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A DIY Solution for a Mobile Room Divider or Partition Wall

Closing off an area in an open-plan home with a mobile room divider or freestanding partition wall are an easy and DIY solution using board products or brick and mortar.

20/11/2022

Rental homes, apartment living, and even open plan homes usually mean that you are limited when it comes to defining or closing off sections of living spaces. Perhaps you want to close off the kitchen, have a private dining area, or even create a small home office for work, but it isn't always an easy solution unless you look at a mobile room divider or partition walls similar to the ones shown here.

Interior designers have looked at options for moveable walls as a way of breaking up a large expanse of open space, both in residential homes and commercial offices. Some of these ideas might not be available to buy, but they are certainly easy enough to make and you can opt for a finished design that blends perfectly with your decorating style or the interior of your home.

There has to be an easy solution for closing off sections of an open-plan living space, or to break up a room without interfering with the flow of light and air through the space, and there is. Look at some of the great ideas for DIY room divider solutions that are easy to make and can be assembled using a variety of materials, all depending on your budget.

All the mobile room dividers or partition walls shown above and below can be assembled using a variety of products that you will find at Builders or hardware stores around the country. Think BisonLam or SupaLam, a laminated (covered) board product that is expensive and easy to work with. Or what about veneered plywood stained in a light or dark finish? And then there is MelaWood with its custom range of colours and patterns. Even if you don't have the tools to cut boards down to size, Builders and other larger merchants can cut everything to size for you for easy assembly.

My preferred choice would be to use 3mm SupaWood (MDF) over a pine framework that can be painted in any colour, as shown below. Another solution would be to leave the SupaWood unpainted and apply one of many finishing options such as contact paper in a particular design, as per the wood look shown above. Or you could clad the board with tile or faux rock. So many options to choose from.

For a more permanent and stylish solution for an open plan room, and one that serves a dual purpose, is to design a room divider that also offers functionality and storage - a great idea for a rental home as you can take it with you when you move.

Watch your smart TV from anywhere in the room. Building a custom partition wall is a practical solution to mounting onto a wall and the partition wall can be angled in any direction depending on where you want to sit and watch.

How to Make a Mobile Room Divider or Partition Wall

Step 1

After determining the size of the partition wall, construct a framework using 32 x 32mm or 44 x 44mm PAR pine. Glue and screw all the joints together.
Use wood corners in the main structure to keep the unit straight and sturdy.
Allow framework along the bottom of the unit for securing the castor wheels.

Step 2

Measure up to determine the size of the 3mm SupaWood (Masonite or hardboard) to clad the front, back, sides and top. Add 3mm for both sides on the front and back so that this covers the edges of the sides and top.
Screw, glue or staple the board cladding onto the frame and then use wood filler to fill any holes before sanding smooth.

Step 3

The partition wall is now ready for finishing, and you have plenty of options:

Paint with a paintbrush and roller or spray gun. Apply 2 to 3 coats of paint for full coverage.
Cover with contact self-adhesive vinyl, ceramic tiles, faux rock cladding, or your choice of finishing.

To finish, add castor wheels to the base for a fully mobile, freestanding partition wall that can be moved anywhere!

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