30 Ideas to Split Up Your Studio Apartment into Multiple Rooms

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Create privacy & functionality in your space with or without dividers

Co-authored by Patricia Penker and Bailey Bujnosek, BA

Last Updated: December 28, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Room Divider Options
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• Creative Ways to Use a Room Divider
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• Separating Spaces Without a Divider
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• Video

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In a studio apartment, it can be hard to separate your spaces from one another. One corner has your bed, the other holds the kitchenette, and the TV is somewhere in the middle. Looking for a way to divide those spaces into rooms or clear zones? We’ve got you covered. Read on to learn about the divider options available to you, creative ideas about how to place them, and helpful tips on separating spaces without a divider. We even asked interior designers for expert tips on dividing and maximizing your space.

How to Divide a Studio Apartment

• Pick the right divider for your space based on cost, aesthetic, functionality, and size.
• Place your dividers alongside or behind furniture to create distinct living areas.
• Use rugs, mirrors, and furniture placement to separate spaces without a divider.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Studio Apartment Room Divider Options

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   Screens and dividers Divide space affordably with solid or semi-transparent screens and paneled dividers. Foldable screens let you position your temporary walls to be opened or closed throughout the day—bend them to create corners.

   • For a cost-effective option, look for a paneled fabric divider.
   • Use a stylish bamboo screen to get privacy without blocking the light.
   • Opt for an industrial look with a metal-and-glass divider. While this divider is on the more expensive side, it adds a modern, minimalist charm to any space.
     • A frosted glass wall will add more privacy, while a clear glass wall will let light shine through.
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   Fabric or beaded curtains Create private spaces using chic curtains. With fabric curtains, pick a neutral color that complements your space, or a bold pattern to add visual interest. Create light, artsy boundaries with beaded curtains. A beaded curtain will create a bohemian vibe in your space—without blocking natural light.

   • Customize the height of the curtains using an adjustable divider frame.
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   Shelves and bookcases Turn shelves and bookcases into dividers and storage solutions. Use a closed shelf or bookshelf for maximum privacy, and an open shelf or bookshelf to let light in. Take advantage of the storage to display your books or other tchotchkes.

   • Bookcases can help you curate a welcoming vibe, according to interior designer Patricia Penker. ”[O]pen bookcases create an atmosphere where you just want to chill out in that space [...] it makes the room cozy, especially if there are tall ceilings,” she shares.
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   Tall furniture Use tall furniture like TV stands, headboards, and wardrobes as walls. In a narrow apartment, a super-tall headboard behind a bed that’s facing a wall will section off that corner. Other options like entertainment centers and strategically placed wardrobes will visually block off space, while serving an additional function as storage or furniture.
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   Tall plants Mark off areas and freshen up your space with tall plants. If you’re looking to divide your apartment subtly and easily, strategically place plants to partially hide low furniture like beds and couches. Consider buying fake plants to avoid the mess and upkeep required of real ones.
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   Clothing racks Hide a bedroom and store your clothes on portable clothing racks. Many apartment-dwellers already use the trendy clothing storage solution—but it can double as a wall when placed alongside a bed or sofa. Use a double-decker rack for maximum privacy.
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   Makeshift wooden or concrete walls Craft rustic temporary walls out of breeze blocks or wood panels. If you’re a DIY fan with a crafty side, create your own dividers using basic construction materials. One option is breeze blocks, which you can stack and seal together for a geometric divider. Another option is to install tall wood panels to make temporary walls.

   • Make sure you feel confident in your ability to construct a temporary wall. It may be better, although more expensive, to hire a contractor to do the job for you.
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   Sliding door Add a sliding door for a functional, solid divider. If you half-walls in your apartment, a sliding door will let you close the gap for privacy. Add a barn door for a rustic look, or install a regular, white sliding door for a divider that goes with any space.

   • If you’re a renter, you may have to get permission from your landlord to install this temporary door.
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   Built-in wall Own your apartment? Divide the space permanently with a built-in wall. A half-wall will separate a semi-private space like an office or living room. You can even build a fireplace into the wall for a functional, sophisticated feature. A full-length built-in wall will separate a bedroom, kitchen, or other space, though the renovation could be costly.
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Section 2 of 3:

Creative Ways to Use a Room Divider

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   Place a foldable screen behind chairs to section off a living area. In many studio apartments, your sofa or living area chairs are freely standing in the center of the space or by your bed. A foldable screen divider behind the chairs will let light flow into the living area, but block whatever’s beside the living area to make it feel more like a room.
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   Use two bookshelves on opposite walls to frame a kitchen. If you’re lucky enough to have a kitchenette in your apartment that has appliances or countertops on two sides, you can flank each side with a bookshelf. That way, the kitchen area feels divided from the rest of the space but it’s still easy to walk through.

