Room Dividers

The trend for ‘broken-plan’ living

Room dividers are becoming increasingly popular for partitioning open-plan spaces in homes. As more people embrace open-plan living for its spaciousness and flexibility, there is a growing need to create distinct zones within these large areas. Room divider shutters offer an ideal solution. They add warmth, texture, and a sense of division without sacrificing the openness and light that make such spaces appealing.

Room divider shutters with slats are particularly popular. These dividers create a sense of separation while allowing light and air to flow through, maintaining the airy feel of an open-plan layout. Here at American Shutters, we can customise your room dividers in a variety of ways, from the width and spacing of the slats to matching the paint colour with your interiors. Additionally, slatted dividers can be used to create dynamic visual effects, such as shadows and light patterns, which add depth and interest to a room.

Another key trend is the use of sliding shutters to deliver the ultimate flexibility. Our room divider shutters can be designed as sliding panels, allowing you to easily reconfigure your space based on your needs. You can slide them shut to create a private work area during the day, and then open up the room in the evening to create a family environment.

Room divider shutters do more than separate spaces; they enhance a home’s aesthetic and functional quality. With their natural appeal and versatility, they continue to be a popular choice for modern ‘broken-plan’ living.

Fixed or sliding room dividers?

Which type of room divider should you choose? Room divider shutters are available as either fixed or sliding shutters. Which one you select will depend on your space and how you want to use it. The main difference between fixed and sliding room divider shutters lies in their mobility and functionality.

Mobility

Fixed shutters are designed to be stationary and can’t be moved or adjusted. They will be permanently affixed, providing a stable, unchanging partition to your space. So, if you’re looking for a permanent division of your space – perhaps in the kitchen to separate your washing machine from the main cooking area – then fixed room dividers are the answer.

Sliding room divider shutters are designed to move horizontally along a track. This gives you the flexibility to open or close up the space, depending on your needs. It opens up the option for customisable room configurations. They’re ideal for open-plan homes that operate as a working space during the day and a family space in the evenings.

Functionality

Fixed room dividers are a permanent architectural element to define and partition spaces. As such, the design of your shutters may focus more on complementing the overall interior styling of your home. They act as a way of remodelling your home, without the expense and disruption usually associated with a construction project.

Whether you opt for the flexibility of sliding room dividers or the permanent addition of fixed shutters, room divider shutters are a fantastic way to adapt your room configuration with minimum expense and hassle.

Where can you use room dividers?

Open-plan homes

There’s nothing like that spacious, airy feel of an open-plan home. However, while a large multi-purpose space can be a wonderful thing, it also has its drawbacks. In busy family homes, it can be hard to find a peaceful spot when the entire lower floor is one open space. This is where room dividers come into their own. This versatile type of shutter can be drawn across the space whenever additional privacy is needed, giving you back some of that much-needed calm and quiet.

Large rooms

Larger rooms are the ideal location for room divider shutters. In a spacious room, it’s perfectly possible to create two separate zones, maybe one for leisure, and one for the home office. Adding room dividers is cheaper than building a new wall, and it’s more flexible too. You can simply draw the room divider shutters when it’s time to get some work done and fold them back at the end of the working day.

Office spaces

Most office spaces are designed as open-plan zones. This can be helpful to allow teams to collaborate freely and gives a cohesive sense of purpose within the business. However, these open-plan spaces can also be noisy and disruptive to work. If you need to have a team meeting or quietly catch up on a project, it is helpful to have a space to retreat. A room divider is an ideal solution. It will allow you to create a private space to focus on your initiatives, without disturbing workers around you.

Bathroom dividers

Not everyone can afford an ensuite, but it’s certainly top of many wish lists. You’ll find that room divider shutters can work as a divider for a bathroom or ensuite without incurring the costs of building it from scratch. It will provide the privacy you require at a fraction of the price. It’s also a less intrusive option than a solid brick wall. Opt for our range of water resistant shutters, ideally suited for bathrooms and guaranteed not to warp.

Five reasons to use room dividers

1.      They create privacy

There’s a reason why room dividers became more popular during lockdown. With everyone suddenly thrown together into the same space, the need for privacy became paramount. This is where room divider shutters really come into their own. Whether fixed or sliding, they will instantly create a private zone in an open-plan area.

2.      They make a room multi-purpose

Do you need your space to work harder for you? Maybe you need your living area to function as both a leisure zone and a home office? By adding full height shutters, you’ll create a natural division. It’s a less intrusive answer to your space issue than a solid wall. It’s more adaptable, too, as the shutters will allow natural light to filter through the room.

3.      They add structure to a room

A large open plan area that extends from one end of the building to the other isn’t always the easiest to make look good. It’s a problem for both home and office spaces, with the lack of natural walls giving you nowhere to place furniture or hang art. By using wooden shutters rather than building a new wall, you’ll instantly solve your interior décor challenges.

