Cheap Ways to Divide One Room in Half

Have your two kids--who share a bedroom--started clamoring for personal space? Do you have a room that does double duty, such as a guest room that serves as a home office, too? Or maybe you just need to corner off a little space temporarily for a new baby or a long-term visitor. Whatever the reason, there are many cases when you may need to find a way to divide one big room into two smaller spaces.

Although building a wall to split the room may sound like the best idea, it's not always an option. A constructing a new wall is a fairly large expense! Moreover, the wall becomes a permanent addition in your home, making it a foolhardy solution if you only need the room divided temporarily.

Fortunately, there are plenty of inexpensive--and easy!--ways to divide one large room into two smaller spaces. Try one of these options:

A room divider: Many home décor stores and furniture stores offer room dividers. Most are three or four door-size pieces connected by hinges so the divider can freely stand in the middle of a room. There's a huge variety available, so you can easily find one that fits your needs. Some are thin layers of paper or fabric stretched across foldable, wooden frames. Others are solid wood, bamboo or other materials. Some serve practical purposes, such as dividers that are also chalkboards, dry erase boards or bulletin boards. These types of room dividers are perfect for an office space or child's room. Choose the room divider to suit your tastes, décor and preferences. Expect to spend at least $100--and possibly as much as $900--for a stand alone room divider.