7 Different Types of Room Dividers & Where to Use Them (with DIY Pictures)

A room divider is a unique style fitting that enables you to design different parts of a big room differently. A divider wall can create a partition anywhere, and the designer options launched recently allow you to establish a sound barrier for establishing a private space.

A wide variety of room separators are available in the market, crafted using different materials like glass, fabrics, plywood, acrylic, cement, bricks, and so on. These objects give an edgy transformation to an otherwise plain room.

Let’s look at the different types of dividers and the best place to use them.

What are the Different Varieties of Room Dividers?

Different Types of Room Dividers

Room dividers come in different shapes, designs, and patterns. You can easily pick a product depending on your choice and requirement. Furthermore, you can also assemble DIY room dividers that will make your place look uniquely customized.

Folding or Accordion Dividers

Folding or Accordion Dividers

Folding dividers are incredibly versatile. There is so much to this type of divider that you can create different looks from a single product. The panels of these objects are made using various materials, including wood, fabric, acrylic, etc. These panels are connected by hinges, which allow the user to fold the room separator as required.

Folding screens are super-simple to use as you don’t need to assemble or de-assemble them. It is as simple as folding and unfolding your regular home stuff. So, whenever you’re moving, fold and pick them up to make a move.

Notably, they are not attached to your building’s walls, ceiling or any other piece of furniture. These products directly sit on the floor, and thus, you can comfortably move them from one place to another.

The best part is that these dividers are manufactured around a stable frame, which makes them stand tall and purposeful. They are not meant for small rooms, and making them fit into restricted areas will be a challenge.

Accordion dividers are typically inexpensive, and you can easily spot a beautiful piece in the market. Moreover, if you prefer making your own room divider, you can create a customized product easily.

Where to use

Foldable panel room separators tend to have a wider footprint, and you cannot use them in places with restricted areas. However, they are highly adaptable, and you can use them at multiple locations for multiple purposes. Use it in your bedroom to add a decorative element or in your living room to separate two parts of the open space.

Pros

  • Incredibly easy to install and move
  • Best for creating private space
  • Adds a decorative element
  • Best for dividing big spaces
  • Can restrict sound beyond a level

Cons

  • Not suitable for small spaces
  • Can fall if bumped
  • Can’t stand at windy outdoors

Folding dividers are great for people who are seeking a lightweight option. These products are not too heavy, easy to carry, and effortless to install.

Hanging Wall Partitions

As the name suggests, hanging dividers hang from the ceiling. They can also called ceiling hanging dividers. These objects are manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes, using different materials that include resin, light wood, acrylic, glass, etc.

Hanging dividers are crafted using both solid and semi-solid materials. Depending on the design, you can slide open or close these separators to get varying degrees of light and privacy.

These decorative wall dividers are attached to the floor, making them stay fixed in their place. These dividers’ weighted panels require some ceiling hardware as you cannot hang them on a few screws. Considering the material, size, weight, and nature of these objects, their cost is higher than the freestanding floor dividers. 

Where to use

Solid hanging dividers are generally used in the big living rooms to create a separate space for living and dining areas. Furthermore, people also use these dividers in their offices to divide space into different departments.

Pros

  • Helps control the degree of light you need in a room
  • Amps up the interior of a bland space
  • It can be installed in both big and small spaces

Cons

  • Typical installation process
  • Expensive variant
  • Enables minimum privacy
  • It cannot be moved as required

Hanging wall partitions cannot be moved from one place to another as they are fixed from the ceiling. You can select a design in this format from the internet and customize it to sync it according to your home or office interior.

Bookcase/Shelf Room Dividers

Bookcase or Shelf Room Dividers

The bookcase or the shelf room divider serves double the purpose. It is highly functional as you can use it to store books, showcase decorative pieces, artworks, ceramics, and more. Furthermore, you can also use the space to keep your belongings safe.

The best part is that this piece of furniture can also act as a sound barrier if you fill the shelves with books. So, if you are a book fanatic and have a good collection of books, this type of divider will be the perfect pick.

You’ll get dividers of different heights, widths and sizes in this category. A few options extend close to the ceiling, while others might not be that high. This can be your room divider from floor to ceiling.

You can use indoor plants, decorative pots, photo frames and other similar items to fill the top shelf.

Generally, bookcase dividers are made of light wood, which adds to the product’s longevity. Owing to their material, book dividers come at a higher cost than their counterparts. Therefore, you can also prefer buying second-hand options.

