Mobile Partitions

I need help with a creative temporary wall/partition?

I need it to seperate a bedroom from the entryway. I would like to do something that I could have a door. Right now I have curtains with bookshelves in front. Drives me crazy, I want it to look a little more permanent. But, its a rental so we can't do any major construction. Any Ideas?--Please Help!!

Public Comments

1. Maybe? Would a fold out partition work? Maybe replace the curtain and leave the bookshelves. The fold out partition can be adjusted for a doorway. Unfortunately, you would have a gap between you ceiling and the top of your bookshelf/partition, but that might help the flow of air. Even though it won't look a little more permanent, you can take it with you when you move on. What would Martha do? Good Luck, Jen
2. Is this something that you will be going in and out of? Is it used as a door, or is it just an opening? Check out Lumicor or 3-Form, both of these companies have interesting panels that may be able to bolt just to the floor. Or go check out IKEA's website, they have interesting panels that are inexpensive and mobile. Also and unfortunately right now I can't remember the name of the product, but I believe 3-Form has a product that looks like a honeycomb curtain, but it attaches to the ceiling and floor. Good luck!
3. Are you any good woth simple wood working? IF you don't know, sounds like a great time to try. This is very rough & dirty, but totally temporary and can even be painted. Just for the sake of example, let's say your partition needs to be 6 feet long (72"). If you have a typical 8' ceiling (96"), get 4 - 93" tall planks that are 6" wide (could use 4" but I suggest wider to help stabalize them from tipping over of bumped). Also get 4 - 19.5" tall by 6" wide planks. Now nail together 2 rectangualr hollow boxes: take two of each size plank and nail together 2 rectatngle shapes - flush each end to end. You should end up wth 2 rectangles - with finished measurements about 94.5 " tall by 21" wide (a little more than your initial cuts becuase the estimate is taking into account the thickness of the wood in the final measurements - plan for wood thinckness when you measure off). Now's you'll need one sheet of sheet-rock to cover each side of each rectangle - 4 total measuring exactly the finished dimensions of the rectangles - or you may have to cut more than one piece. Nail one piece of sheet rock to each side. Now you have two free standing walls that you can paint or whatever BUT there's still open space. In our example, we have 2 new "walls" measuring 21" each = 42" together and we need to cover 6' (72") so we have exactly 30" left to fit a door (the average interior door is 30" - although doors can be bought narrower or wider). Get a lightweight door with hinge hardware and hinge it between your two new walls. Be sure the door swings & that it meets the other "wall" without friction and without a gap (not too close to the floor and not too high off the floor & not too wide or narrow for the space allowed. There is no true frame but you can excavate or dig out a hole for lip space in the recieving wood for the knob hardward so the door can lightly latch shut. Now paint the walls...hang a poster...stain the door - do as you wish because it all comes down when you move. In the suggestion above, there will be a space left above the door - you CAN always make a third rectagle and power screw it (or simply nail it) to the other two partitions - it would help keep them together and eliminate the space over the door...you'd measure off that last detail after the entire project was done but you'd do the exact same steps as you did to create the origianl two rectangles...then get sheet rock to cover both sides, then paint. I gave you some very rough length estimates based on my imaginary space needed to fill - but measure and get very exact & it should work for you. For supplies, look for a building supply outlet or the classifieds. There are normally surplus doors in the classifieds. If you have/ don't mind spending just a little more for your piece of mind...there's always Lowe's & Home Depot. Yeah, this sounds like a lot but once the measurements are done, you might be looking at 10 hours or so of work - you'r passing about 10 nails per rectangle and then about 10 per piece of sheet rock. It's a project that you could do off & on. However, it would eliminate the book shelves, give you a more permanent looking "wall" with a door, no permanent fixtures - all of it is free standing yet steady & it'll give you something different to look at besides the book shelves & curtains. Hope this helps a little!!!
4. Hi .. you could use gyproc metal stud with dryline plasterboard finish to make your temporary wall (inc doorlining if door req) this will not need plastering but can be decorated to a good finish.. can be removed at later date without causing any damage to existing walls