Ideas for Room Divider Shelving

Cubist Connection

• Connected cubes are a versatile room divider that work equally well in a kitchen-dining area or to separate living and sleeping quarters. Some systems are preattached plastic materials that may come in vivid colors and display the mixer and rice cooker as if they were culinary sculptures. Other units are made of joined hardwoods or even bentwood and work well to hold media or books. Line up several vertical units for a longer wall. This solution is simple to move and repurpose in a new space; it works as well against a wall as it does creating a wall in the middle of a multipurpose space.

Bedroom Bookshelves

• In a loft or studio space, bookshelves are both utilitarian and decorative room dividers. For near-privacy, use tall bookshelves between bed and living areas and fill them with books to block views either way. A living space with a wall library is a cozy, defined area. The bedroom side of the shelves doesn’t have to feature spineless pages. Fasten thin curtain rods to the top shelf and hang textiles or a light curtain to create a bedroom “wall.”

Outside In

• Custom units – or adaptable components – help to create a garden in an indoor space that needs dividing. Containers alternating with shelves allow you to display your collection of Austen and Proust in between lush plantings of greenery or more exotic fare, like orchids. Add a matching birdhouse for a touch of whimsy and a distraction from what the partly-open shelving is hiding. This shelf system works especially well when the area to be screened is near a window. You preserve the flow of light and air and safeguard privacy at the same time.

Classy Cubbies and Drawers

• Use a rolltop desk to define separate spaces in an open apartment or loft. The shelves and cubbies in the top of the desk disappear when the rolltop is closed, allowing you to shut away a home office and potential clutter when company comes or when the workday is over. The drawers and open shelves in the base of the desk hold supplies, a small printer or decorative objects, and the desk itself is a strong design element that distracts the eye from noticing what is partly concealed behind it. For even greater concealment, suspend a stained glass panel from the ceiling over the desk. It blocks the view while letting light through and adding more art to the decor.