Black 4 Panel Plum Blossom Screen Room Divider available on Amazon
If you have a large room in your home and need the extra space for another purpose, dividing the room is much less expensive than building an addition on the house. A 4 panel room divider is a folding structure that features four panels. Since it is portable, it can be used to hide a temporary mess in a large room and then moved to another area when the spot is cleaned. Or, you can use it create an extra storage space at the back of the room. Building your own divider allows you to customize the look and style to the décor of the home.
Room dividers can be costly but if you handy, you can build your own four panel room divider following the step by step instructions below. Typically, this kind of room divider has a folding screen style that has four panels. Three to four panels are the standard numbers of traditional room dividers though of course you can have as many as you’d like. It will stand on its own when the panels are opened at slight angles. You can build a room divider with frames of wood and then inside the panes you can choose to use fabric (as per our instructions below), glass, stained or painted wood. Once you have all the materials you need, it is just a matter assembling each panel together with hinges. This way, each piece will fold against the other.
Step by Step Instructions to Build a Four Panel Room Divider
Materials and Equipment Needed:
- Lumber
- Screws
- Nails
- Hinges
- Fabric
- Saw
- Power drill
- Staple gun and staples
- Hammer
- Scissors
- Stain, paint, or lacquer
- Carpenter’s glue
- Tape measure
- Pencil
Step 1: Determine the dimensions of the divider, based on the fact that four panels will be made. Rooms with high ceilings may require higher panels in order to section off the desired area. However, make sure the structure is not so tall as to prevent it from standing upright without support. Suggested dimensions are 18 inches wide and six feet tall. Select the size of lumber that you like, keeping in mind that 1x3s are large enough without being difficult to use.
Step 2: Use the tape measure and pencil to mark the desired measurements on the lumber. Cut out all sides of each panel with the saw. Cut the corners at a 45-degree angle so each section of the frame will fit together squarely.
Step 3: Make a single cut approximately one-inch from the inner side of the frame. Cut about 1/4-inch deep on the back of each framing piece. Make another one-inch deep cut into the inner side about ¼-inch from the back side.
Step 3: Cut four additional frame pieces (bottom, top, two sides) for each panel. Ensure that each piece is a match with the other frame pieces because these will be screwed together.
Step 4: Attach the pieces containing the inner corner cut. Do this by applying the glue to each surface that meets another. Press the surfaces together firmly. Allow the glue to dry and then insert a screw in the top and bottom of each corner, connecting the surfaces. When performing this step, ensure that each frame piece faces the same way (the back side should be facing the same way for each piece of frame).
Step 5: Stain, lacquer, or paint the wood, avoiding contact areas between pieces.
Step 6: Measure the fabric to about the full size of the frame. Cut it out and stretch it across the back of the frame. At each corner of the back of the frame, pound in a nail until it is deep enough to secure the fabric in place.
Step 7: Make sure the fabric is stretched smoothly and is free of wrinkles. Staple the fabric to the frame, keeping all staples within the inner corner cut created earlier. Remove each nail and use the scissors to cut any excess fabric.
Step 8: Assemble the back frame in the same manner the other frame pieces were assembled. Screw the back frame into the rear of the frame containing the fabric. This will hide the staples.
Step 9: Use the drill and screws to screw hinges into the sides of each frame being attached to another. Hinges should be placed at identical height on each frame. Alternate back and front sides of panels so each panel can stand on its own when placed at a slight angle. The divider is also easier to fold and store when panel sides are alternated.
Now simply set up your room divider and tada – you have two separate rooms!
Of course, this is just one kind of room divider. There are other options. When it comes to building your very own wall dividers, you have to visualize the kind of room divider you want to make. If you want something you simpler to produce, you can try hanging room dividers. With a simple curtain fabric and decorative hooks and poles, you can divide a room easily. But building a four panel room divider is really quite straight forward, as long as you know the basics of simple construction.
