A Complete Guide to Hanging Room Dividers

If you are looking for a way to quickly and easily divide up space in your home, then installing room dividers might be the answer. Depending on your living space, you should consider the different options available for dividing your room, like a hanging room divider.

A hanging room divider is a single, semi-permanent fixture that will divide up any ample space. You can hang it from the ceiling to separate two areas or partition different sections of your room. These dividers come in many sizes, colors, and designs, depending on what you need them.

Committing to install a semi-permanent fixture in your living room or any space at your home is a big decision. Continue reading to find out if hanging room dividers are what you need in your home.

What are Hanging Room Dividers?

Hanging room dividers are set up to divide one space into two or more sections. The dividers can be as temporary or permanent as the need is for your space. Hanging room dividers come in different shapes and sizes, such as panels, curtains, beads, cloth, and other fabrics.

Before purchasing a divider, consider the installation that will take place. Many dividers run on tracks that are semi-permanent and installed to the ceiling of your living space. Others can be held up with brackets secured to the wall and a tension rod.

Whether you are looking to create more privacy or add a new aesthetic to your living space, you should be familiar with the different types of hanging room dividers out there.

Room dividers can help you create new living spaces or improve existing ones. This blog will be a complete guide to hanging and installing room dividers.

Hanging Room Dividers vs. Standing Room Dividers

A room divider is a physical barrier that divides space. That means you can use just about anything to create a room divider and partition your room.

The two primary forms of room dividers are hanging room dividers and standing room dividers.

As we will discuss, hanging room dividers hang from your ceiling and can extend all the way down to the floor or stop where desired. These fixtures are semi-permanent and require securing to walls or the ceiling.

Standing room dividers can be created from anything. Typically, you will see bookcases or foldable walls that are not very tall. Based on the concept of standing room dividers, these are not semi-permanent as they can be moved at any time with little-to-no effort.

Deciding between a hanging room divider or a standing room divider depends on your space and what you are looking to accomplish. Each style offers varying levels of flexibility.

Standing room dividers require less of a commitment and can be moved from place to place. At the same time, they take up more space in your room and might not always be the easiest to move if you are looking to open up living space for a party or gathering.

Hanging room dividers are more of a commitment because of the installation, but they allow for more flexibility in the space. For example, you could open up your living space for a party and then close it off again afterward.

Different Types of Hanging Room Dividers

Hanging room dividers can come in many different lengths, widths, materials, and designs. Each style has its own functionality that you need to consider before purchasing anything. This includes creating the look and feel of your living space, blocking or allowing light to pass through, and creating more or less privacy.

To create the right look and feel in any space, you need to know what your needs are. For example, if you want more privacy from one room into another, then a curtain is probably not going to do. On the other hand, curtains will give your living area a bit of an inviting feeling.

Meanwhile, panels can also help divide up spaces while having more design options. They can either allow light to pass through or block it completely and create as much privacy as you desire.

Whatever type of hanging divider you choose, it’s best to make sure that they complement each other well, so there is no visual confusion on which side belongs where.

We will explain the common types of hanging room dividers and the benefits of each.

Panel Hanging Room Dividers

Panel hanging room dividers are solid, elegant fixtures that hang from the ceiling to partition a living space. They typically are created using plastic, metal, or acrylic and have cut-out designs that allow light to pass through while still maintaining a level of privacy.

This fixture brings a room to life, offering an elegant approach to divide a room. Many times, the panels can slide away, as well, opening up the room when needed for larger gatherings.

The design possibilities with panel hanging room dividers are almost limitless. You can find modern, simplistic designs to enhance your living space or a classic quatrefoil design that adds elegance to any room. 

You will often find panel hanging room dividers in businesses that are looking to divide their space without bringing attention to it. Think of spaces that want to divide the reception area from the rest of the business; it is very common for them to have a hanging room divider in place.

That being said, it can be a great way to partition larger rooms in your home, add a great backdrop to your couch or sitting area, and separate your kitchen from your dining area. 

Remember that these fixtures are semi-permanent, so you can always try something new, swap out panels, or change the design at any time with a little amount of work.

Curtain Hanging Room Dividers

Compare this style of hanging room dividers to curtains, as they drape down from the ceiling and can easily slide open or closed on its rod or track.

Just like curtains, the right fabric hanging room divider can provide adequate levels of privacy if you require it, or they can be left open for unobstructed light and views. Fabric hanging room dividers are a good option if you need to divide the space without blocking out natural sunlight.

They can be left open or closed depending on your preference, and they come in many different colors, patterns, and materials to suit every taste.

Curtain hanging room dividers are a good option if you are renting or leasing and cannot make permanent changes to your wall. You can easily separate your space from your roommates or family members and get the privacy we all desire.

If you are looking for a heavyweight, light-blocking room divider, you might want to consider one like this.

How to Install Hanging Room Dividers

The hanging of room dividers can be achieved in two ways. You may purchase a specific system, or you could use curtains or other materials to make your own divider.