Where to use

Bookcase room dividers serve a double purpose. They are best for storing books and creating a partition simultaneously. You can place them in your living room or office space to beautify the area. You can also use these in your study area to keep your books nearby.

Pros

  • Highly functional
  • Serves double purpose
  • Can be customized as required
  • Durable and long-lasting
  • Control sound effectively

Cons

  • Needs proper cleaning regularly
  • Tough to move
  • An expensive option

These dividers are best for people who have a vast collection of books. They are multi-functional and worth your money. Furthermore, it is one of the most easy DIY room divider category, which can be customized according to your choice.

Hanging Fabric/Paper Divider

A hanging fabric divider is also called a curtain. These privacy dividers are manufactured using different kinds of fabrics, where each fabric has its unique feature. Most manufacturers also design paper curtains made from a fabric that is as thin as paper.

Fabric dividers can be thick or thin, depending on the quality of the fabric used. If you prefer a thin room divider, you can go for light fabrics, and for thicker options choose a thicker fabric.

It is one of the most effortless DIY room dividers you can customize according to your taste and requirement. The cost of the product may vary according to the type of fabric used.

Curtain dividers are super-convenient to create. However, installing a rod or a ceiling track system can sometimes get tricky. Thick fabrics require a heavy-duty rod, and vice versa for thin ones.

You can quickly get a curtain divider customized in the size and color of your choice. You can hang these products from the ceiling, or the length can vary according to your requirements.

Where to use

Curtain dividers or hanging fabric dividers are highly versatile. They can fit into almost all kinds of places. You can use hanging fabric dividers to separate two spaces in the bedroom, living room, office, restaurant, and more.

Pros

  • Super-convenient to customize
  • May restrict sound depending on the material
  • Helps create private space
  • It can amp up the look of your interior
  • Cost-effective product
  • You can easily switch between different curtains to change the look

Cons

  • Get dirty easily
  • Unable to handle the breeze
  • Anybody can easily open it

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Permanent Room Dividers

Permanent Room Dividers

Permanent room dividers are designed using wood, metal, glass, or acrylic materials. Generally, they are attached to the ceiling and come down to the floor.

These kinds of dividers are a permanent addition to your home or office. Hence, they cannot be moved from one place to another.

Where to Use

Permanent dividers are made of solid materials, and their main aim is to divide a big space while restricting sound. Therefore, they are primarily used in living rooms at home, halls at the office, or in dining areas at hotels.

Pros

  • They are made of rigid materials and last long.
  • They are fixed in the wall and do not move
  • You can use them to beautify any dull space
  • Perfect for restricting sound

Cons

  • More expensive comparatively
  • Impossible to move from one place to another

Sliding Room Dividers

Sliding room dividers are best for creating a private space, restricting sound, and dividing one large space into two. They are manufactured using different materials, including glass, acrylic, wood, metal, etc.

These partitions provide the maximum degree of privacy and can also be used as door to divide two rooms. They can be either designed from ceiling to floor, or you can also be restricted midways.

Where to Use

You can use these partitions in your living room, officers, and bathroom.

Pros

  • The slider can be partially closed to enable a certain degree of communication
  • They help create a perfect private space
  • You can also use them as a decorative element

Cons

  • They are comparatively expensive
  • Cleaning these dividers can be time-taking

Freestanding Straight Panel Room Divider

Freestanding Straight Panel Room Divider

Freestanding straight panel room dividers are similar to folding dividers but have a framed panel of fabric or other materials. These dividers can slide open or unfold to create a private space. Technically, the frames sit on the legs to stabilize the door. Usually, they are made using materials like PVC, glass, plastic, metal or fabric.

The freestanding straight panel dividers can easily fit into small places compared to the accordion-style dividers. Furthermore, many models allow you to add more panels to multiply their size, making them more prominent.

The best part is that these dividers don’t need installation equipment.

Where to Use

The freestanding straight panel room dividers can be used to divide living rooms or create a private space in the bedroom. You can also install them in your office space to divide the huge space.

Pros

  • You don’t need installation equipment to fix them
  • They are affordable
  • They can fit in small spaces
  • They are super easy to move

Cons

  • They get moved easily

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Final Thoughts

There are multiple choices available in room dividers across the board.  Besides, you can also create DIY room partitions suiting your requirements.

Pro tip: Measure the space accurately before you order or create your room dividers.

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