17 Cheap but clever room divider ideas

If you have a large room or open-plan space you’d like to separate; use a room divider to create distinctive spaces in your home.

When choosing a room divider, always choose one that creates light and interest in your home.

From plants, to bookshelves to folding screens, there are so many room divider ideas to choose from. But, a little imagination is all it takes to find the right partitions for your home, no matter your budget.

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What can I use to separate two rooms?

As the name might suggest, room dividers divide and subdivide small and large rooms to create new spaces with different functionalities.

A stand-alone divider isn’t permanent and therefore useful when you don’t want to alter the structure or architecture of their space (like adding walls). Or, you can opt for a more permanent fixed structure like a partition or fixed panels.

Best room divider ideas

Whether you’re after a dressing room/home office, living room/kitchen, or bedroom/home-gym; make your living space work hard with any of these popular room dividers ideas.

1. Partition door

If you want the flexibility of opening and separating your space when the need arises, room-dividing doors are a great option.

With room-room dividing doors, you can pick from a myriad of options, including;

• A bi-fold door
• Pocket sliding doors
• Traditional folding doors
• Glass or vinyl glass sliding doors

Toughened plain or Crittall-style black framed glass doors, like those below, are great for busy homes. You can separate the two spaces when you need to, but still keep that open-plan feel and look between the kitchen and dining area.

You cannot beat a sliding barn-style door to separate spaces. Barn doors for interiors are quickly becoming one of the chicest home design trends and for good reason. They can be a real statement piece, as they are for this master bedroom below.

It’s always best to install new doors, especially sliding ones, by a professional. Adding a partition door to an open-plan space is a simple job for a qualified carpenter or builder. Always choose a highly recommended tradesperson to ensure the work is done properly.

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2. Two-way fireplace

Don’t knock out that lovely traditional two-way fireplace that came with your recent house purchase. Instead, turn it into a beautifully rustic or contemporary room divide for a warm, welcoming place made for relaxing and entertaining.

Either renovate your two-way fireplace in a modern, clean aesthetic with rendered brick, tiles or exposed brick for a more rustic feel.

A two-way fireplace as a room divider is one of the best options to create a cozy, warm vibe, as you can tell from this open-plan kitchen diner concept image below.

3. A kitchen island

A kitchen island can be a perfect way to create a divide between a kitchen and a living space.

When planning a kitchen renovation, have your kitchen fitter place your island in the optimum spot to create a physical marker between zones.

Add a focal point at the rear of the island with feature units and lighting that blend in with your kitchen but creates a distinction between the living area.

4. Tall kitchen worktop

If you don’t have room for a kitchen island, you can still separate your kitchen from your living area by creating a tall-end kitchen counter as a divider. Check out the image below to see what we mean.

Putting the kitchen sink behind this screen is a clever trick to keep your aesthetic looking clean. Plus, you stand and talk to family or guests while doing the dishes.

5. Add a partition

If you’ve got the budget, opt for a more permanent room divider between spaces with a partition. However, your partition doesn’t have to reach the ceiling.

A glass and metal partition is perfect for modern studio apartments to divide up open-plan spaces.

A Parisian-inspired room divider like the white and glass option below is just stunning in any traditional or contemporary space, and it lets in all that extra light.

If you’re renting, opt for something that can be removed without damage when moving, like a Japenese wood and paper partition screen. But, if you want a more permanent solution, always contact a reputable builder who can install your chosen room divider safely.

6. Botanical wooden rope divider

A botanical wooden rope divider is perfect for boho, botanical-themed themed open spaces. This is a popular room divider as it adds texture and interest to a modern, neutral space.

Combine your hanging room divider with muted, neutral colour schemes and lots of texture in the form of rattan, wicker, macrame or knit for extra interest.

If you like the sound of this, you’ll love the Coastal cowgirl trend. Check her out here.

7. A media wall is a must

Media walls add privacy and separation to an open-plan space and are a great chance to move your TV to a more central place in your living room or bedroom. You can also combine a media wall with a fireplace for extra ambience.

Media wall fireplaces are usually built within a beam or floating beam. This is not the type of job you want to DIY, so always call in a professional tradesperson to erect a media wall in your open-plan space.

If you’d like to know how much it might cost, check out this handy guide.

8. Wooden slats

Opt for a wooden slat partition if you prefer your room dividers ideas less permanent. 

Wooden slat room dividers look trendy, and are on the up with their light and airy feel. They don’t add full privacy, but do create distinction between spaces.

For Scandanivian-inspired, mid-century modern open-plan homes that need a little division, wood slat dividers are meant for you.

Types of folding screens

For renters, those on a budget, or anyone not wanting to install a permanent room divider, consider a folding screen. A folding screen is an easy, convenient, cheap and quick way to add a sense of style and glamour to your open plan space.

It’s also the least permanent of any room divider as you can place it against a wall when you want to open up a space. You can even use your folding screen as a stylish backdrop for those Zoom calls or Teams meetings.

Some of our favourite folding screen options include;

Japenese wood and paper folding screen

Wooden slat folding screen

Natural rattan folding screen

Contemporary wooden screen

What is the cheapest way to divide a room?

A room divider doesn’t need to empty your bank account. Let’s look at the most budget-friendly room dividers below.

1. Room dividing curtains

Choosing room-dividing curtains is probably one of the easiest and cheapest room-dividing ideas. Use curtains to separate and create zoning in open-plan areas while adding colour and texture.

You might think this is a quick and easy job, but unless you have some DIY experience, installing curtains in separate rooms can be tricky as you will need a larger curtain pole.

Consider calling in a handyperson who can make sure your curtain pole is installed safely and level. Check out our directory here.

2. Open furniture

One of the easiest ways to create distinction in open-plan spaces is to use open furniture like floor-to-ceiling bookcases, cabinets, ceiling hanging shelves and etagere bookcases.

Using these open furniture ideas allows you to create zones without losing light or making a small space feel smaller. Add your favourite books, travel souveniers, candles, photo frames or plants and succulents to enhance the air space.

Open furniture comes in a huge variety of styles, designs and finishes to suit your home.

3. Love a long table

If you want to separate a traditional kitchen and living space, a long table (refectory table) is a convenient and cheap method. It allows homeowners to entertain guests, host family dinners, or help children with homework.

To separate two spaces, opt for a long, narrow table slash bench right behind your sofa or kitchen island. Your table must be narrow.

You can try an 18th-century long table and bench or a mid-century modern dining table made of warm-toned wood and angled wooden peg legs.

4. Use furniture

Using your furniture strategically to create zoning in your home is a simple and cheap way to separate your spaces. Float your sofa or chaise lounge so you can mark out which areas are for socialising and eating.

Choose furniture and colours carefully to make sure they complement your current colour scheme. Choose a colour scheme and decor that will seamlessly run between areas to create a visual link with just a few subtle highlights; this can indicate a shift in the utility of the rooms and define character.

5. Rely on a rug

Rugs are great for breaking up spaces in smaller rooms where you need to divide space as they don’t hinder available space or natural light. Large rectangular or square rugs work particularly well for dividing up living rooms.

Use any colour, texture or pattern that matches your colour scheme or decor. Rugs with texture and patterns also add interest in minimalist homes and avoid those beige flags.

If you want to differentiate space, choose rugs coordinating with each section’s furniture. Also, don’t let your rug go past the boundary of each area, so you’ll have to consider the rug size.

Hopefully, with the sizeable among-to-room divider ideas, you’ve found something to completent and separate your home.

If you’re choosing one of the more permanent room divider options, always call a professional, approved, recommended tradesperson to do a safe job.

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