If you decide to purchase a track system like a traverse rod, we recommend following the instruction manual for proper installation. This would most likely be the method used if you purchase a panel hanging room divider but can also apply to a curtain hanger.

Making your own divider will take some DIY skills. If you are dividing a small space, like a hallway or doorway, then you might be able to get away with a tension rod to hold up your divider.

For larger spaces like living rooms or studio apartments, you will want to consider how temporary your divider will be. If you are only going to be living at a location for a short period of time, you can use a high tension wire with a curtain to save time and money on installation. On the other hand, if your hanging room divider is going to be more permanent, you can use a curtain rod or series of curtain rods to hold up your divider.

Below find the step-by-step guide on how to install a hanging room divider based on the style of your choice.

Curtain Hanging Room Divider

1. Measure the length of your curtain rod and mark out two evenly spaced points on the wall that go up to the ceiling. Draw a line from one dot to the next.
2. Screw the S-hook into place and then install an additional hook on the opposite end of the line.
3. Hang your curtain onto the traverse rod or insert hooks to use a grommet.
4. Finally, insert your curtain rod to secure the hanging panel. Make sure the fabric moves freely along it.

Panel Hanging Room Divider

1. Select the length of your installation area to determine how you want room dividers to be set up. If you plan for them to line in a straight row, know that the installation area is going to have a straight-line configuration. For staggered layouts or alternative layouts, measure each divider and align accordingly depending on size of your installation space.
2. To ensure that the dividers are level and fit snugly against one another, use a ruler and pencil to draw a straight line on the ceiling. Make this line as long as you’ve marked your room dividers. Once you have drawn all of these lines, drill pilot holes into each point where it will meet an adjoining divider.
3. Hold your divider track to the ceiling and drill into place with the pre-drilled holes as a guide.
4. The installation of panel room dividers is completed by first screwing suspension hooks at both ends of the track. Rubber caps are then installed on either side.

There are, of course, many factors that can come into play when installing your hanging room divider. Make sure to account for the weight of the curtain or panels that you are installing so you can be sure that your rod or track can hold it.

How Do You Secure a Room Divider?

This is one of the most common questions in regards to hanging room dividers. Room dividers are typically made out of wood, metal, or plastic and may be heavy depending on the size.

Households with children or pets also have to worry about their room dividers being bumped or pulled on.

The installation of a room divider typically consists of drilling into the ceiling or wall and securing the mounts with screws. The rod, or track, needs to fit securely to the mount to make sure the divider hangs evenly.

There are, of course, many factors that can come into play when installing your hanging room divider. Make sure to account for the weight of the curtain or panels that you are installing so that you know your curtain rod or track system can hold it.

If you are screwing into drywall, make sure your curtain or panel is not too heavy and might ruin your wall. In the case that your hanging room divider is too heavy, use drywall anchors to safely and securely mount your hanging room divider.

If you are using a hanging curtain room divider, consider adding light weights to the bottom of the curtains to keep them from moving too easily. There are also bases with arms that can help hold your room dividers in place as well.

DIY Hanging Room Divider Ideas

Hanging room dividers are a unique way to divide up your space and add some character to an otherwise plain area.

You can easily spruce up these dividers with textures like velvet curtains or fabric drapes in geometric designs that will create a cohesive look when combined with other decorations throughout your home.

Here are some simple, DIY hanging room divider ideas that you can set up in your home:

• Hang string or rope straight down or braided.
• Hang beads
• Tie together multiple picture frames of your family, friends, or great memories.
• Hang small lights.
• Hang plants or vines.
• Tie up old books and magazines in colorful patterns for a vintage, textured look.
• Hang a quilt made from old t-shirts.
• Hang a curtain or two to create privacy.
• Hang plywood or wooden pallets for a rustic look.
• Hang a tapestry or colorful bed sheets.

As you can tell, the options for what you can use to create a hanging room divider are simply up to your imagination.

Places to Install a Hanging Room Divider

Hanging room dividers can serve a multitude of purposes. The possibilities are up to your imagination when deciding how you are going to divide your space. 

Whether you are looking for privacy, a new look for your household, or to create a new living space for your home, hanging room dividers offer many opportunities.

Here are some ideas for dividing space with hanging room dividers.

Living Room

A living room is very commonplace for a room divider. Whether you live in a studio apartment and want to separate the living space from your bed or have a living room adjacent to your kitchen, a hanging divider can be a very useful way to create separate rooms.

A well-designed space with a room divider can create an area for entertaining, a place to work, or a more intimate and private space for dining.

For those working from home, it can also be a good way of providing separation between the living area and your office area.

You may want to just hang a divider in your living room for the aesthetic it can provide. Many people will hang tapestries on their walls, but the right hanging room divider can act as its own backdrop for pictures and a charming fixture to your living room.

Office Space

If you have a large office space with multiple desks and workstations that are used simultaneously, it is important to keep the area open and uncluttered. The addition of room dividers can help create separate spaces for different tasks while having some of your desktops still visible to other workers.

