Screen as a Room Divider

Few days ago, in Convert it: Space and Layout, we proposed using a screen as a room divider to convert a 1BR apartment with an alcove into 1BR apartment with an “additional room”.

Today, we would like to explore this simple conversion /space separation in more detail.

Before we discuss some available options, let’s start with a question: what will be the desired use of this additional room after the conversion? The answer will determine the general type of the divider. We could, for example, use it as a guest room, a home office, or perhaps a nursery. You may add to this list your own. The answer would help us in choosing the best screen divider in terms of desired level of privacy.

Do we want it to be as solid looking as possible, and almost like a wall we do not have a space (or permission) for? Or, on the contrary, would we prefer something more transparent, light and fragile, just to create a visual and decorative effect?

The second question is whether we are on the budget (and who is not?) and going for some more affordable solutions, or money is not a factor here and will not determine our choices.

And last, but not least, we need to decide if we are the enthusiasts of D.I.Y. projects (with money not necessarily being a factor here), or rather prefer to buy our furniture in a store, have them delivered, installed, and forget about it.

DO IT YOURSELF

D.I.Y. projects can answer your needs in a very creative way and are, on principle and in most cases, the less expensive solution. Here are some creative examples:

Let’s start with the transparent one – what would you say about the Eco-Friendly Blossoms by Michelle Brand? For sure very creative, beautiful, and indeed, eco-friendly. And easy to do, too:

cascade_by_michelle_brand flowerfall_by_michelle_brand
Source: www.michellebrand.co.uk
Michelle Brand is the Environmental Designer who specializes in Up Cycling and designing feedback loops. She is internationally known for her inspirational designs with the humble plastic drinks bottle.

As you can see on the pictures above, this screen is made from the bottoms of plastic bottles connected by tag pins, which are normally used to attach a tag card on fabrics. The tag pins as well as tag gun needed to apply them you can get in a store with the sewing accessories.

The project assumes that you already have tons of plastic bottles available, since we use tons of them nowadays (way too many, I think).

So what you do is you cut the bottoms off of the plastic bottles, and pin them together using tag pins and some kind of a very thin rope /line. The line could be a transparent fishing line for example. Or maybe a thin line of wool, if you want to introduce some color.

Once this beautiful curtain is made, what remains is to attach it to the ceiling. It should not be a problem since it is very lightweight. We recommend first attaching it to a bar (plastic, wooden, or else) which will be then hung to the ceiling by a couple of hooks and wires. Optionally, you can attach a second bar at the bottom to make this separation feel more firm: more like a screen, and less like a curtain.

The second idea is to use a rope itself, but one much thicker in diameter. A manila rope for example, something like this:

It could be 1/4, 3/8, or 1/2 inch in diameter, your choice. Just attach two bars as we proposed before, and here is what you can get out of it:

human_project_160509-145-52867 human_project_160509-190-52913
Source: www.alwill.com.au

Need something more solid looking? How about a floating art-covered wall like the one in this Copenhagen loft below? More of a project (one simpler way to build it is to make a wooden frame and cover it with linen canvas), but the look is great:

the-apartment-denmark
Source: www.trendland.com