Room Dividers in a Loft Condo Without Walls

Scale Down Vaulting Ceilings & Large Open Spaces with Cool Elegance

Sep 16, 2009

Loft living is popular, especially in urban centers. Although vast, open spaces are trendy, they can sometimes benefit from dividers that add style and space definition.

In a large loft apartment, furniture and other home décor accents like art can get lost in huge spaces without walls. There may also be a need to divide spaces without installing full walls and often privacy screens or room dividers are the answer.

Buying a Ready Made Room Divider

One of the coolest items on the market is from dVider, who specializes in portable, modular room partitions that can easily be customized to any taste. dVider room dividers assemble in a few quick minutes with no tools and fits compactly in a drawstring bag to take along on the next move. A whole line of unique removable decals allow you to create a one-of-a-kind art installation. dVider is big on style and will provide moderate privacy but is not the best solution if you need noise reduction or added storage.

For a less expensive option that offers endless storage possibilities, the Expedit storage system from Ikea is still one of the best options on the retail market for the purpose of combining privacy, room division and ample storage. The basic Expedit room divider bookcase is less than $200, plus the cost of castors (so it is transportable) and storage baskets to hide the clutter. Standing at nearly 6 feet wide, it may not be the solution for loft but it doesn’t go right to the ceiling so it never blocks out natural light.

For tiny lofts and tinier budgets, try a home made solution that could end up being the favorite home accent in your loft. Use an existing tall bookshelf or entertainment unit as a room divider. Center the bookcase in the room, and position a piece of anchor furniture on one or both sides (chairs, floor lamps and large exotic plants work best). This instantly gives definition to the space and lots of storage space on the bookcase. If the bookcase is close backed, paint it or cover it with fabric and then hang a piece of interesting art to create a focal point from the backside. If your bookcase is open all the way through, use woven baskets to fill each compartment which doubles as hidden storage.

If the loft is more like a starter bachelor pad that just happens to have high ceiling, budget may be really tight. Don’t use a bed sheet to separate two areas. Instead, hang a vintage set of drapes from a real curtain rod to visually separate the space with soft fabrics. Most pleated drapes are lined, which offer a little extra sound insulation and light filtering. The end result can be romantic, whimsical and charming. Heavy drapes may not be the best solution if one side of the room has no natural light from a window.

An old second hand cabinet, hutch or a set of fascinating doors can all double as great room dividers in a lofty space. Give it a fresh coat of paint for a fresh designer look. Another pleasurable alternative is to use large pieces of MDF or plywood, covered with your favorite fabric, paint, artwork, decoupage photographs, newspaper clippings or sheet music and hang them from the ceiling using eye hooks and chain to separate the space.

The copyright of the article Room Dividers in a Loft Condo Without Walls in Interior Decorating is owned by Tracey Drake. Permission to republish Room Dividers in a Loft Condo Without Walls in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.