:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SPR-HOME-8-best-room-dividers-4799997-01-8c517050d69e4c478d00a27441fdf817.jpg)
The Spruce / Chloe Jeong
A room divider can help you break up a large space when you need temporary privacy, sound control, light filtration, or better focus when working from home. "Not only can a divider help you designate distinct zones (think living versus sleeping), function like a boundary, or even create essential privacy, but it can also add a pop of color, pattern, texture, and vertical interest to a space," says Havenly design editor Heather Goerzen.
We researched designs for every purpose, decor preference, room size, and budget.
Check out the best room dividers below.
Best Overall
Red Barrel Studio Niemann Solid Wood Folding Room Divider
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/niemann-solid-wood-folding-room-divider-033b049b7051438fa9470f96b59b6bc1.jpg)
Wayfair
Traditional shoji style
Five colors and six sizes
Arrives fully assembled
Larger sizes are cumbersome and pricey
There are many gorgeous room dividers on the market, but when it comes to aesthetics, functionality, and versatility, the Niemann is tough to beat. Inspired by traditional Japanese shojis, it features semi-translucent sheets of thick rice paper on a solid pine wood lattice-style frame. The perfect balance of practical and elegant, this piece boasts durable construction and an elegant appeal.
You can choose from five frame colors, including black, light natural wood, deep espresso, red, and white. A black frame contrasting the white paper is the most classic option, but the others are undoubtedly lovely.
This room divider also comes in six sizes, with the option of three, four, five, six, eight, or 10 panels. The Neimann is reasonably priced, especially considering the quality of the solid wood frame—and unlike many other dividers, it arrives fully assembled. That said, the larger sizes are somewhat steep. They're more cumbersome too. For instance, the 10-panel option is 42 pounds, whereas the three-panel model is just 11 pounds.
Price at time of publish: $128
Dimensions: 6 sizes available | Frame Material: Solid pine wood | Screen Material: Rice paper
Best Budget
FDW Bamboo Folding Room Divider
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/bamboo-folding-room-divider-164f9cd4d8d245af8c77119427d206cf.jpg)
Amazon
Affordable
Excellent opacity
Easy to move
Only hinges in one direction
For households on a budget, we recommend the FDW Folding Room Divider. It has a solid pine wood frame and a textured bamboo-derived rayon screen with excellent opacity.
You can choose from black or natural and four or six panels. Both sizes are around 20 pounds, so they're easy to move. One thing to note is that, unlike many higher-end room dividers, this one only hinges in one direction, which makes it slightly less versatile in terms of where and how you can position it.
Price at time of publish: $50
Dimensions: 72 x 71 inches, 72 x 106 inches | Frame Material: Pine wood | Screen Material: Bamboo-derived rayon
Best Splurge
Anthropologie Floral Upholstered Room Divider
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/anthropologie-floral-upholstered-room-divider-2333f089685f4105b45c52af7241c53c.jpg)
Anthropologie
Gorgeous floral screen
Mortise-and-tenon joinery
Arrives fully assembled
Expensive
Heavy
Room dividers can make a striking statement. If you can swing the price, you might consider a design-forward option like this beauty from Anthropologie. Reminiscent of a painted art canvas, the floral upholstered screen is a sturdy blend of cotton and linen.
Available in green or brown, the acacia hardwood frame features mortise-and-tenon joinery for enhanced stability. This partition arrives fully assembled, but we should note it weighs 65 pounds, so you might need to recruit a buddy when setting it up and moving it around.
Price at time of publish: $698
Dimensions: 70 x 68 x 4.5 inches | Frame Material: Acacia wood | Screen Material: Cotton-linen blend
Best Extra-Large
Oriental Furniture 8-Panel Window Pane Shoji Screen Room Divider
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/8-panel-window-pane-shoji-screen-room-divider-a081f7087e7f4fd581ddce01dc069666.jpg)
Amazon
Traditional shoji style
Two-way hinges
Six colors available
Small gap between panels
Need something bigger? Check out this eight-panel room divider from Oriental Furniture. Available in six neutral colors, the traditional Japanese design features shoji-style window panes with a Scandinavian spruce wood frame and thick rice paper screens.
This partition filters light without blocking it completely, offering ambient illumination and privacy wherever you need it. The two-way hinges allow you to position it any which way. But unless you keep it entirely straight, there'll be a small gap between each panel.
