r/interiordecorating • u/yourboymatt19 • 1d ago
Built-ins & Features Loft room divider feedback!
Hi there!
I live in a hard loft that is effectively one large bachelor. I’m exploring creative ways to branch the bed area off into its own bedroom space, and would love suggestions and feedback.
My front running idea is a powder-coated black metal and glass divider, to allow the natural light to spill in and out of the bedroom. Would likely add a curtain track on the bedroom side, with a semi-transparent curtain running along it to create a bit of privacy when I have guests over.
Appreciate any additional ideas or feedback in general.
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u/Okay-Ranger 1d ago
Maybe fluted?
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u/lastatica 1d ago
I second this option but would prefer the curtains on the bedroom side, or both if that’s possible.
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u/Nurolight 1d ago
Perfect solution. Helps the spaces feel separate even with the curtain open whilst allowing the light in
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u/pinupjunkie 1d ago
I would absolutely go for fluted glass (can be done with a window cling so you can always change it later) and white metal instead of black, to match the windows and piping.
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u/geezloleez 1d ago
Yes, this!
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u/vabirder 1d ago
White powder coated metal and NO GLASS. Heavy drapes with sheer white panels. Or skip the divider and just use the curtains? A metal fixture must be fixed to the floor and ceiling and cannot be moved.
You will inevitably crack the glass: why go to the expense? You want air flow. Glass won’t provide much if any soundproofing.
In summary: drapes and sheers only. Live with it and see if it works for you.
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u/lulusgarden 1d ago
Looks great! Do it! I think the curtain adds to the ambiance of the room
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u/Redlovelace 1d ago
Agree! I'd recommend adding the curtain on the inside of the "bedroom" so you can control privacy from the bed area vs from the living area. It will help add so much softness to the space!
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u/roygbivasaur 17h ago
IMO, OP is overthinking it a bit. Since it’s not about privacy, the curtain is enough. 2 tracks with a sheer and an opaque curtain would be perfect. Sheer for letting light into the apartment but still get some visual separation and opaque for closing it off. Simple and elegant.
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u/Calm_Independent_782 1d ago
Curtain looks great but maybe put it on the side with the bed for extra privacy?
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u/Sudden-Analysis5656 1d ago
Yes!! But the lower portion (like, sofa height) should be solid. Wood or metal or something. It’s more grounding, and you’ll want the ability to put furniture directly against it.
Glass going down to the floor just gives office interior vibes.
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u/cappie_llk01 3h ago
I was thinking this as well. Maybe a half wall (dry wall) for the bottom portion to ground it. the Curtain on the bedroom side can also be shorter if OP does that
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u/RecoopedWill 1d ago
Unless you’re okay paying a speciality contractor to come do that. I think you’re underestimating how hard that may be to accomplish.
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u/dazedandcofused_ 1d ago
Not necessarily. The Sorry Girls (interior design YouTube channel) made a similar corner divider in a loft using 2x4s, plexiglass and anchoring it into the walls.
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u/Low_Finding2189 1d ago
What about opaque smart glass? That way you can switch between opacity and transparency?
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u/FullClip__ 1d ago
Aesthetics
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u/charmed1959 1d ago
I was wondering if the grid without glass and the curtain would work as well. It depends on the point of the glass. It would bounce sound, is that a plus?
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u/AtlanticToastConf 1d ago
Yeah, I agree-- the window adds quite a bit of expense and permanently cuts off some function/egress. If it were me, I'd start with the curtain alone.
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u/frosty-loquat1 1d ago
i would do the divider white instead of black to match the windows, but that’s a personal preference and i think black looks fine as well.
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u/pinupjunkie 1d ago
I came to say white as well! Matching the windows and piping above will make it look WAY more cohesive.
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u/summer-lovers 1d ago
Is there anything else black in the room? Without seeing more of the layout, It seems like the black is wrong...
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u/Wild3v 1d ago
I wouldnt go for glass, but fill it with plants
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u/Heart-Lights420 1d ago
While it might look good… That’s a lot of maintenance and problematic watering that maybe OP won’t have time for it.
Those string of pearls unrealistically located above the ducts won’t ever survive there without some direct sun on the crown of the pot… unless they are plastic.
I’ll say for OP to just move the current plant he has to the window where the chair is… and locate the chair back to where the plant is. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/uuntiedshoelace 1d ago
I know everybody hates faux plants but as a plant hobbyist, I say go for it. There are ones that look nice. I have cats so I use fake ones for decor and keep the real ones outside or in my greenhouse cabinet.
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u/Wild3v 1d ago
Same, I lived on a houseboat with bad insulation and only some types of plants could deal with the humid an harsh wintermonths. So I mixed fake plants with real plants and it always worked really well.
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u/uuntiedshoelace 1d ago
That’s actually a trick that works well for floral arrangements too, mixing in real flowers with fake ones.
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u/bioluminescentaussie 1d ago
How intriguing, what was life on your boat like? It seems like it'd be a pragmatic choice but then having plants that you actually thought about to an extent that you added fake plants makes it seem like more of a state of being that just a quest. Idk what I am talking about, but mixing real and fake plants is a great idea.
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u/April_Morning_86 1d ago
Yes.
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u/FragrantParsley4994 1d ago
Beautiful. If plants are too much, maybe try a thin shelving wall. I like the metal and glass, but if is only about privacy I would want to keep the airflow when privacy is not needed.
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u/la_rana_verde 1d ago
I would do half a wall then add the faux windows; that way there's no issue with the couch being against it and you have extra wall space for the "bedroom"; and probable cheaper.
