The best room dividers: room screen ideas for all budgets

In 2020, the way that we live changed. With many of us having to work from home for the first time, we soon found that we were using our living space in a completely different way, and not necessarily for the better.

Living rooms and kitchen tables turned into home offices, while bedrooms turned into at-home workout spaces, blurring the lines between work and leisure, ‘office’ and ‘home’. But what if we told you there was a solution?

Enter, room dividers!

More decor ideas…

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In the Covid-conscious world we live in, the mention of a room partition probably conjures up images of ugly plastic screens. But when it comes to your home, this certainly doesn’t have to be the case.

Although room dividers have been used as clever space zoning solutions for centuries, they’ve also been used for decorative purposes too. This means that not only are they the perfect thing to provide that all-important privacy when you’re on a Zoom call, but they’re also great as a design feature, too.

So, if you’re ready to switch up your space, we’ve done the hard work and found the best room dividers out there on the market. And, if you’re looking for more design inspiration, stay tuned for our room divider ideas section below.

The best room dividers

Rattan Webbing Screen, £275.00, Cox and Cox

This relaxed rattan screen is perfect for adding a subtle boho vibe to a room. Style it with a jute rug and seagrass baskets for a relaxed, beachy feel.

Harper Room Divider by Woood, £79.00, Cuckooland

If travel-inspired decor is your thing, this Harper divider was made for you. Add it to your room with some indoor palms for instant tropical vibes.

Gold Blossom Room Divide by The Forest & Co, £825, Not on the Highstreet

This elegant, oriental-inspired room divide is definitely a statement piece. We love the delicate blossom detailing – it looks amazing paired with soft pink furniture.

Pols Potten Ovals Folding Screen, £781, Amara

If you’re a fan of contemporary decor, you’ll love this iron folding screen. Featuring an intricate geometric pattern and gold metallic legs, it makes the perfect addition to a monochrome scheme.

Margaret Room Divider, £350.00, Cuckooland

This Margaret Room Divider is quirky and striking, but subtle enough to style in a bedroom. We love its gorgeous green painted frame, and the handy hanging rails are great for draping blankets or clothes.

Van Gogh Almond Blossoms Screen, £114.95, Amazon

This Van Gogh-inspired screen is like a piece of artwork in itself. Use it to liven up an empty corner – we think it looks great styled behind an armchair.

Armendariz Room Divider, £107.93, Wayfair

This rice paper screen will have your space feeling zen in no time. Style it with an indoor water feature for instant relaxation.

Lalita Room Divider with Mirror, £385.00, Cuckooland

This Lalita divider is ideal for a dressing room – the integrated mirror is super handy. This one folds away neatly too, but we’d be tempted to keep it out all the time!

How to style a room divider

You’ve chosen your room divider, but where should you put it? Check out our favourite folding screen styling tips below!

Add interest to an empty corner

Although room dividers are extremely practical, in many cases, they’re also ornate and beautiful.

Styling one in an otherwise empty corner can have the same impact as hanging a piece of wall decor, so if you’ve got a space that looks like it could do with some livening up, try adding a folding screen with trailing plants, an armchair or side table.

Create a stylish wardrobe

If you’re in rented accommodation, there’s not always a guarantee that your place will come with adequate storage – or any storage at all!

If you don’t have the room for a fitted wardrobe, the alternatives – such as portable rails and open shelves – can look messy, so adding a screen of some description can help to contain that mess, and keep your room feeling tranquil.

Add greenery

We all know that adding houseplants can better the quality of air around us, but according to the Japanese nature craze ‘shinrin-yoku’, also known as forest bathing, even looking at the fresh green colour of the leaves has a positive impact on our wellbeing.

If you’re already short on floor space, however, finding room for lots of plant pots can be tricky – this is where dividers come in handy. Choose a divider frame and use it to hang trailing plants, faux ivy or plant pots in macramé hangers to create your very own indoor jungle. For an even more magical effect, you can add a net of fairy lights!

Expert tip! 

If you’re not quite ready to splash the cash on a screen, repurposing a portable clothes rail can have a similar impact, for less cash!

Create a self-care corner

As we exit what will have been a crazy year, looking after our wellbeing has never been more important. Taking time for the self-care activities that’ll give you a boost is essential, and if you have a dedicated space for them, you’ll be all the more likely to remember!

Using a folding screen to set up dedicated ‘relaxation’ zone is especially useful if you work from home, as transitioning into it after a long working day will signal that it’s time to switch off. To create this space, simply use a folding screen to section off a corner of one of your rooms, and fill it with everything that you’ll need to relax.

We suggest a comfy armchair with a seagrass basket full of blankets and pillows, a stack of books, your favourite candles, or even an essential oils diffuser (for more on this, check out our home fragrance guide with aromatherapy expert Nathalie Allard).

If you’re looking to take it one step further and make the ultimate cosy corner, have a look at the cottagecore trend for more inspiration.

Home office

Using room screens to create a home office inside one of your existing rooms might seem drastic, but if you’re set to be working from home for a few more months, it could be just the thing you need to help separate your work life from home life.

Use multiple screens to create your working zone, and treat the inside as you would your desk in the office – add quirky stationary, potted plants, and pin motivational posters, images and quotes to the inside of the screen. Think a Chandler Bing-style office cubicle, but stylish!