Price at time of publish: $198
Dimensions: 136 x 70 x 1 inches | Frame Material: Spruce wood | Screen Material: Rice paper
Best Small
West Elm Ida Woven Screen
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/west-elm-ida-woven-screen-9c51731fb6464446b2044b39979ea28c.jpg)
West Elm
Kiln-dried wood frame
Contract-grade design
Decorative appeal
Pricey for the size
Somewhat heavy
West Elm makes our favorite small room divider. The Ida Woven Screen flaunts a solid mango wood frame, kiln-dried to enhance durability and ensure long-lasting strength. As for the frame, you're looking at rattan cane with partial light filtration and decorative appeal.
As a contract-grade piece, the design adheres to the manufacturing standards for both commercial and residential use. The Ida is somewhat heavy (46 pounds) and expensive for the size, but with West Elm, you can definitely count on quality.
Price at time of publish: $479
Dimensions: 68 x 60.5 x 1.5 inches | Frame Material: Solid mango wood | Screen Material: Rattan cane
Best for Privacy
Ikea Varhaug Room Divider
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/varhaug-room-divider-2c95e62ef3d3434e8e0386e43cc9c877.jpg)
Ikea
Full opacity
Dampens sound
Versatile
Only one color
Shorter than average
If privacy is the goal, go with the Ikea Varhaug. This room divider has a powder-coated steel frame and polyester-wrapped paperboard panels. In addition to full opacity, the materials help dampen sound.
The Varhaug can be used to set up a temporary workspace or guest room. You could also place it in front of a curtain-less window to create privacy or block outdoor light. One potential drawback is that this piece is about 10 inches shorter than most partitions, so it may not conceal a person's head when standing up.
Price at time of publish: $170
Best Shutter
Highland Dunes Suniga 67'' H Solid Wood Folding Room Divider
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/suniga-67-h-solid-wood-folding-room-divider-5edcfdef6a5b4b0ab46776b9c944c153.jpg)
Wayfair
Two-way hinges
Four finishes and three sizes
Arrives fully assembled
Small gap between panels
We also like the Highland Dunes Suniga Room Divider. Made of solid fir wood, it has a sturdy frame and shutter-style panels that hinge in both directions. Not only that, but you can angle them like real window shutters to adjust your light filtration.
You can choose from four finishes (white, brown, black, or natural) and four, six, or eight panels. Just a heads up, there'll be a slight gap between each panel unless you position the divider completely straight.
Price at time of publish: $183
Dimensions: 3 sizes available | Frame Material: Solid fir wood | Panel Material: Solid fir wood
Best Decorative
Urban Outfitters Amber Carved Wood Room Divider Screen
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/amber-carved-wood-room-divider-screen-fbf6a8f7131c4492a43d0b06f5e4be80.jpg)
Amazon
Boho-antique style
Intricate carving
Arrives fully assembled
Expensive
Only one color
If you're looking for something more decorative than functional, consider the Amber Room Divider from Urban Outfitters. Both the frame and the panels are made of solid mango wood with intricately carved details that lend to a boho-meets-antique vibe.
Though this tri-fold screen only comes in white, you shouldn't have any trouble coordinating it with the rest of your decor. It's on the pricier side for a room divider, but it arrives fully assembled and should last several years (or more) with proper care.
Price at time of publish: $299
Dimensions: 72 x 20 x 2 inches | Frame Material: Mango wood | Panel Material: Mango wood
Best Curtain
RYB Home Wall Divider Privacy Curtain
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ryb-home-wall-divider-privacy-curtain-757a0aa78238490089b74b118f5c026f.jpg)
Amazon
Smooth, drapey fabric
Machine-washable
15 colors and 15 sizes
Rod sold separately
You can also divide a room with a curtain. We like the RYB Privacy Curtain, which is made of smooth, drapey triple-woven polyester and comes in your choice of 15 colors ranging from beige to black to burgundy. It's machine-washable too.
There are also 15 sizes available, so you're sure to find one that fits your space. The grommet top is designed to attach to a tension rod (sold separately). You could also install a more permanent rod for extra sturdiness, then hang the curtain when you need privacy.
