Fun & Affordable Storage Walls And Room Dividers
Functional Interior Design Solutions for Temporary Living Spaces
Sep 16, 2009
Decorating for a temporary space can be challenging and there are millions of college and university students around the world mulling over this dilemma right now. Whether the space is for a student, a few college roommates or a young professional just starting out in their first, short-term apartment, there are do it yourself options available to create privacy, define spaces and add storage solutions.
Home Made Temporary Solutions for Little Money
One of the hottest design elements on the 20-something market is the silk string or fringe curtain, which can be hung from a doorway or from the ceiling to section off a room – it is fun, funky, cheap and very transportable. For rental spaces, it also doesn’t damage the walls so the landlord will approve.
Interesting and vintage fabric panels can also be hung to add instant privacy to a space. Fabric instantly infuses personality into a small space, offer moderate privacy and doesn’t make a room look overly small or dark.
For a funky homemade option with loads of storage, go shopping at Costco or Staples and buy a case of plain, corrugated cardboard boxes. A case of 25 boxes, each measuring 12 inches square, will make a room divider that is six feet high and four feet wide. Here is how to make a room divider with plain old cardboard boxes:
- Use an X-acto knife to carefully remove the lid flaps on all four sides of each box.
- Either paint the boxes or cover them in fun wallpaper or fabric remnants (inside and out). With fabric, use spray adhesive to get a smooth fabric application.
- Use craft glue to bond the boxes together in the shape of a room divider or wall unit.
- Be creative with styling the boxes – although a conventional bookshelf arrangement might work best, perhaps an Asian inspired step chest design would add some décor flair to the space. Less than $75 can create a unique, one-of-a-kind room divider that doubles as storage for books, clothing or DVD’s.
Bigger Budget Options for Ultra Modern Space Dividers
For a more refined look, and if the budget is higher, take a look at ultra modern, sleek room separators from Molo Paper Softwall. An ultra modern way to divide and conquer a small space, Molo paper divider is a stunning, lightweight soft wall that can be formed in nearly any curvy shape to match any interior design. It is made from 400 layers of honeycombed paper that is fire retardant, sound reducing and yet translucent enough to filter and transmit soft light. This cool interior design element is portable, easily transportable and available in a multitude of colors. The average cost of a soft wall (six feet tall and twenty feet long) is about $1,100. This should be an investment only if it a long term investment to be used in a home after the temporary apartment.
Used and Vintage Finds Are Perfect Design Solutions
Don’t confine a shopping expedition to just department stores and furniture showrooms! Rummage through local flea markets, yard sales and antique fairs for salvaged and architectural items such as vintage shutters, old house doors, and huge pieces of antique furniture, art deco stained glass panels and Victorian iron grate remnants can also make very unique and spectacular privacy screens.
Always keep an open mind and think outside the box when looking for a stylish and affordable way to divide a temporary living space. There are no hard and fast rules once you understand the requirements of your room. In most cases, room dividers are a temporary solution to a small space problem. Since these solutions are temporary, use creative imagination and create a great room divider that will be a focal point (instead of an eye sore) in a temporary housing space.
 |
 |