   • Fill the bookshelves with your favorite cookbooks. Alternatively, store dinnerware and cooking supplies there or fill the shelves with decorative items like small sculptures and plants.
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   Set up a curtain at the foot of your bed. Use a portable rod and frame to hang a sheer or solid curtain along the bottom side of the bed. You can close the curtain at night to isolate your space, and open it in the day so your apartment feels open.

   • This method of dividing works best if your bed is against a wall on one side so the curtain feels like a natural extension of it.
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   Use a canopy curtain to obscure your bed from the rest of the space. You may have had a canopy bed as a child, but the feature isn’t just for the younger crowd. A canopy curtain in white or gray will hide your bed from sight without interfering with your other furniture.
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   Hang beaded curtains between living and cooking areas. Choose a bamboo beaded curtain for a more mature vibe than the typical colored beads of ‘00s doorways. Suspend it between your dining table and kitchenette for a semi-transparent divider between the two spaces, or hang it over an empty doorway if you have one.
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   Place a shelf at the foot of your bed and curtains along the side. Combining different studio apartment room dividers increases the privacy and style each one offers by itself. Place a tall shelf at the foot of your bed to cover it from view. Then, run a solid curtain along one or both sides of the bed to block it off further.
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   Use an apartment wall and a curtain to hide your bed from view. Start by moving your bed into a corner or along a wall. Next, use a standing rod to set up a curtain along the side. The wall will flank one side, and the curtain will cover up the other, so you can rest in private. Leave the foot of the bed exposed to view the rest of the apartment (or a TV) while lying down.
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   Block off a large area with a tall, brightly colored bookcase. This temporary wall will be a statement piece. Simply place a large bookcase (as close to ceiling height as you can find) in between two spaces in your apartment to divide them. Paint it whatever color you like—as a renter, this is a great way to get around not being able to paint walls.
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   Place tall plants between furniture to indicate different zones. This divider option leaves gaps of open space to let in natural light. It also won’t make your space feel smaller like some other dividers. Simply place tall plants like palms and fig trees next to sofas or beds to demarcate separate living areas.

   • To get more privacy with plant dividers, stack several plants of different sizes on open shelves.
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    Position a folded screen around a bed to subtly add privacy. Place one section of the screen at the foot of the bed and curve the other sections around the side. Use a cane screen to allow light to filter through. You can also position your sofa or chair against the screen for extra division.
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    Arrange a clothing rack at the foot of the bed to create a bedroom wall. Set up the rack while empty. Then, hang clothing or artsy items like a suspended birdcage on the rack to visually set your bed apart from the rest of the room. Leave enough space between the rack and your bed so your clothes don’t get crushed.
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    Hang curtains over any nooks to hide their contents. While not rooms per se, nooks with furniture or kitchen appliances can still be separated from the rest of the apartment. Use a tension rod to hang a curtain or two over the nook. Open the curtains when you want to sit or use the nook, and shut them when using the space near them for another function.

    • For example, if you have a kitchenette in a nook, you can close the curtains over it when you’re using the adjacent area as an entertaining space. Open them up again when you need to cook.
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    Place a transparent screen parallel to a window to keep natural light flowing. A small space needs natural light to feel, well, less small. A transparent screen (perforated or with gaps in its design) lets you divide your space without blocking the light. Look for bright areas that you can divide, such as a living area adjacent to a bed with a window over it.
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    Combine open and closed shelves for a tall storage wall. Place a closed shelf (one with a backing) next to a bed or sofa to cover it. Then, stack an open shelf (one you can see through) on top to gain additional privacy without sacrificing openness. You’ll also benefit from having twice the storage.
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    Set up a metal and glass divider between rooms for a modern look. An industrial divider lends a modern vibe to a studio apartment while maintaining the openness of the space. Place it parallel to a fireplace or TV to wall in a living area.
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    Install a wide sliding door to partition your bedroom and living room. If you own your apartment, you can add this more permanent division. Hire a professional contractor to properly install a sliding door that matches the aesthetic of your space, setting it on a track.

