How can I divide a bedroom into two rooms? 10 ways to prioritize versatility and functionality

Whether you're making the most of your space and creating two zones for different activities or you simply want some privacy, dividing a bedroom into two can provide you with more options and freedom.

You may be surprised to hear that bedroom layout ideas aren't always improved by big infrastructural changes. In fact, sometimes some clever styling or a hero piece of furniture can be just what a bedroom needs to feel multifunctional and zoned.

We spoke with interior designers who have all battled the sometimes hard task of dividing a bedroom into two, whether it was to create a shared bedroom or zone a bedroom for different tasks. They suggested a whole range of room divider ideas that prove any bedroom, no matter how big or small, can be split into two without compromising on style.

From simple ways to divide a bedroom, such as with a curtain, to design techniques with color and pattern, to more involved ideas, such as internal half-walls, this is how to get the job done.

1. Divide a bedroom easily with curtains or drapery

When a bedroom needs to do double duty, curtains are one of the simplest solutions to divide the space.

Bedroom curtain ideas can be the ideal way to separate spaces, whether it's hiding a closet or a vanity area. In the stylish bedroom above, curtains draped across the door frame of the enclosed bedroom area create a designated sleep sanctuary that can be shut for privacy when needed and opened to bring more light into the space.

Interior designer Kati Curtis who designed this bedroom, explains, 'I love a moment where textiles do the work of a wall. Here, we used velvet drapery to frame a seating nook in a way that feels both intentional and intimate. The curtain becomes its own kind of threshold – soft, romantic, but strong. If you can’t build the wall, build the moment.'

2. Add a stud wall behind a bed for a headboard/divider

Whether you use bedroom wallpaper ideas or bedroom paint ideas, or both in combination, doing so can easily divide a bedroom. In the bedroom above, a darker shade of paint is used in the alcove to create a distinct feel for the dressing area, while the wall behind the bed is covered in impactful wallpaper that creates a definite visual separation of the two zones.

Adding a stud wall (either a half wall or full) behind a bed separates the sleeping area from the dressing zone in a bedroom. The bedroom above has been designed both stylishly and functionally, utilizing space while still creating impact. The stud wall not only frames the bed, creating a mock-headboard with the bold wallpaper, but it creates a clearly defined zone, plus an area of privacy within the room.

A stud wall can be decorated with all sorts of finishes. You needn't use wallpaper to achieve this – contrasting paint colors will have a similar effect. By painting one part of the room in one color, including the walls and ceiling, and your stud wall an entirely different shade, it gives the visual impression of two separate spaces within one room.

'Opting for multiple paint shades is an effective way to divide a bedroom into two distinct zones,' confirms Helen Shaw, International Director of Marketing, Benjamin Moore. 'A tonal color a couple of steps up or down on your color chart provides a subtle solution to creating a subdivided space whilst also maintaining harmony and tranquillity. The contrast creates the illusion of a separate space where there isn’t one structurally.'

3. Create division with a niche bed

Niche or nook bed ideas are a wonderful way to create more floor space in a smaller room because you can put the bed right into the corner of the room, often under a window, which you might normally avoid. With a curtain to pull across the nook, you have a perfectly divided sleep space, and the rest of the room can be devoted to other purposes.

Take this rustic bedroom designed by Marianne Evennou, for example. The bed has been built in to maximize the space and allow the occupant to have a separate sleep area that's divided from the lounging area. The bedroom feels divided into individual areas for various activities, making it appear larger and more purposeful.

4. Divide a bedroom with smart styling and layout

It's not always possible to physically divide a bedroom into two. So, when space is restricted and supplies are limited, sometimes the best way to create two alternative zones is with some clever styling and layouts.

Kati proves this theory in this Upper West Side townhouse project pictured above. She explains, 'Two, and sometimes three sisters, share this room. With thoughtful furniture placement, layered textiles, and differentiated styling, each bed feels like its own retreat. No wall needed – just smart storytelling and room for everybody. Design can separate without dividing.'

She's created little nooks for each girl to sleep in, opting for a contrasting bed frame style to provide them with some individuality and a sense of separation. The side table keeps the single bed separate from the other beds, allowing each person to have their own designated space.

5. Choose a low-profile piece of furniture to create zones

Interior designer and founder of homeware shop Good Bones, Leanne Kilroy, knows exactly how to make the most of space and expertly divide a bedroom into two.

