As our formerly compartmentalized life became its present multi-functional existence, the home in which we habitat nowadays didn’t exactly have the same impressive transformation. Exercise equipment, office stuff, the designated clutter-free Zoom zone that sits in the middle of everything… All of it is everywhere.
But before you think don’t tell me about room dividers, Patti Ayers, of Waterford-based Pillows and Pleats, says there’s a trick to making the concept of the room divider actually work in reality. She says, “draw a simple floor plan or sketch the room [you want to divide] to scale” before you buy anything. “Or use blue painter’s tape on the floor [of the space you] would like to divide. You can easily move the tape around without damaging floors until [you] find the perfect configuration.” She also recommends checking the space at different times of the day. As the light changes, shadows that didn’t exist before might suddenly appear after the piece is installed, depending on the type of divider you use.
That’s just one of the tips we gathered from NoVA’s decor experts. Ranging from very temporary to semi-permanent, here are a few creative ways to separate your space.
Minimal Involvement
If you need a quick way to camouflage an otherwise disorganized corner, we suggest creating a line out of larger potted plants. Bill Cupp, owner of Wolf Trap Nursery, recommends getting a group of Monsteras (split-leaf Philodendron), Birds of Paradise, Cereus Peruvians (Peruvian apple cactus), Canellas, Fiddle-leaf Figs or China Doll plants. The larger ones come in ten- or 12-inch pots, and he has plenty of decorative pottery.
Behind the Curtain
If you want to hang drapes to separate space, do your fabric homework first. Ayers says, “consumers should consider fabric content. So many [of my] clients request 100 percent linen. However, linen grows in the summer, and in the winter it shrinks. If you love that [sheer] look, but don’t want your panels to be sitting on the floor during the summer months, I recommend a linen blend which usually is more stable.”
Next-Level DIY
If you like a rustic look and really love the hunt, check out Maggie’s Farm for a wide range of architectural salvage. Owner Valentina Campbell lends some inspiration if you’re considering beginning your quest.
She says, “Matching shutters can easily be hinged together side by side, and by adding a few inexpensive wood feet, you can create a moveable folding screen. Mismatched shutters, especially smaller ones, can be laid out on the floor and pieced together patchwork style to form a large solid panel.” She says using “liquid glue or small hinges will connect them, and create one large panel that can be suspended from the ceiling or installed as a permanent wall.” If it’s not your junk you want to hide, she says, “I have worked with a client who did this to create a privacy screen on her porch so she didn’t have to look at her neighbors’ unkempt yard.”
Pricey, Custom Installation
Stained glass panels are a beautiful way to create a natural stop as one room flows into the next. They will cost a fortune, though, and the design process alone is daunting, not to mention every step in the process up to final installation. Decorative Glass Solutions, which serves NoVA counties, does have a photo gallery you can browse to get creative juices flowing—or just to window-shop.
Feature image, © Pixel-Shot/stock.adobe.com
For more design tips, subscribe to our Home newsletter.
