.
15. DIY Rolling Door Divider | In My Own Style
Diane will show you how to DIY a rolling room divider using doors and casters. She made hers in order to allow for privacy between her home office and family room.
16. Living Wall Divider | Suite Plants
Suite plants is a company who manufactures these awesome living walls/green room dividers that can be used in both commercial and residential spaces.
Pssst…don’t forget to grab your free design measurements cheat sheet! It will answer all those tough questions, like: “how high should I hang my chandelier?” and “what size rug should I buy?” Plus so many more. And it’s totally free! Grab your copy now by clicking the pic below⤵️
17. DIY Bifold Doors Room Divider | H20 Bungalow
Wendi will show you a great idea for repurposing those ubiquitous bifold doors that are in almost every house, and certainly can be found at your nearest home improvement store.
18. Birch Tree Room Divider | Style-Files
Found in a beach home, this birch? tree room divider is light, airy, and au-natural. A gorgeous wall treatment for a resort-esque look and feel.
And there’s another divider in this home that uses that same type of tree in a different, but still cohesive way. This time it acts as a room divider for the bathroom area. You should truly check out the entire home tour, it’s stunning.
19. Kids Bedroom Nook in a Flash | Heathered Nest
Sometimes dormer windows create odd-angles in rooms that are begging for a room divider. Set off a small nook for a bed or desk in your dormer with fabric or curtain panels! It’s a quick and easy DIY. Make your own hanging rod with rope and pipe for a fun, nautical look.
20. Bar-Bookcase Divider | Domino – Photography via HomeEdit
Use a couple of cabinets and a bookcase arranged in a strategic way to create a small counter/bar area, storage shelving, and a functional room divider all in one! Bonus: chalkboard paint gives you a spot for writing your grocery list.
21. Double-sided Fireplace | Flavin Architects
Double-sided fireplaces by their very nature create great-looking, functional and high-end room dividers. I could have put together an entire post of double fireplace room dividers because they can be done in so many styles and with so much variation, but I’m trying to keep this post a bit more under control, so this great-looking one in a home in Boston will serve as the representative for this awesome concept.
22. Plantation Shutter Faux Wall | Apartment Therapy
Don’t you love the look of this plantation shutter divider used in a cozy Brooklyn pad? You can use floor-to-ceiling shutters like this to create privacy for a sleeping area without creating a heavy-duty, overpowering wall.
23. Green Wall Divider | Lana Red Studio
You could DIY a wire “wall” complete with hanging potted plants. Lana Red Studio will show you how to recreate this easy and eco-friendly room divider.
24. Freestanding bookcase divider | Skonahem
Position a freestanding bookcase system in a strategic way to create the functional and visual room division that you need in a space.
25. A Wall of Windows | Houzz
Make a whole wall of windows! Seen here, the windows are framed off by a header, footer, bookcase on one end and brick wall on the other. This cool concept can help you create a gorgeous separation of spaces, like seen in this industrial loft.
26. DIY PVC Rolling Screen | Kootut Murut
If you want to recreate this awesomely simple and inexpensive idea, Kootut Murut has a tutorial for building a freestanding, and rolling screen divider using PVC and fabric.
27. DIY Rope Wall Divider | The Brick House
Inexpensive and super attractive – check out this cool DIY divider made with rope. Wouldn’t this look amazing in your beach cottage (even if it’s only your dream beach cottage)?
28. Mid-Century Modern Bookshelf Room Divider | Remodelista
You can’t go wrong using a cool, hipster bookcase to set off spaces in an open floor plan. This design shows you how simple and fabulous one piece of furniture positioned properly can create such a great look.
29. Vertical Wood Slat Divider | Houzz
30. Lattice Room Divider | Houzz
Many types of lattice can be used to create room dividers like seen here in this wonderful master bedroom. One side of the room divider serves as a pretty headboard, while the other side creates a nice space for a dressing room table area.
31. Floating Gallery Wall | Domino
Would you consider installing a modern, floating-style wall like this one? It doubles as a great place to hang art. This floating look created by suspending the section from the ceiling, and having it stand on feet above the floor creates a sleek, room divider without the bulk.
32. Linen Closet Cabinetry Divider | Houzz
Create a separate water closet by positioning a freestanding linen closet or wardrobe in just the right spot. You can also hack cabinetry like this to give the appearance of being truly built-in for a more high-brow look, like in this beautiful bathroom.
33. Bamboo Room Divider | Knudson Interiors via Houzz
The image is dark, but what an easy way to create a basic divider creating a water closet. No drywall, taping, mud and the rest needed. And it works perfectly for this Hawaiian vacation home.
34. Gallery Wall as Room Divider | Sunil Patel & Associates via Houzz
Check out the cool art showcase room divider seen beyond the dining area in this gorgeous modern home. And the yellow kitchen divider is unique, too!
And there you have it, 30+ amazing break-up strategies! I hope that you’ve found some inspiration for dividing and conquering whatever open space ails you, or whatever awkward part of your pad is pushing your buttons!
Pin this post for later! And if you make any of the DIY room dividers, leave a comment (or better yet, a photo) on the pin! That helps others know whether they want to try this project, too!
Pssst…before you go, I sure would love to hang out with you again really soon!! Sign up now and gain instant access to our DIY resource library full of DIY guides, tips, tricks & cheat sheets. And it’s all FREE. Click the image below to get started…
Doreen Freeman says
I loved looking at your room dividers but I may have a slightly different problem. I havee to face it: I do not have an entry into our new downsized home ( which I call our condo on our own lot)
In order to make the L/R work a bit larger I ended up pushing the couch closer to the wall with a small plant table behind the couch and a plant on the floor so there is no walk throubh behind the couch.. This forces visitors even more directly into the living room for lack of aan entry. How can I make this area look more like an entry?