5.      They distinguish between spaces

Internal room dividers will provide secluded areas that are distinctly separate. Whether you want to install room divider screens to section off a messy children’s play area or separate the kitchen from the living area, they offer a quick and simple solution. You could even consider using bedroom shutters to create your own walk-in wardrobe.

5.      They add interest and depth

Open-plan rooms are notoriously tricky to decorate successfully. Sometimes what you need is a divider shutter to create the illusion of discrete spaces. While solid walls will reduce the area of your room and make it feel cramped, minimalist portobello shutters will create a slim, vertical partition that adds to the aesthetic of your room.

Room divider shutters

If you’re looking for ways to make your home work better for you, room dividers may be the answer. Our room divider shutters will transform one big room and give you two more conveniently sized living spaces. In addition, you’ll have a flexible space that adapts to your needs. Room dividers can be folded back against the wall when a larger space is required, for parties or family gatherings. Choose from solid shutters for maximum privacy or louvred plantation shutters to allow light and air to circulate naturally.

Room divider trends

It’s called ‘broken plan’ living. The new trend for partitioning up open-plan homes into more personal, private spaces is taking over. With more of us working from home, the desire for personal space for office, study and leisure is at a premium. People are dividing up their homes and creating multifunctional spaces where parents and children can co-exist more easily.

A recent report from John Lewis revealed that one in five of their customers are reorganising their open-plan space to accommodate different activities, and plan to spend between £1,000 to £3,000 to achieve this. Whether you’re looking at room dividers screens, sliding room dividers or the fixed room dividers, ‘broken plan’ living is an increasingly popular solution for UK homeowners.

Room dividers vs extensions

By using wooden shutters rather than building a new wall or a new room, you’ll be saving time and money. When compared to building an extension or an interior wall, shutter room dividers are by far the most cost-effective option. There’s no need to worry about planning permission, top-up mortgages or the hassle of moving out for the rebuild. You’ll also have a beautifully stylish solution that blends with your interior décor and gives a sophisticated finish to the room.

Room dividers ideas

There are many ways that shutters can be implemented as effective room dividers. They are ideal to divide up a large living room, giving you a separate dining space and living area. However, when you wish to host a full party or invite family over for the holidays, folding room dividers can be pulled back to give you the full space once again.

Full height shutters are perfect as a natural divider for a bathroom or ensuite, providing that all-important privacy without the cost of building work. It’s a less intrusive solution than a solid wall, especially for smaller homes, and allows natural light to enter the room as required. Here at American Shutters, we provide a range of water resistant shutters that are ideal for wet rooms and bathrooms, guaranteed not to warp however humid the conditions.

If you work from home, consider using internal room dividers to create a secluded and peaceful zone that is separated from the rest of the busy household. Room divider screens are also ideal for creating children’s play areas, sectioning off a children’s-only space for noisy and messy playtimes.

You might also want to think about using bedroom shutters to fashion your own personal walk-in wardrobe. Our bespoke, sliding room dividers will give you a private space for the ultimate fashionista’s dream.

Room dividers are an ideal solution for kitchens and utility rooms. Whether you want to close off the kitchen area from the rest of an open-plan space, or hide away the washing machine in a utility room, traditional or portobello shutters will give you a subtle partition that blends in beautifully with your surroundings.

Sliding room dividers

If you’re looking for maximum flexibility, sliding room dividers are the answer. With a sliding shutter, you can cut your room in half and dedicate a different purpose to each side. However, when required, simply slide back the room divider and your original large space is available for use once again. A hugely popular choice in the UK, the sliding room divider gives you the best of both worlds.

Fixed room dividers

Alternatively, you may wish to opt for a more permanent solution to your privacy needs. Fixed room dividers will give you a robust and solid barrier to section out your home. You can use fixed wooden shutters anywhere in your home, whether you wish to divide up a large living area or provide a quiet space for children to get on with their homework in their bedroom. You may want to consider using tier on tier shutters, which gives you the option of having the shutters partly open. This is ideal for games rooms, where you can keep an eye on young children playing.

Internal room dividers

We offer room divider shutters in a range of finishes and colours to suit all homes. White window shutters are always a best-seller, as a neutral shade that blends into all styles of interior décor. However, we can match your room dividers to suit any paint shade your choose, ensuring that it matches perfectly with your existing décor.

Room dividers can be supplied as stained shutters, allowing the natural beauty of the wood to show through. Our driftwood shutters are also a popular choice, with a soft, weathered finish to suit the shabby chic style. However you want your internal room dividers finished, you can be sure that they will complement your home beautifully. Ultimately, our room dividers are designed to make your living space work better for you and your family.