As with most couples diving headlong into their first real estate purchase together, it took weeks of searching before we were able to decide on our little yellow brick condo. One of the major selling points of our unit was the great ceiling detail that helped to separate the kitchen space from the living space in our open concept floor plan. Kim had the immediate idea to use the drops in the ceiling as not only a visual barrier, but an anchoring point for a new idea: curtain tracks. industrial-strength, hospital-grade, curtain tracks. We decided to go with the aluminum ceiling mount track in the 12′ length (one 8′ and one 4′ section for shipping purposes), and the double wheel carrier to carry the moving load of the curtains themselves. Sly dog that I am, I initially “put off” the idea, bluffing to Kim that the curtain tracks were a project that would just have to wait. Little did she know, they had already been delivered to my parents’ house in Cincinnati and would soon become one of her Christmas gifts.

And did I ever score some brownie points on this one  – who knew all it took was a 12′ track of steel? And so we returned home with an abnormally long box, and I was soon put to work anchoring an 8′ length of track into the drop of our ceiling. A quick trip to Ikea provided the hooks that would anchor our curtains (also from Ikea)  to the carriers and voila! Our kitchen area can be shut-off from the world, should we choose to leave a few dishes undone and out of sight, or create a cozier atmosphere for a comfortable movie night. (Jack seems to dig it as well!) The living space division worked out so well, that when the door to our bedroom became an obstacle to Kim from accessing her closet, we nixed the door completely and utilized the extra 4′ of track to curtain off the bedroom. A quick minute with my handy hacksaw, and the curtain was cut to fit the inside of the door frame perfectly. That pesky early morning light is out of sight when those few precious minutes of sleep are required.

The drape also lends us a bit of privacy when guests visit, while still allowing the furry ones the freedom to come and go as they please.  At the same time, the crisp, white fabric feels airy and light. All said and done, we installed both tracks, curtains and hardware included, for around $100. What a small price to pay for a sleek, stylish way of splitting a room or lending a sense of privacy to your space.  Not to mention that touch of added texture – always a plus.  One room or two? When it comes to small spaces or even large open floor plans, having ways to partition a space can come in handy. It is helpful in distinguishing areas of use in a home like separating the bedroom area for rest and that of the office where productivity takes place. Having distinct areas also offers options for developing design styles. Your kitchen, for example, may have a sleek, contemporary look while your living room may lean more towards a transitional style, embracing comfortable pieces for  kicking back.

Many Decorilla clients have expressed the need for dividing their spaces for both functionality and design’s sake, particularly in the small New York apartment setting.  There are several room divider ideas that offer practical and stylish solutions that range from simple DIY to savvy designer options. extra long curtain rods umbraHere are a few:curtains mowbray drive 1. Wood: stacked crates + bookshelvescurved shower curtain rod rv Bookshelves like those used in this recent open plan, start-up project and collected wooden crates make for a simple and useful room divider. cynthia rowley yellow gray shower curtain

Paint them in the color of your walls for a seamless look or use a pop color to accentuate them. These not only separate areas in a space, but they also are great storage solutions for books, baskets and accent decor pieces.target ivory ruffle shower curtain Glass partitions are great in that they do not block the flow of light completely. new york skyline shower curtain targetOpaque or used as window panes, these offer a more subtle barrier to home areas.blackout curtain substitute A standard curtain set up can be places in areas needed for division. These may be the perfect alternative to wall partitions as they offer privacy and added soft texture to a design. IKEA has many great sliding panels that can be versatile in arrangement.

For a modern look, there are several hanging screen options like the Sotto Room Divider made of interesting linked patterns. Tall indoor plants or a series of wood trunks can give a space a natural element while sectioning off an area. Part of creating an interesting and effective space is to find opportunities in design objectives. By using one of the mentioned room partition ideas, a residential or commercial space gains the needed areas through style. [images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] Written by Decorilla Creative Design expert, Christine Martin4-Panel Natural-Fiber Room Divider in Black 70.75 in. x 0.75 in. 4-Panel Paper Straw Weave Handcrafted Room Divider in Espresso Brown 66.75 in. x 0.75 in. 4-Panel Paper Straw Weave Screen on 2 in. Legs Handcrafter Room Divider in Brown 3-Panel Natural-Fiber Room Divider in Black 3-Panel Natural-Fiber Room Divider in Natural Finish 4-Panel Natural-Fiber Room Divider in Natural Finish 70.5 in. x 0.75 in. 4-Panel Paper Straw Weave Screen on 2 in.

Wooden Legs Handcrafted Room Divider in Black 4-Panel Bamboo Room Divider 3-Panel Natural-Fiber Room Divider with Scenery 4-Panel Natural-Fiber Room Divider in Cherry Finish Oriental Furniture 6 ft. x 7 ft. 4-Panel Natural Diamond Weave Room Divider Oriental Furniture 7 ft. x 7 ft. 4-Panel White Diamond Weave Room Divider 70.5 in. x 0.75 in. 4-Panel Paper Straw Weave Screen Handcrafted Room Divider in Black/White 66.75 in. x 0.75 in. 4-Panel Handcrafted Room Divider in Espresso-Straw Weave Screen on Legs Oriental Furniture 6 ft. x 8 ft. 5-Panel Dark Mocha Diamond Weave Room Divider 4-Panel Natural-Fiber Room Divider with Plum Blossoms Oriental Furniture 6 ft. x 6 ft. 4-Panel Walnut Window Pane Shoji Screen Oriental Furniture 6 ft. x 6 ft. 4-Panel Natural Bamboo Tree Shoji Screen Oriental Furniture 6 ft. x 4 ft. 3-Panel Double Sided Life in Balance Canvas Room Divider 4-Panel Shoji Screen Room Divider with Cherry Finish 4-Panel Walnut Room Divider with Book Shelves