    • A white barn door suits a rustic space, while a frosted glass door might be a better match for a minimalist apartment. The size of the door will depend on how much room you have to install it.
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Section 3 of 3:

Hacks for Separating Spaces Without a Divider

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   Use rugs to stylishly define zones. “[U]tilize area rugs to identify certain spaces, and you can create vignettes that way,” explains home stager Priscilla Bettencourt. Place a large rug between or underneath your living area furniture to create a visual boundary around that space. Or, place several small rugs in similar shades around your bed to outline a sleeping area.
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   Turn your furniture toward a central point in each distinct area. For example, face all the chairs in your living room toward the center of a rug or coffee table. Point your bed’s headboard toward a wall (instead of against it) and rotate a wardrobe to face the side of the bed to indicate a space is a bedroom. Do the same with kitchen tables and counters or islands.
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   Invest in moveable furniture to easily transform a space. Pick light, small chairs, desks, tables, shelves, and ottomans when shopping for furniture. If they have wheels, even better. Moveable furniture will allow you to set up and reorder the same space into a living room, bedroom, or office throughout the day.
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   Use lighting to visually define zones. Place tall lamps beside sofas and beds to indicate individual spaces. Consider how much space the lamps light up—in the evening and at night, lighting only certain areas can make them feel like their own rooms. Darkness acts as a divider.
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   Place a rolling bar cart or table in the kitchenette area to partly block it off. The height of the cart should be equal to or taller than the kitchen counter. Roll it against a wall if possible, or stand it parallel to your kitchen sink so the space is partially blocked from your dining area. Don’t forget to utilize the cart’s storage!
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   Use pillows to transform a daybed into a sofa for two rooms in one. Strip your blankets and stack on decorative throw pillows in the daytime so you or a guest can sit and relax. When it’s time to go to sleep, set the pillows in a closet or on another chair and remake your bed. The simple accent does the job of defining the space—and you can rotate your throw pillows each season.
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   Decorate with light colors and mirrors to expand individual zones. Interior designer MacKenzie Cain recommends “[u]sing mostly light colors in your wall paint, furniture, and textiles [to] help keep the room feeling open and airy.” She also suggests adding a large mirror as another easy trick to make your studio space feel bigger.

   • Tall standing mirrors can act as borders to spaces. Lean one against the wall where your bedroom ends and your living room begins to suggest the division of the two spaces.
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   Move your bed far away from the door to keep your sleeping area private. Furniture placement is important for defining different areas in a studio. The most private spaces should be furthest from the door, so guests aren’t inclined to stumble into them. Place your bed in a back corner or along a back wall to keep the bedroom area apart from everything else.
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   Buy multifunctional furniture that can be hidden or used as storage. Invest in a sofa bed to have a bedroom that turns into a living room. Or, purchase a work desk that can be unfolded into a dining room table to combine an office and a mealtime space.
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    Fill in nooks with shelves or seating to make them functional spaces. You may have left nooks of your studio apartment empty because you weren’t sure what to put there. Squeeze (or build) a daybed into a nook to make it a tranquil space for reading. Fit in a console and television to incorporate it into a living area. No matter what you do, try to make use of every corner.
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    Paint sections of the walls to divide up areas, if you’re allowed. If you own your apartment, no need to get permission. Choose colors to define each of your major zones (bedroom, living room, kitchen, office), and paint the parts of the wall around that zone accordingly. For very small apartments, consider painting each wall its own tone and grouping zone-specific furniture along each wall.
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    Consider installing a Murphy bed you can hide in the daytime. If your bedroom is also your office or living area, hiding the bed will keep the two functions of the space separate. Apartment owners and landlords can install a Murphy bed to fold up to a wall or fold into a bed-sized nook or closet. Renters have to consider less structural options, like a foldable bed that you can roll into a closet.
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    Suspend or loft your bed to set your bedroom area apart. If you have a small, accessible half-level in your apartment, consider turning it into your sleeping area with a loft bed. Alternatively, buy a bedframe-desk combo that lets you lift your bed high off the ground so your bedroom is the top area, and your office is the bottom half.

    • Apartment owners can invest in a swinging daybed. Anchor it from the ceiling. You’ll have storage space beneath and a unique seating or sleeping arrangement.
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    Maximize vertical space with wall-mounted storage. If you own your apartment, you can install hanging shelves or cabinets to add an upper boundary to a zone and increase storage. If you’re a renter, you can use command strips to hang small cubbies and shoe or clothing organizers. Drawing the eye upward will make your apartment feel more spacious.
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