Modern Room Divider Ideas
Walls; the original room divider idea. Our homes were sectioned into perfect compartments that gave each room a single designated purpose. Effective and satisfying, yes. But this compartmentalization limited the way people lived in and moved through their space. Everything changed when the term “open concept” came blasting through those walls. Now, the majority of us live in large rooms that only have walls to separate out private spaces.
Angela Jayne creates separation of dining room and kitchen with subtle cues. The rug demarcates the dining area, while the black stools and Svelti chairs indicate two separate areas. Ps: nice Madera dining table.
We were happy when then the walls in our homes were torn down but we do miss their simple function. It can be a challenge in an open concept to define areas for specific uses, to find privacy, or to direct the flow of traffic through your home. With some clever thinking you can find room divider ideas that will demarcate your space without hemming you in.
Furniture Arrangements
Just like a good outfit, a room is a compilation of thoughtful details. Also like a good outfit: sometimes you need to try every combination to find the best one. You won’t get the cohesive space you are working towards if you just plop down some chairs and cabinets and call it a design.
We love how the Surf Hotel in Colorado has established private areas without needing walls. The Timber corner sectional looks beautiful and rugged here.
Prefer a low profile, open feeling? Create a transition between two spaces without blocking sight lines by pairing furniture back to back. Try backing a sleek sofa, like the Burrard, against a contemporary sideboard. The sofa faces into the living space, while the sideboard introduces the dining area. This dividing style is great because it allows the furniture to lead a graduation of space rather than an abrupt line.
Want to be subtle and drop hints? Arrange your furniture to suggest its usage. Angling two chairs (we like the Spin) into your living area creates a makeshift arrow: this is the way to the living room.
We love how the Gunnarolla loft has this unique music nook to break up the wide open space. The Sven sofa and the Ansa bench create a perfect little listening suite without making the corner feel closed off.
Mid-Century Sectional Sofas
Tetris tells us to push a sectional sofa into a corner and then start planning the rest of the room out from there. This is a perfectly logical plan. It will probably work in most homes! But it tends to sink the living area into the furthest corner and leave dead space in the middle of an open concept space. Placing your sofa or sectional nearer the middle of the room might feel strange at first, but it creates an opportunity to really emphasize the focal point of a space. The only caveat here: this works best in a space with a lot of room to move. Crowding your focal point will read more “Room of Requirement” than “villa inspired.” Pair with a similarly stunning table in another zone of the space and boom: you’ve created a dining area and a living area that are simple and striking.
We love how the low profile Mello sectional sofa makes the fireplace feel cozy and intimate without closing the room off. Another treasure from the Wit and Delight trove.
Contemporary Bookshelves
A divider screen is functional and kind of glam, but it’s also so… opaque. Open modern bookshelves are a great option because they can act as a symbolic barrier without entirely closing off your space. An open bookshelf is an excellent way to divide space without blocking. Create some privacy for your home office, or give your dining area a more intimate feel.
A final note: resist the urge to pack every square inch of those shelves. This is more “display” than “storage.” This is curation over collection. Just make sure what the manufacturer recommends before you set that bookshelf up: many companies (Article included!) recommend securing bookshelves against a wall.
Modern Area Rugs
Furniture is not always the right solution for room divider ideas. Not all of us live in sprawling 6,000 square foot homes. Rugs, like our Crush Dove Gray Rug, are a beautiful way to create division in a space without eating up precious space. The visual contrast between the floor and the area rugs above it will give a clear visual cue to how the space is divided in a subtle way.
Think of rugs as a frame. Each one can define space unobtrusively. Even two differently shaped or colored modern throw rugs next to each other help to mark off unique uses of space without creating blocks in the home. Alison of the blog 600 Square Feet and a Baby does a great job of this, separating a play area from the main living room with nothing more than two differently shaped rugs.
We love how the family over at Kismet House has separated their entrance from their sitting room with two rugs and some clever furniture blocking. The clean-lined Burrard sofa makes a great canvas for the rustic bench.
All of our room divider ideas are meant to help you create a cohesive and functional home with spaces that are divided but not separate. Don’t be afraid to play around with different furniture configurations, furniture options, or unconventional solutions till you find what works best for you.