Room Divider Ideas: Stylish Ways to Separate Your Space

Many modern living rooms have open-concept layouts with areas for relaxation, dining, and working. Creatively using dividers can provide visual separation and add intimacy. Decorative glass partitions in large rooms add artistic panache without blocking out natural light. Make a small space seem bigger by choosing a folding mirror screen that reflects light. 

Use furniture pieces, like a table behind a sofa, to provide a focal point that divides and defines your living room. We like an extra-long console table for maximum space to display candles, photos, or any home decor that makes the space feel more you. We use our Bed Bath & Beyond coupon code for a deal on room dividing tables, plus some goodies to dress it up. Bookcase dividers make a modern design statement and provide a space for decor or items you want close at hand in your living room, like throw blankets or magazines. Place rugs and lighting within divided spaces to create further definition.

A few words of caution: watch out for room separators that block natural light and can make the space seem smaller. Living rooms shine when they're visually clean, so keep bookcases and tables clutter-free. (Image credit: @jamiekeefeinteriors)

Bedrooms are often flexible spaces that serve as dressing rooms, home offices, and nurseries in addition to being a place to sleep. A divider can ensure privacy, separate work from leisure, and provide added storage.

Divider screens can come in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and textures to fit any style, but we’re partial to a floral pattern to add an elegant touch to bedroom decor. Another way to add cozy, visual interest to your sleeping space is to divide it with macrame hangings or section off an area with breezy curtains in a semi-sheer fabric.

Incorporate storage with a wardrobe or bookshelf at the foot of your bed to anchor the room and create privacy. We love a chest with drawers in place of a footboard to add rustic charm and provide useful storage space. 

Dark or heavy dividers can overwhelm a bedroom, so try to keep your setup visually light. Choose colors and materials with a calming vibe, and look for pieces that complement your existing bedroom decor.

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(Image credit: @theprintemporium)

Create visual zones with dividers in a studio apartment to make your living space feel cozier and more defined. Sofas with high backs make natural dividers, or try an open bookshelf allowing light to pass through between your bed and living area while maintaining privacy. We love a ladder-style bookcase shelf that can divide small spaces without making it feel closed off (and it gets bonus points for storage). Choose an option tall enough to provide separation, and place two side by side for creating larger sections.

Portable screens and tension-rod curtains are inexpensive and renter-friendly options for small apartment room dividers. Rolling partitions add a dash of drama to any space. If you have a green thumb, divide your space with hanging flowers or a freestanding plant wall. We love Wayfair’s selection of planters that work perfectly for this, and are a steal when you use a Wayfair discount code. 

When shopping for a divider for your apartment, pick light, airy materials to keep the space open rather than overloading a small space with bulky dividers that can overwhelm the room. Find pieces that serve a dual purpose, like dividing the area and providing storage. (Image credit: @plantpetclub)

Get one step closer to a healthy work-life balance with a separate home office area. Privacy panels and portable folding walls help create a quiet place to concentrate on important tasks, especially if you share your space. We think a folding panel bamboo room divider would make a chic background during a Zoom call.

Use bookcases and cube shelving for privacy and bonus storage space for books, folders, and computer peripherals. If you need help with organization, a pegboard with a stand does double duty. Acoustic panels are great for noise control, and smaller desk dividers keep disturbances to a minimum, particularly in shared spaces. 

Choose dividers that work with your aesthetic and style, whether you prefer strict organization or a calm atmosphere. Use your dividers to keep cords and clutter out of sight, and stick with light colors to avoid needing extra task lighting.

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(Image credit: @nataliemyers)

If your home’s kitchen and dining area connect, dividers can define your space, add structure, and keep dirty dishes out of sight when you sit down with guests. Use nature to separate the two areas with hanging planters, or free up valuable cabinet space by creating a “cooking zone” with a hanging pot rack.

Wood slats make excellent wall dividers because they allow natural light to flood through, and they fit in with a modern home’s open-plan aesthetic. If your space has a more industrial aesthetic, try metal partitions instead.

On the practical side, open shelving as a divider provides an excellent place to store cookbooks and glassware. We also recommend a portable kitchen island to section off kitchen areas and provides added storage and serving space.

Don’t forget that kitchens can get messy in a hurry, so choose easy-to-clean materials. Avoid clutter in the divider space, and keep the division open enough so you can chat with anyone seated in the dining area while you're cooking.

Dividers work great in kids’ rooms because they can provide personal areas for children who share spaces and create zones for play, sleep, and study. Lofts, bunk beds, or bed canopies give each child a space to call their own, and curtains or play tents provide your kids with privacy and encourage them to have fun.

Establish creative and learning zones in a kids’ room with interactive dividers, like a chalkboard folding room divider. Drawing on the walls has never been more practical or fun! Another option for adding a play-and-learn zone is a low cubby or bookshelf. We adore the “little library” look of a kids bookshelf with handy toy storage. Look for options with deep shelving, colorful cubbies, and rack-style bookshelves to keep toys, games, and books both organized and accessible.

Room divider partitions painted in bold colors add fun to a shared room. Thematic pieces with favorite characters or designs tailor the space to each kid’s personality. For safety, use stable furniture and rounded edges and be sure to secure freestanding shelving or bookcases with furniture anchors. (Image credit: @600sqftandababy)

Open-concept homes and lofts are versatile and dramatic living spaces, but things can get chaotic without natural barriers to provide a sense of order. Clever use of dividers can break up large spaces and create peaceful zones to work, rest, and play.

Add privacy and definition based on your style. Go modern with modular panels and freestanding partitions. Curtains and wooden screens offer more casual elegance and visual warmth. Keep the design practical with double-sided units that provide storage space for two rooms. We’d grab multiples of a sleek, 5-tier bookshelf to divide a living room and dining room. In a shared bedroom, a clothes rack or open wardrobe can accommodate plenty of clothes and create privacy. 

Strategic placement of dividers guides foot traffic and creates flow in an open loft space. Avoid blocking off areas completely as this can interfere with visual continuity. High ceilings allow you to go vertical and add drama.

Dividers in an entryway create a transition space and help control traffic into the living areas. We think a narrow console table is a go-to option: it guides guests through your entryway and is the perfect place for a great smelling candle or a decorative bowl to drop off your car keys in. A bookcase or coat rack also offers practical drop spots that separate the entryway and are functional, too.

Install a sliding door or pocket door if you want a truly separate space for your entryway. Or, define the area and keep sightlines open with a tall plant stand or even a large basket for storing umbrellas

Just be sure to keep natural light and sightlines in mind when choosing furniture for your entryway. Maintain an open space by avoiding bulky pieces, but pick furniture that increases your storage space. (Image credit: @bellows_design)