'Sometimes it can be tricky to fit enough clothing storage in a bedroom, even when the room is large, because of a lack of wall space. One way I like to get around this is to turn the clothes storage into partitions, which zones the space into defined dressing and sleeping areas,' she explains. 'This makes the sleeping area cosier and more intimate, and also means that the dressing area, which can be a bit more chaotic and messy in day-to-day life, can be out of view.'

'Dividing a bedroom this way also allows you to have a bit more say over the view from bed. I love it when, rather than a wall of wardrobes, the view from bed is of something beautiful, like a chest with a painting above, a fireplace, or the view out the window.'

6. Install internal glazing

This way of dividing a bedroom will require you to call in the professionals, but a glass partition is a modern and high-end way to divide a bedroom into two rooms. It will allow light to flood into the room while working to offer a clear distinction between two spaces.

The stunning space by Sims Hilditch highlights how internal glazing can add a contemporary touch to any room, working wonderfully in a period property or a modern home.

Sims Hilditch Design Director, Louise Wicksteed, says, 'Crittall doors are a great way to separate a bedroom without compromising on light and the feeling of spaciousness in a room. A linen curtain can be pulled across if privacy is required. The Crittall doors in this design also add a sleek and contemporary aspect to the space, offsetting the botanical wallpaper and natural fabrics used to create a feeling of calm throughout the rest of the room.'

7. Build a wall (where possible)

Sometimes, styling or shelving isn't the answer to dividing a room. Changing your infrastructure and adding a wall can be the best option if you want to create two totally separate spaces. Whether the two rooms are intended for two different occupants or for contrasting activities, a wall is sometimes the best solution.

Kati proves this with a recent project where she separated two girls' bedrooms. 'Let’s be honest, sometimes a room really does need a true, solid wall. When privacy, light control, or acoustic separation matter, nothing else will do. But even then, the magic is in the layering. Walls create boundaries, but it’s the design that gives each side its soul.'

She continues, 'These two rooms used to be one. We gave each daughter her own dreamy domain with custom beds with built-ins, book nooks, and cozy zones. Now each girl has her own space to grow, play, and just be. We didn’t just split the room. We gave each daughter her own world.'

8. Divide a bedroom with a closet

Often, all a room needs to feel divided is a low-profile piece of furniture; however, if you really want to create two entirely separate spaces, taller pieces like a closet can create two distinctive zones.

Leanne Kilroy used a tall closet in her own bedroom. She explains, 'A good example of where partitioning works really well is our bedroom at home. This room has two natural light sources, a large bay window and another large window, so it felt natural to place a dressing area near this single window, where it would have plenty of natural light and a sense of architectural zoning already.'

'We used tall storage to separate this area from the rest of the room, making sure the dimensions were just right so it sits as a sort of island, with access from both sides. Lower storage sits along the wall so as not to block the light from or view out the window.'

'Practically, this layout means we have nearly double the amount of storage we would otherwise. And aesthetically, it means the sleeping area of our bedroom is less cluttered and more considered, with a view onto a fireplace and furniture.'

9. Create a secluded work nook

With many more of us working from home, bedroom office ideas are becoming more and more popular. If you're having a bedroom layout with a desk, it's important that your workspace does not encroach on relaxation space.

Having a curtain around a bed area is a quick and easy way to separate it from a desk area and create a cozy and relaxing bedroom space to unwind in the evening. A fabric curtain also gives the chance to add a pop of color and pattern to your space without needing to redecorate. Open shelving is an easy way to zone an office in a bedroom corner too, while providing space for paperwork, files, and books.

Many do not have the luxury of a separate room to use as a home office, so often the living room or bedroom doubles as a workspace. To maintain a work-life balance, it's important to screen off an area in some way.

10. Use a screen

Lightweight and portable, freestanding room dividers can be folded out to create a room within a room in seconds and can easily be moved throughout the day, plus they can be easily folded back and stored flat to open up a living space when not in use.

Screens come in many styles and can be purchased from most home brands. Whether you're channeling a modern organic bedroom look with a rattan style or creating a romantic sleep space and shopping vintage, dividing your bedroom couldn't be easier with a screen.

Whether you're simply positioning a screen to divide your sleep space from your study area or you're building a bookshelf to create two rooms, there are plenty of ways to divide a bedroom. If you're looking for ways to improve your small apartment living room ideas and turn a studio into two rooms, these ideas will beautifully transition into this space, too.