Make a DIY fabric room divider

This simple curtain provides privacy when guests sleep in the living room of this small apartment.

Samantha Baldwin

A curtain room divider can be a space-saving way of providing privacy in a small apartment.

Many fabric room divider options are available from retailers like IKEA. But for a relatively narrow space such as a hallway, a simple tension rod and fabric can do the trick.

For this project, I used a second-hand tension rod cut down to the correct width. I also found a long remnant of apparel fabric that was slightly wider than my hallway opening.

Because my curtain would be hanging in a hallway and would be visible on both sides, I constructed the curtain so that the right side of the fabric faces out on both sides. (Normally, the wrong side of the fabric faces a wall or a window, while you see the attractive side of the fabric from inside of the room.)

In this case, my fabric had a bonus - the borders were already finished with a scalloped edge. So, I had to sew only three seams - two hems and one seam joining the two sides of the fabric together at the bottom. (See slideshow for diagram.) Because the amount of sewing is so minimal, it is possible to do this project with no-sew hemming tape.

To make this type of fabric room divider:

1. Measure the length of your opening.
2. Fold your fabric in half across its width with the wrong sides facing out.
3. Measuring up from the bottom mark where your hem will be on the top and bottom piece of your fabric. (See slideshow.)
4. Hem both ends of the fabric.
5. Sew the two hems together. (See slideshow.)
6. Slide the fabric over your curtain rod.

For more room divider ideas, see AndreaFay Interior Design.