When you think of an “open concept” house or apartment, what do you imagine? Bright, airy rooms that seamlessly flow together? Conversations from the kitchen bubbling into the living and dining rooms? This can certainly be the case when open floor plans are executed well. But in many instances, they can feel like echo-y warehouses without a real direction – especially with studio apartments.
But just because your space doesn’t have pre-designed, designated rooms doesn’t mean you can’t create them yourself. With a bit of creativity and strategic decorating, you can divvy up your space to serve your unique needs. Here are our top tips for dividing rooms without walls that don’t involve construction!
1. Try a Rug as a Studio Apartment Room Divider
There’s a reason we frequently turn to rugs for decor solutions — they’re flexible, can fit any aesthetic, and are functional, too. Here’s yet another great use case for area rugs: as room dividers. Use area rugs or groupings of smaller rugs to help designate different spaces in your open room.
For example, one large area rug can demarcate the boundaries of your living room, with all of the furniture facing inward (keep reading to learn how to use furniture direction as another dividing tactic). If you’d rather have a more eclectic look, use multiple smaller rugs along the boundaries of the space instead. Either way, rugs can help visually separate your space and add texture.
2. Opt for Screens and Dividers
If you have the space for them, room dividers like screens can separate your space. These are especially useful for rooms requiring more privacy, like your bedroom. After all, you don’t necessarily need all of your friends and family to see your “laundry chair” in the corner!
Screens and dividers can add a touch of style while serving a function. Consider looking for screens that match your general aesthetic, or carefully drape them with fabric for semi-do-it-yourself room dividers. If you’re looking for full DIY, getting crafty with fabric and some narrow PVC pipe can give you the exact dimensions you’re looking for.
3. Use Bookcases to Divide a Room
Got a lot of stuff, but no walls to hang it on? Consider using a bookcase or open shelves as a room divider! Bookcases and shelves, especially longer, lower styles, can help divide your spaces while still giving you storage options beyond the four walls that feel miles away.
Solid bookcases can be a great option if you want your furniture to serve triple duty as room dividers, storage, and privacy screens. Consider open shelf-style furniture if you’re more interested in storage and room dividing but want to let some light through.
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4. Turn Your Furniture Around
Have you ever seen those well-preserved 1970s homes featuring a conversation pit in the living room? They’re typically big circles or rectangles, inset in the floor, lined with a sectional-style sofa that wraps around the entire perimeter. If your home isn’t blessed with authentic 70’s architecture, take inspiration from the concept and consider facing your furniture to divide different rooms.
This could look like facing your living room furniture towards the center of a rug, effectively blocking off that part of the room. Likewise, use the headboard of your bed to face your bedroom area, and turn your cafe table and chairs to face the kitchen and dining area. That way, the room’s focus is drawn towards the other pieces of furniture built for that space.
5. Try Plants
Plants, whether they’re fake or live, can help create a natural barrier between spaces. This is especially true with large, taller varieties, like monsteras, fiddle leaf figs, and mature snake plants. Don’t have a green thumb or not willing to travel with tall (and notoriously sensitive) plants? Attractive dried and fake plants, like pampas grass in a decorative container, can be a more convenient option.
Find Comfort and Flexibility with CORT Furniture Rental
Living in a space with an unusual layout—or no layout at all—can feel daunting. Whether you’re figuring out how to make a temporary home feel comfortable, adjusting to a smaller space, or simply looking for ways to create more functionality, finding the right balance takes time. But you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
CORT is here to make your space work for you, no matter what life throws your way. With flexible furniture rental options, you can customize a package to fit the shape and size of your home—whether it’s a compact studio or a larger family space. We’ll handle delivery, setup, and pickup so you can focus on settling in. And when it’s time to move on, we’ll be there to make the transition easier by collecting the furniture right from your door.
Your space should reflect your life—and life is always changing. That’s why we make it simple to adapt. Explore your options online or visit a CORT showroom today to find the furniture that fits your space and your journey.