Price at time of publish: $28
Dimensions: 15 sizes available | Material: Polyester
Best Floor-to-Ceiling
GoDear Design Deluxe Adjustable Sliding Panel Track Blind
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/deluxe-adjustable-sliding-panel-track-blind-d1f0e1c8828d4df4b6f63829039cfe36.jpg)
Amazon
Cordless four-rail track
Light-filtering screens
Five colors available
Only fits 8-foot ceilings
Tricky to install
The GoDear Deluxe Sliding Panel is 96 inches tall, a perfect floor-to-ceiling option for spaces with 8-foot walls. Available in five neutral hues, it has a sturdy metal frame and light-filtering screens woven from a blend of polyester and paper.
This thoughtfully designed room divider has a cordless four-rail track you can mount virtually anywhere on your ceiling. And you can adjust the width from 46 to 86 inches. The panels are easy to attach with velcro, but you may want to hire a professional to install the track.
Price at time of publish: $180
Overall, we like the Red Barrel Studio Niemann Solid Wood Room Divider. Available in five colors and six sizes, this traditional shoji-style partition arrives fully assembled and offers light filtration, privacy, and decorative appeal. But if you're interested in floor-to-ceiling coverage, the GoDear Design Deluxe Adjustable Sliding Panel is your best bet.
What to Look For in a Room Divider
Size
The first order of business is to identify the right size divider for your space. Most modern room dividers measure just under six feet tall, but lengths vary depending on the number of panels and their individual widths. If you're looking for something that's more decorative, a smaller three-panel divider is probably all you need. If you're trying to designate different areas in your home or you need a divider for privacy, there are options that go up to eight panels wide.
Function
"A room divider falls in that magical category of furniture that marries both form and function," says Heather Goerzen Havenly design editor. If you live in a studio apartment, it can change the entire flow of your space, giving you distinct areas instead of one open room.
There are also storage room dividers, including ones with built-in shelves and others that double as bookcases, that offer even more functionality for tiny spaces. If you're just looking for something decorative, you have more flexibility to choose a divider for its aesthetics. Many options today are upholstered in colorful fabrics, or finished in trendy materials like rattan.
Price
Room dividers aren't cheap, and you should expect to spend at least $50 on a free-standing one—although most are closer to $100. Prices go higher based on the construction and size, with six-paneled options (unsurprisingly) costing more than three-paneled models. If you really can't spend more than $25, consider buying a tension rod and curtain instead, to create a similar yet airier effect.
-
How can you use a room divider to maximize space?
There are many ways a room divider can help you maximize your available space. "In open-concept spaces (whether small or large), room dividers can be essential for creating distinct areas for different activities," says Goerzen.
You can use one in a great room to section off zones, like the dining area, living room, and kitchen. If you live in a studio apartment, you can place one between the bed and seating area. In a bonus room, you can separate your home office from the homework area or media room. A partition can also divide a kids' room into two individual bedrooms. The possibilities are truly endless.
-
Do room dividers fall easily?
Room dividers are made in a number of different materials, such as cardboard, rattan, bamboo, wood, and upholstered fabric. It’s easier to knock over a room divider with fewer panels made from a lightweight material. And placing your room divider in a high traffic area increases its chances of getting bumped and possibly knocked over by kids, animals, or party guests.
-
What are the different room divider types?
"There are so many options on the market for a room divider that suits your space and style—whether modern organic, cottage cozy, or ultra-luxe," says Goerzen. A room divider can be anything that helps chop up a space that isn’t a solid wall.
There are freestanding accordion-style folding screens with multiple panels. Solid hanging or freestanding screens that consist of a single panel of wood slats or acoustic felt. A bookcase without a back is a common way to divide space while letting light flow through. A room divider may be a temporary wall, a sliding panel, floor-to-ceiling industrial metal and glass partitions that divide space without blocking views or light. Or something as simple as a curtain made from fabric, retro-style beads, string, or a wall of plants perched on a tall freestanding holder.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer and editor specializing in home improvement and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed Havenly design editor Heather Goerzen and considered a wide range of room dividers, partitions, sliding panels, and curtain separators from various brands and retailers. The featured products stand out for versatility, functionality, adjustability, color and size options, and aesthetic appeal. You can read more of Holland's articles on MyDomaine, Byrdie, People, and Travel + Leisure.