When the entirety of your home is confined to a single 250-square-foot room, it’s hard to tell where your bedroom begins and where it ends. Never mind being able to carve out an ounce of privacy or degree of separation from the rest of the teeny space. Listen up, studio dwellers: It’s about time you invested in a room divider.
Partitions come in all shapes and sizes. Some solutions, like folding screens, barely take any effort to set up, while others, such as built-in bookcases and nonstructural walls, require a little more planning. All that to say, breaking up your space can be as involved as you want it to be (often a row of large plants will do the trick!). Try any of these hacks and you’ll be living large.
The Fringe Curtain Photography by Impressive Spaces
In this Kansas City rental, designer Spencer Sight picked a ceiling-mounted bamboo hanging that looks like a more elevated version of the early-2000s beaded variety we all had in our bedroom. It divvies up the dining area and kitchen without compromising the open airiness of the floor plan—truly the best of both worlds.
Bamboo Beaded Curtain, Urban Outfitters ($49) The Lengthy Sofa Photography by Johnny Fogg; Styling by Jen Levy
When your bedroom is also your living room, you have to use furniture to your advantage. That’s what Jen Levy did in her sunny 600-square-foot studio. A large cream-colored couch creates a clear line between the two.
Arya Modular Sofa with Open End, Rove Concepts ($2,299) The Step Bookcase Photography by Aaron Bengochea
Graphic designer Timothy Goodman’s bookshelf checks off two boxes at once: It disguises part of the bed and offers a ton of storage. High-to-low pieces like this are key because they maintain an open and airy feel.
Cube Organizer Shelf, Target ($40) The Bamboo Screen Photography by Sugar and Cloth
The quickest way to create a sense of separation is with furniture, specifically folding dividers. They can go anywhere (between the bed and the sofa, in front of a clothing rack, next to the dining table) and they’re easy to spice up. Sugar and Cloth transformed a simple one from IKEA with a few long strands of colorful yarn.
Scarlett Rattan Room Divider Screen, Anthropologie ($398) The TV Stand Photography by Sean Litchfield
Since there was only one wall available for artwork in this 600-square-foot apartment, designer Charlotte Sylvain of Studio Fauve came up with an ingenious invention: a banquette–meets–media console with a remote-controlled lift that conceals (or reveals!) a flat-screen at the touch of a button. When left up, the TV separates the living and dining areas.
Rosanna Ceravolo Media Console, West Elm ($1,399) The Large Leafy Plants Photography Courtesy of Jess Blumberg
Designer Jess Blumberg delineates her sleeping space with decor, specifically a butterfly chair and a grouping of tall greenery, including a snake plant and palm tree. There’s always room for a mini jungle no matter how tight your quarters.
Cat Palm, Bloomscape ($195) The Drapes Photography by Nirut Benjabanpot
With just the flick of the wrist, this Hong Kong dining room can be made to feel like a private booth at a restaurant, thanks to two sliding glass and steel doors. But that’s not what has us most excited: The space also features a ceiling-mounted track for curtains, something any renter can emulate without sacrificing their entire security deposit.
Forest Green Linen Curtain Panel, CB2 ($60+) The Built-In Shelves Photography by Kirsten Diane
DIY blogger Kirsten Diane didn’t craft this minimalist bookshelf for a studio apartment, but that doesn’t mean her bright divider idea can’t be applied to one. If you see yourself in your place for a long while, consider investing in a more permanent partition that stretches floor to ceiling.
Helsing Desk, Crate & Barrel ($599) The Café Curtains Photography by Allyson Lubow
While we appreciate that pass-throughs encourage connection when we’re cooking for friends, we don’t always want the lingering smells following us. An immediate fix: Hang some curtains cut to size (ombré optional). See you on the flip side.
Twill Striped Cafe Curtains, Target ($23) Introducing Domino’s new podcast, Design Time, where we explore spaces with meaning. Each week join editor-in-chief Jessica Romm Perez along with talented creatives and designers from our community to explore how to create a home that tells your story. Listen now and subscribe for new episodes every Thursday. #Storage #SmallSpaceDividers #Update #Scouting #Stories
