How to Make a Room Separator

Dividing a room into two areas for privacy or to conceal utility or storage areas doesn't require lumber and drywall. A simple, quick and inexpensive solution to creating a private area is to install a room-dividing curtain. Depending on your privacy needs and personal taste, the curtain may extend from the ceiling to the floor, or be suspended to hang anywhere in-between. A variety of curtains may be used, including traditional cased curtains, tab-top curtains and Japanese noren, a set of decorative door curtains. Since the room divider is not meant to be frequently opened and closed, specialized sliding curtain hangers are not necessary.

• 1

  Hold a stud finder on the wall where you want to hang one end of the curtain. Glide the stud finder horizontally to locate the wall stud closest to the desired hardware-installation position. Mark the wall with a pencil to indicate the stud position. Measure the distance from the stud to the wall that is shared with the marked wall and opposite wall. Measure the opposite wall to find the approximate location of the opposite wall stud. Use a stud finder to verify the opposite stud location and mark. Mark the desired height for the top of the curtain on one wall. Transfer that measurement to the opposite wall and mark.

• 2

  Drill a pilot hole through each of the marks indicating mounting hardware positions, into the wall studs. Insert the threaded end of a screw hook into a pilot hole and turn clockwise until the curved portion of the hook meets the wall. Repeat to install the mounting hook on the opposite wall.

• 3

  Hang one end of the chain on one hook. Thread the upper curtain casings or tabs onto the chain. The casings are the hemmed upper edge of a cased curtain, open on the ends, for installation on a curtain rod. Hang the other end of the chain on the hook installed on the opposite wall. Remove slack in the chain by repositioning the links on one hook. Evenly distribute the curtain fabric across the chain.