A room divider can be just a screen or provide storage. Starting at the low budget end, IKEA has a selection of both for well under 100.00 - a lovely three-part folding screen or an open shelf system for books or display items. These would be ideal solutions to create a small office area or a "secret" storage for children's toys.

Wall Shelf Glass

For larger areas, hanging curtains or blinds from the ceiling is fairly inexpensive and should be within the capabilities of most of us - and they can be easily opened when the rooms are to become one. The cost of this type of room divider can be minimal or, depending on materials and labour, could be hundreds of pounds.

Wall Shelf Glass

If a large room is to be divided on a more permanent basis without building a dividing wall, consideration should be given to the desired benefits. Access, light, heat and noise may all be factors. For example:

does one half of the room use a light or heat source from the other half? do you need to reduce noise between the two sections? check with your local council about the access to a bedroom through another room.

With some experience of DIY or using a trusted, local builder/handyman, another solution might be to create a permanently separate room with wide access by erecting a stud wall with a large aperture that can have double doors or sliding doors fitted, depending on the width of the opening. For lower budgets, the doors are available from B&Q, Wickes or similar outlets.

This option can be upgraded for home-owners who require high quality materials and workmanship to suit the style of their period house.

A less drastic solution to dividing a room would be to consider bi-folding or folding-sliding doors across the complete width. Depending upon your requirements, these may be solid wood effect, partially or fully glazed. Bifolding doors form a wall when closed but can be fully opened to either one or both sides, stacking to the side of the opening.

Bi-folds are available in DIY stores but can be purchased from specialist companies who will make them to fit your requirements and install them for you (recommended for wider, multi-folding door widths). Glazing options can often be specified as Georgian or leaded-light to complement your existing dcor. Your budget may have to stretch from hundreds to thousands for this solution.

The ultimate in room dividers, however, must be frameless glass door room dividers. Similar to bi folding doors for installation and, when open, they stack against a side wall for maximum access between rooms. Opening and closing frameless glass partitions works differently because the doors are not hinged together (they can't be, there are no side frames to enable hinges to be attached). The main door opens just like a door between any two rooms. To open some or all of the partition, each of the other doors slides along discrete top and bottom rails towards the first door where they can then pivot and stack against it.

Because the glass is frameless, made of single thickness, toughened, tempered, 'unbreakable' glass, the stacking width is less than probably any other door available, enabling maximum access through the opened area. Reverse the process and lock each door into place to re-divide the room.

When the frameless glass doors are fully closed, there is no visual interruption or perceptible loss of light (unless you choose tinted glass) yet draughts and noise are reduced. The absence of frames means that this type of room divider can be fitted comfortably in any environment, from period homes to state-of-the-art futuristic designs.

Available since 2009 for domestic dwellings at an affordable price (comparable with good quality bifolds), frameless glass was previously seen only in commercial buildings and medieval castles open to the public. Made to measure, delivered and fitted within a few weeks from around 3,500 for smaller rooms, why would you choose anything else? You and your home deserve the best.

You can browse the internet for companies that manufacture and install fully retractable frameless glass room partitions, compare their products and price quotations, and imagine seeing them (or not!) in your home.

Types of Room Dividers for Various Budgets

Wall Shelf Glass