In the new era of work-from-home, many couples and family members are having to work from home at the same time. By partitioning your office space, couples and family members can cohabitate more successfully while working from home.

It is important to note that while room dividers are a great option for dividing office space, they do not provide much value for soundproofing and creating completely separate office spaces.

The right hanging room divider can also act as an excellent backdrop for your video conferencing and online presentations.

Siblings Bedrooms

One way to create a shared bedroom in a home is by dividing it with hanging room dividers. This has the benefit of allowing siblings to have their own space while still being able to interact and play together without any distractions.

Everyone who has lived in the same room as a sibling, or a college roommate for that matter, knows how important it is to have your own privacy in your bedroom. Hanging room dividers can give you a sense of privacy without taking up all the space.

Beyond just the privacy, you can use a hanging room divider to separate the “play” area of the children’s bedroom from the beds.

If you can get the siblings to agree on a particular design, the hanging room divider can also add style to the bedroom, depending on what divider you choose.

College Dorm Room

This is a great way to divide up the space in your dorm room.

Sometimes you just need that moment away from what’s going around you to get back into work mode without any distraction. Room dividers allow you to create an area specifically designated for personal study or relaxing while also maintaining some privacy at night.

Curtain hanging room dividers can offer great flexibility to allow for both social times when they are left open and privacy when they are closed.

Most dorm rooms will not allow you to screw anything into the walls, so make sure you are familiar with the policies for your residence hall.

If you cannot screw anything into the wall, either you can consider a tension rod if it is long enough, or you can use a standing room divider.

Kitchen

In many houses, the kitchen is adjacent to the living room or dining room. A hanging room divider can help separate the cooking area from the living space. Creating two separate rooms allows you to relax when in your living room and not worry about cleaning or preparing food in the kitchen.

Panel room dividers can be installed high enough so that it blocks the view of a kitchen from an adjacent living space. The divider also provides privacy and reduces noise by enclosing cooking activities in one section.

Hanging room dividers can also create a nice atmosphere in your kitchen. Match a modern hanging room design with your modern appliances and cabinetry, and your kitchen will have a sleek and refined look.

Reception Area

Many small businesses have a reception area or front desk where customers will interact with employees for transactions. If this area is open, it may create an uncomfortable experience for your customers.

The best solution for this problem is to install a room divider. You can use a curtain divider, panels, or privacy screen to create an additional space that will separate the reception area from the rest of your business.

A hanging room divider can help create privacy for customers who may have personal questions or are talking about payments.

Basement

Basements offer a lot of versatility to your home. Finished basements can be used as a home theater, game room, or additional living space. You can easily partition your basement and create different rooms with little effort by using a hanging room divider.

If you are using your basement for storage, a hanging room divider can also help hide some of the clutter.

Partitioning your basement is an excellent way to make the most out of your home. Avoid spending thousands on renovations by cleverly using a hanging room divider.

Garage

Hanging room dividers can help partition your garage into a space for work, storage, and a place for your vehicle. An addition of a hanging room divider to your garage can help the mechanic or handyman in your household have their own personal space.

They can be installed on the ceiling, and they will help separate your workspace from other areas of the garage. This type also has a lot of versatility, so you can change it up in order to get creative with how you want to divide your space.

Room dividers are also a great way to make your garage feel more like an extension of your home. Space can be turned into something you want it to be rather than just being for the car or work area. If you have children, they will enjoy having their own little playroom in their own section of the garage.

For anyone living somewhere that it snows in the winter, hanging room dividers can easily be taken down so your cars can fit inside. 

Home Gym

The home gym is a great space for people who want to exercise and are tired of going to the gym, and they are growing in popularity.

With hanging room dividers, you can turn almost any room into a home gym by sectioning off the space.

Hanging curtains dividers or panels can allow the privacy people want from their home gym while allowing others to utilize the rest of the living space in peace.

Small Tradeshow or Indoor Fair

A small tradeshow or indoor fair with a large number of vendors might be the perfect event for hanging room dividers. It will take more effort to install than standing dividers, but you will have a lot more options for design. 

Installing these for your event, of course, would rely on being at a venue with lower ceilings. Events taking place in a gymnasium or ballroom will likely have ceilings that are too high.

The major benefit is that it will provide some privacy between the booths, which helps people concentrate on what they’re doing without distractions. It would allow for quick interviews at job fairs, personal questions about financial aid at college fairs, and other interactions that require more privacy during a busy event.

Outdoor Pavillion, Pergola, or Gazebo

Hanging room dividers can create flexible siding for your outdoor pavilion, pergola, or gazebo. Installing these can help block out the light, create an additional living space, and create a better atmosphere to welcome guests.

Outdoor livings spaces come in all shapes and sizes, so make sure that whatever you currently have set up can hold a hanging room divider before purchasing.

Final Thoughts

You’ve read a lot of information about the uses and benefits of room dividers. Now it’s time to put your knowledge into action! Whether you want to use a curtain divider or panel, we hope this article has given you lots of ideas for how they can add style and functionality to your home.

With so many design options to choose from, the only question left is which one will work best for your space.