Many of us have had little choice but to get flexible with our living spaces recently: we’ve seen our bedrooms double as home offices while the kitchen table has become a classroom.
Indeed, privacy in the age of Covid has become a luxury. Enter the room divider, or folding screen – a free-standing piece of furniture that can prove incredibly practical (not to mention sanity-saving) if you’re craving your own little space.
Originating in ancient China, the hinged variety are often ornate affairs, used as a decorative addition to the living room. A smart, contemporary room divider can create a nifty partition wall, allowing you to introduce a home office space in the corner of the sitting room, or to give the kids their own space in a shared bedroom.
While it may be tempting to simply plump for the prettiest, a room divider can also darken and overwhelm a smaller room.
Think carefully, not only about the dimensions of your screen, but also the colour and materials. One that successfully partitions, but which also allows the light through, is your best bet if you’re short on space.
There’s a wealth of designs to choose from, whether you’re after a glamorous Art Deco-inspired screen for the boudoir or a chic contemporary number that can be adjusted to suit your modern living needs. Some offer additional functionality in the shape of extra storage space, too, which is always handy.
We put a range of room dividers to the test, from the simple folding variety to versatile storage units on wheels.
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