How to Make a Room Divider Curtain

If you have a room you want to divide, there’s an incredibly simple, inexpensive way to do it. You make a room divider curtain.

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This is an easy project that requires some special supplies, but doesn’t take a lot of work. It doesn’t have to involve any drilling, any holes in any walls, any carpentry or even much work on your part. And you can get creative with it.

Why Room Divider Curtains Are So Handy

Room divider curtains are a lifesaver in so many situations. Maybe you’re sharing a room with someone and just want a bit of privacy.

Or maybe you want to hide clutter (who doesn’t have some of that?). Sometimes, you just want to make your space feel a little cozier by blocking off part of an open floor plan. With a curtain, you get all this flexibility—and you can change it up anytime you want.

Plus, they’re renter-friendly. A lot of us don’t want to put big holes in the wall or build something permanent.

If you use a tension rod, you don’t have to worry about losing your security deposit. And if you move? Just pack up your curtain and rod and take them with you.

The Room Divider Curtain

You’ll need:

The Curtain Rod

If the area you want to partition off is small enough, you can use a shower curtain tension rod.This is the cheapest, simplest way to go because you just put it between two walls and you’re done.

You can buy rods with beautiful decorative finishes and end pieces. Or you get a cheap white one and paint it funky.

If the area is bigger than any tension rod you can find, then you’ll need a traditional curtain rod, and you’ll need to install it. This will involve some drilling and work, but it’s an easy DIY project.

The Curtains

You’ll need a tab top style curtain, or a plain sheet with some curtain clips that go around the rod and clip the sheet into place. You can use any sheet or curtain you want.

You could also make or buy beaded curtains for this project.

Irregular sheets can be found at outlet stores for just a few bucks. You can often make a used sheet work. Even if it’s not in great shape, can you use fabric paint to disguise that? Maybe add a pattern?

All you have to do is mount this curtain on the rod, which is easy.

• String your curtain or curtain clips along the rod.
• Follow the directions on your curtain rod to mount it to the wall.
• If you used curtain clips, now’s the time to clip your sheet or curtain to them.

Use something other than sheets

A collection of old scarves, each hanging from one curtain clip, could look absolutely stunning as long as they all go together. This makes a really versatile window covering – you can “open” the curtain anywhere you like, or tie it back like an ordinary curtain.

You could also use pinking shears to cut strips of cloth from old clothes or other material. Pinking shears cut cloth with a waffled edge that keeps them from fraying (as long as they’re not being handled constantly). This gives you a nice, stylish edge without any sewing.

Ways To Hang If You Can’t Use Tension Rods

Sometimes, tension rods just won’t cut it—like if your walls are weirdly shaped or too far apart. Don’t worry, there are still ways to hang your divider:

• Ceiling track: These are meant for curtains and can be found online or at home stores. They usually use adhesive clips or just tiny screws.
• Command hooks with a dowel: Stick heavy-duty Command hooks on both walls and rest a wooden dowel between them.
• Wire cable system: IKEA sells curtain wire systems that work for wide spaces and odd angles.

Materials You Might Not Have Thought Of

Sure, regular curtains or sheets work great, but there are a bunch of other materials you can use for your divider:

• Drop cloths: The canvas ones from the hardware store are sturdy and have a cool industrial look.
• Old quilts or blankets: Adds coziness and blocks more sound.
• Shower curtains: These come in fun patterns and are often waterproof, so they’re great for kitchens or laundry areas.
• Macramé or woven hangings: If you want something artsy and light-filtering.
• String lights or fairy lights: Combine with sheer curtains for a magical effect at night.

If you’re crafty, you can even dye your fabric or sew on patches and trims to make it totally unique.

If it’s not wide enough

You can buy curtain rods up to around 12 feet wide. That’s plenty to divide most rooms. But what if you’ve got a really huge room? Look for a bookshelf or similar piece of furniture to fill the gap.

Does it work?

I’ve used this trick in two different apartments. In the first apartment, all the heat in the living room tended to get sucked down the hallway through an open doorway.

Putting up this curtain in that open doorway blocked a shocking amount of heat and kept it in the living room. Seriously, I was stunned how well it worked.

In the next apartment (pictured below), I used it to transform a weird alcove/vanity thing into a “closet” where I could stuff some belongings out of the way:

This makeshift door would also be a great way to close off an open pantry or open laundry room – it even dampens the sound from the washing machine and dryer a little bit (yes, I’ve tried it).

Basically, this trick will work in any room or doorway that’s less than twelve feet wide (or see the above trick to extend it even more). 

Creative Uses For Room Divider Curtains

Let’s brainstorm some real-life uses beyond what we’ve already talked about:

• Home office nook: Working from home but no separate room? Hide your desk or computer at the end of the day with a curtain. It helps switch your brain from “work” to “home.”
• Kids’ play area: Block off toys or play space so the mess isn’t always in view.
• Pet area: Create a spot for your dog’s crate or litter box that’s out of sight.
• Studio apartment “rooms”: Separate your sleeping space from your living space, even if it’s just one big room.
• Make a “closet” out of any weird alcove or architectural niche that could be used as storage. A second tension rod behind the first would make it into an actual clothes closet – just hang your clothes from the tension rod.
• Block an entry foyer for privacy so random people who come to your front door don’t get a good look at your whole home in all its glorious mess.
• Block off a hallway so visitors in the living room don’t get a glimpse into messy bedrooms or workrooms.
• Close off an open breakfast bar in a kitchen.
• Close off an open doorway that leads into a kitchen, if you want some privacy between the kitchen and adjoining room.