The traditional holiday dinner may be over, but there are plenty of celebrations that continue into the new year and during the holiday season, many of our amah-zing clients are scrambling to make space for guests. But since we’re not wizards and can’t magically create more space, we’re sharing our favourite tricks to squeezing the most out of the square footage you already have! This week’s Small Space, Big Living exhibit ‘A’: room dividers. Thankfully, modern room dividers are a far cry from the sad paper screens you used to try and create some amount of privacy in your dorm room. These beauties are now doing TRIPLE duty; separating spaces, adding architectural elements AND increasing storage options. See for yourself!

1. The Sculptural Way

Create the illusion of separate spaces within an open concept plan by installing fixed hanging ‘rope walls’. This option won’t give you any more privacy but does help to define your individual spaces by giving guests the illusion of walls, and the added visual interest doesn’t hurt either! Check out the instructions for this DIY screen here.

2. The Rolling Way

Commitment-phobe? No problem- this mobile screen on wheels is just what you need! Add some castors to an inexpensive Ikea bookcase to whip up your own bookshelf-by-day, wall-by-night privacy screen.

3. The Stationary Way

If you need something a little more permanent, that same Ikea shelf will do wonders without the castors. Not needing the piece to be mobile will allow you to jam pack it with more stuff. HALLELUJAH! Another win? The more you stock the shelves, the less visible the adjoining room will be through them.

4. The Architectural Way

Love, love, love! Installing slender posts between the spaces that you want to separate not only helps subtly illustrate the rooms’ individuality, it also creates a stunning sightline. We love the rectangular peek-a-boos cut into each beam, allowing light to further penetrate into the dining space.

5. The DIY Way

Can you say cheap’n’chic? A ceiling mounted curtain rod and half a dozen gauzy drapes create the perfect semi-private, completely romantic space. Need more alone time? Use heavier, lined drapes to block out the view from the adjacent spaces.

Need more tips on how to guest-proof your small space for the holidays? Check out our favourite tricks of the trade on our Houzz page now! And be sure to sign up for weekly portions of our little bloggity-blog (right hand side of screen, *cough*cough*), served hot and fresh right to your inbox. Later, gators!