How to Create a Privacy Dorm Room Divider

Dorm life is always full of fun and excitement, but there are times when you need privacy for sleeping and for studying. Even if your dorm room has smaller dimensions, there’s an easy solution: room dividers that help you create your own space in a shared area. If you’re wondering how to create a privacy dorm room divider, these ideas will help you get on track.

Keep it simple with stylish curtains

Curtains are one of the simplest, easiest ways to create a room divider, and the best part is that they’re versatile, too. Some options include:

• Using long curtains, you can create a floor-to-ceiling division and draw them back to open up the room when you need to. Look for curtains that are 96 inches to 108 inches long.

• Create a feeling of solitude and privacy in your shared space with blackout curtains to block out light and sound.

• If you have a loft or bottom bunk bed, hang curtains on the bed rails to enclose your snoozing space. Use a curtain rod to stretch the curtains from one end of your dorm room to the other. 

Tip: Make sure you check with your dorm rules and regulations before you start in on any big projects. If you can’t install a curtain rod, you’re still in luck! Use a tension rod to install your curtains if your dorm doesn’t allow nails or tacks in the wall or ceiling.

Bring in some fun design with tapestries

If you want something more lightweight or compact than curtains, consider hanging a tapestry from the ceiling as a room divider. Tapestries are often printed with mural-like scenes that make them highly decorative and fun to display. 

Tapestries are super-efficient for dorm decor since they can blend fun styles with excellent privacy possibilities. The best part is that they're versatile, and you can use them in any dorm space. Some options include:

• Hang a tapestry to make a tent around your bed so that you are separated from the rest of the room. If you have bunk beds, you can use a tapestry as a curtain around your level of the bed. You can also use it to screen off your desk or create a dressing room area in a corner of your room.

• If your room is divided in half with your furniture on one side and your roommate's on the other, simply drape a tapestry from the ceiling in the middle of the room to provide a lightweight, movable divider.

Get practical with a folding room divider

Folding dividers or screens are another great way to add decoration and privacy to your dorm room. Plus, they have the added benefit of being portable, so you can fold them up and put them away when you don’t need them. This is a great idea if you and your roommate usually like to hang out and chat but sometimes want to have your own personal space in the room.

Folding dividers usually have three or four segments, so you can stretch them out or bend them around other furniture, too. Choose a room divider in a fun color or print, or get a plain one you can DIY decorate according to your own personal style.

Multitask with your dorm furniture

You don’t even have to bring in new furniture and decor to separate your dorm room into private personal spaces for each roommate. You can use your dorm furniture to create a split down the middle of the room, instead. 

To accomplish this, you’ll want to take inventory of all your furniture – do you have a dresser, a bookcase and a bed available? Is your desk mobile or built into the wall? Do a quick assessment so you know what you can move around and use.

Tall furniture like a full-size bookshelf or armoire are the best choices when it comes to using furniture pieces to divide your room. Line up your furniture in the center of the room so there’s a little physical barrier. 

Face your dresser toward your side of the room and your roommate’s dresser toward their side of the room. Use taller furniture pieces to create more privacy where you plan to keep your bed. Consider filling in the space over short dressers and bookshelves with hanging decorations for even more color and fun.

Make your bed an oasis

Your bed is a relaxing spot that's all yours, and you can focus on making this area as restful and private as you want. If segmenting your room isn't an option, you can also try to build out the structure of your bed to make it into a more private space. 

Throw blankets, tapestries, drapes and bed canopies are all helpful in creating a lightweight, removable privacy screen that complies with any dorm policies you might need to stick to. Some of these materials can also give you a little bit of a sound barrier, too, adding even more privacy to your sleeping nook.

Though your room may not be spacious, you can get creative with the space you have and make it your own. Feeling like you have your own personal space to study or sleep can make a big difference in your general feeling of privacy and comfort in a communal living situation. Discuss these dorm room divider ideas with your roommate to see what their thoughts are – they might love the idea, too!