15 Clever Ways to Partition a Room and Keep the Light
When you want just the right amount of space and light, get creative with glass, slats, beads, exposed framing and more
Room dividers can help direct foot traffic, define spaces, create a sense of privacy and hide unsightly areas. While solid room dividers such as folding screens create privacy and hide things, they can also block out light and make a smaller space feel confining. If you want to divide a room without losing too much light and depth, consider these 15 ideas.
2. Horizontal Wood Slats
A screen of horizontal slats provides a great spot for hanging the flat-screen TV while gently masking the closet in this Seattle bedroom built by Ainslie-Davis Construction.
A screen of horizontal slats provides a great spot for hanging the flat-screen TV while gently masking the closet in this Seattle bedroom built by Ainslie-Davis Construction.
3. Glass Partition
This elegant house in Brooklyn designed by Tamara Eaton Design features a large master bathroom with an adjacent sitting room. The glass-and-black-steel partition separates the two areas physically but not visually. Its industrial grid pattern provides a stylish juxtaposition to the room’s traditional design.
This elegant house in Brooklyn designed by Tamara Eaton Design features a large master bathroom with an adjacent sitting room. The glass-and-black-steel partition separates the two areas physically but not visually. Its industrial grid pattern provides a stylish juxtaposition to the room’s traditional design.
4. Perforated Partition
A perforated wall separates the bedroom from the living area in this small Moscow apartment. Spots of sunlight break through, filling the windowless living area with diffused light.
A perforated wall separates the bedroom from the living area in this small Moscow apartment. Spots of sunlight break through, filling the windowless living area with diffused light.
5. Tree Trunks
Five birch tree trunks placed vertically from the floor to the ceiling provide a visual divider between the hallway and the living area in this German home.
Five birch tree trunks placed vertically from the floor to the ceiling provide a visual divider between the hallway and the living area in this German home.
6. Glass Fireplace Surround
A glass fireplace surround in the middle of this Boston great room designed by SK+I Architecture provides both a sense of separation and a view across the room.
Find gas fireplace inserts
A glass fireplace surround in the middle of this Boston great room designed by SK+I Architecture provides both a sense of separation and a view across the room.
Find gas fireplace inserts
7. Art Installation
The room divider in this New York City loft is an art piece by a Cuban artist, designer Eddie Lee says. The piece is made of phone books with holes cut in the middle so they could be attached to floor-to-ceiling metal rods.
The room divider in this New York City loft is an art piece by a Cuban artist, designer Eddie Lee says. The piece is made of phone books with holes cut in the middle so they could be attached to floor-to-ceiling metal rods.
8. Glass Wine Cellar
For dedicated oenophiles, there may not be a better way to divide a room than with a wine cellar. This Las Vegas condo features floor-to-ceiling wine storage that uses glass to stylishly separate the dining room from the living room.
For dedicated oenophiles, there may not be a better way to divide a room than with a wine cellar. This Las Vegas condo features floor-to-ceiling wine storage that uses glass to stylishly separate the dining room from the living room.
9. Pillars
Though they’re often there to make a house structurally sound, a row of pillars (structural or cosmetic) also can create separation between spaces. In this German home designed by Theo Strobl, a row of five square pillars separates the dining area from the living room.
Though they’re often there to make a house structurally sound, a row of pillars (structural or cosmetic) also can create separation between spaces. In this German home designed by Theo Strobl, a row of five square pillars separates the dining area from the living room.
10. Gauzy Curtains
Curtains aren’t just for windows. A curtain can also be a good way to close off one space from another. Gauzy curtains or sheers can separate two areas while letting light filter through.
Browse gauzy curtains
Curtains aren’t just for windows. A curtain can also be a good way to close off one space from another. Gauzy curtains or sheers can separate two areas while letting light filter through.
Browse gauzy curtains
12. Glass Blocks
Glass blocks are a staple in many midcentury homes, but they’re most commonly used in windows as an alternative to panes. However, glass blocks can also make a great room divider that filters light and creates separation.
Glass blocks are a staple in many midcentury homes, but they’re most commonly used in windows as an alternative to panes. However, glass blocks can also make a great room divider that filters light and creates separation.
13. Metal Beads
Strings of beads hung from the ceiling might conjure up a groovy ’70s vibe, but as this New York City loft shows, metal beads make for a chic room divider.
Strings of beads hung from the ceiling might conjure up a groovy ’70s vibe, but as this New York City loft shows, metal beads make for a chic room divider.
14. Decorative Partitions
A patterned wood divider adds a sense of privacy with a bit of old-school glamour to a large room. This Toronto master bedroom designed by Kimberley Seldon Design Group features an Art Deco-inspired partition that separates the bedroom from the ensuite bath.
A patterned wood divider adds a sense of privacy with a bit of old-school glamour to a large room. This Toronto master bedroom designed by Kimberley Seldon Design Group features an Art Deco-inspired partition that separates the bedroom from the ensuite bath.
15. Door Frame and Studs
If you’re ever having a hard time deciding between knocking down a wall or keeping it up, this apartment in Germany might inspire you to a happy middle ground. By leaving the original door frame and studs standing and just removing the drywall, the designer created a sense of separation without losing any light.
Show us your clever room divider. Did you use an unusual material or design to define a space while letting in the light? Please upload a photo in the Comments.
More
12 Ways to Divide Space in an Open Floor Plan
The Great Divide: Structures and Panels Shape Spaces
If you’re ever having a hard time deciding between knocking down a wall or keeping it up, this apartment in Germany might inspire you to a happy middle ground. By leaving the original door frame and studs standing and just removing the drywall, the designer created a sense of separation without losing any light.
Show us your clever room divider. Did you use an unusual material or design to define a space while letting in the light? Please upload a photo in the Comments.
More
12 Ways to Divide Space in an Open Floor Plan
The Great Divide: Structures and Panels Shape Spaces
The design team at Z+ Interiors added floor-to-ceiling vertical wood slats to separate the family room from the gym in this New Jersey home. The evenly spaced slats let sunlight from the gym windows wash into the family room, repeating the vertical pattern found in the blinds.