Room dividers are a versatile means of sectioning off a space for privacy or practicality. An ideal option for studio apartments, they also present an opportunity to transform any living area, create a private nook for office space, delineate children’s areas in a shared bedroom or to create a temporary space for a variety of purposes.

Using screen dividers

Whether a floor to ceiling division, or a part-partition, screen dividers can be an effective, smart and decorative option for many spaces in the home. Folding screens, single panel, or hanging screens each offer different benefits, and it is important to consider the size and function of the space they will be in before deciding on the best divider. For example, a hanging divider will be easily pulled back or retracted vertically if extra space is desired, so for an occasional divider, this may be the best option. 

Folding dividers are also temporary, and portable, but consideration needs to be given to where they would be placed or stored when not in use – so consider folding dividers as a preference if there is a space in mind that is relatively permanent. Different materials and fabrics also offer different benefits in terms of noise and light filtering, with glass or hard materials often being preferable for sectioning off a sleeping or work area from a living space.

Where best to use a folding screen or room divider screen?

A folding screen is a perfect temporary or moveable wall – but it can be so much more than that. The options are endless, including decorative art for bathrooms, hallways, living rooms or shade for outdoor areas. In the bedroom, situate a room divider screen behind the bed, in place of a headboard – or in front of the wardrobe to provide some added privacy. 

For something different to wall art, consider an ornate folding screen with a nod in design to its ancient Chinese roots. The shadows and texture it adds will provide unmatchable ambience, especially when paired with antique table candles.

Chinese Folding Screens vs Shoji Screens

Adapted from the ancient Chinese folding screens, Shoji screens are translucent screens generally consisting of a wooden frame and a paper, wicker or cloth screen. Shoji screens are often lighter in weight than Chinese folding screens and are considered more artistically beautiful than their traditional counterparts. Modern Shoji screens enjoy improved quality, are less likely to suffer tears or shrinkage, and come in a wide range of designs – or look for plain screens contrasting against their wooden frame for a more natural effect.

When is a hanging room divider the best option?

Hanging room dividers, typically curtains or blinds, are easily installed and offer a comparatively cheap and easy way to section off a space. Choose a neutral fabric to give the feel of a wall, or embrace the opportunity to make this divider a feature with brightly coloured fabrics that offset the carpet or furniture. Hanging room dividers are an option worth considering for any space.

 The contemporary office space is no longer furnished with the traditional cubicle. Movement is at the helm of design trends with versatility a key part of any office floorplate. Spaces designed for different uses - those designed for collaboration, for privacy and for coming together in different-sized groups and configurations - both physically and remotely are at the core of the office space of the future.

Using room dividers, screens and partitions to create a versatile office space

Due to the need for versatility and varied functionality in all areas of the office, the use of room dividers, screens and partitions have been steadily on the rise for some time now. That’s because these sorts of items are truly versatile, can be easily reconfigured, moved and adjusted to suit whatever use is required. 

The ability to use room dividers to seamlessly separate off an area of an office to conduct a meeting or teleconference is important, as is the ease of reopening the office to an open-plan area afterwards. Retractable screens, roll-down screens and fabric room dividers are also all being used more frequently for the same reasons; their inherent versatility and cost-efficiency and ease of use as room partitions.

Defining spaces and creating privacy 

Barn-style doors are another on-trend option for the contemporary office space, favoured for their ability to slide away with minimal disruption to the floor area as well as their somewhat rustic appearance - a notion that fits into the concept of the ‘soft work’ space - offices where home comforts are more commonly integrated into the corporate setup. 

The use of sliding glass doors, wooden screens, folding screens and folding screen room dividers are all being favoured currently too, both as a way to create places of privacy within open-plan office floorplates and as a way to define different areas of a commercial space, such as defining where a kitchen/dining area ends and a workspace begins. 

With a multitude of options available and more clever designs being created every day, a wide range of versatile screens and room dividers are becoming commonplace in the modern office.