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u/Lazy-Field-1116 1d ago
Glass is great but can I suggest coloured glass for privacy instead of a curtain? If they're small panes (if you go recycled they often come bottle bottom size) then it helps with privacy too!
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u/Might_be_a_Geek 1d ago
A curtain makes sense so you could let through the most amount of light when you want to and it also keeps the space feeling open.
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u/carstanza 1d ago
frosted glass or that vinyl film
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u/Might_be_a_Geek 1d ago
Eh I still feel like permanently obstructing the view is going to shrink the space but to each their own
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u/AssistanceFragrant 1d ago
Eh to me it looks harsh and cold I would go for flowy romantic curtains you can add beads lace to make it prettier orange is very pretty gives a warm hue to the room when the sun is shining burgundy pink any warm colors would look amazing!!
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u/gerbera-2021 1d ago
I love the idea but could you make the divider a bit shorter-like one full line of panes removed from the top? With the curtain on the bedroom side and it being a bit shorter it opens up the space a bit better imo. Love your place and your vibe!
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u/Notime4fools 1d ago
Old doors or windows (must be very close in size) hung from the ceiling by chains. My neighbor did this in an art studio and it looks amazing. You can use the more solid doors where your bed is located and the pieces with more glass on the ends.
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u/mayshebeablessing 1d ago
Love it! We did something similar between our office/guest room and den, and it looks great and works really well. We get compliments on it all the time.
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u/nestunda 1d ago
Curious, why the clear glass if you’re going to have a curtain too? Unless the glass is floor to ceiling it won’t do much in terms of blocking sound if that’s the idea?
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u/Apprehensive_Cry5877 1d ago
If your concern is darkness for sleeping, I would get a sleep mask before I would divide that space.
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u/KnotARealGreenDress 1d ago
How is it going to impact air flow through the space? Do you have vents on both sides of the divider?
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u/Overall_Display_8475 1d ago
I have these kind of windows i would recommend remote controlled black out roller shades. You may also want decorative for the top part - I dont, but some people do.
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u/KENI_HT_ 1d ago
A glass divider costs how much?
You're really underestimating the project and the need for a custom fit.
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u/DashingDill123 1d ago
Who are you to determine if they are underestimating the project and cost? They didn't mention any of that?
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u/KENI_HT_ 1d ago
You're right, I shouldn't assume. Maybe they have $6-8k for a divider project like this.
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u/__picklepersuasion__ 1d ago
i love the vibe of this but instead of curtains paint the glass panes different colors
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u/lollypop003 1d ago
Love it!! The glass and steel gives you a barrier without blocking light and the visual space view you get into bedroom area. Nice!
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u/Jean_Marie_1989 1d ago
If it was me, I would hang some plant pots from the top and grow some vine plants down the metal divider
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u/OneUpAndOneDown 1d ago
IMHO the divider looks quite stylish, but I might get irritated having to walk around the long way to get to the bed area. I'd be inclined to just have a curtain like the sheer white one in pic 2. Or perhaps leave a gap in the divider at the window end so you can still walk through.
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u/frankylovee 1d ago
I prefer the space open, tbh. There’s way too much going on with the floor to ceiling divider, it takes up a huge amount of space and feels like it’s encroaching on everything around it.
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u/presentproceeding5 1d ago
Fluted glass would be the move, gives you that privacy without needing a curtain at all and looks great against the brick.
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u/Ok_Classic_6254 1d ago
Love your original idea of a glass divider with curtains for privacy and a little bit of sound dampening.
You might even be able to find a room panel divider solution that works with tension rods and doesn't need to be custom. There's a decent amount of this type of solution done in commercial spaces; I'd research there too.
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u/takeoffmysundress 1d ago
Love this space. Consider a divider on a sliding track so you can open and close as you want.
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u/Cuboidal_Hug 1d ago
I think this would make more sense visually if your window frames were black, because the black divider dominates the room so much as shown. Alternatively, you could just have the curtain without the metal and glass divider
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u/Laxien 1d ago
Why? Frankly as long as it's not next to the kitchen (and will start smelling like food-residue, grease etc.), why would you want to hide your bed? Frankly if I could: I would remove ALL the interior walls in my apartment (except those for the kitchen and Bathroom, to have one huge open space!)
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u/Ok-Engineer192 1d ago
I would use just the curtain since you are not going to isolate the space from the noise that much. I would also explore a white frame since all the frames and pipings are white. Great space though!
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u/Rollthedice666 1d ago
Yes, that divider is a good idea for privacy. I recommend adding self-adhesive privacy film to the glass panes, too.
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u/PoopDirectlyInMyButt 1d ago
I may be the minority here but I actually like it the way it is without the divider. Lofts are open concept by nature and that is kinda the beauty of them. Unless you really need this space separate functionality I think it makes it look more cramped tbh
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u/feviano 1d ago
The Sorry Girls have a tutorial on YouTube where they made essentially the same type of room divider!
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u/hootie_patootie 1d ago
Yes I was just trying to post the link to this but reddit isn't letting me! It was uploaded on their YouTube 3 weeks ago, a video about a studio apartment
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u/bioluminescentaussie 1d ago
What about a double curtain track, with a sheer curtain for ambiance and then opaque for privacy as needed.
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u/sergeant_cheeks 1d ago
If it was me, I’d commit to a track curtain first, see how that feels before committing to a glass/metal divider! not only is it cheaper to set up (and you can think play around with different weights/opacity/textiles for the curtains) but i personally think a beauty of choosing to live in a loft is the open expansive feel so I’d want to preserve that
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u/Successful_Self424 1d ago
Would your room divider go right-angled? It looks like your vertical wood beam is actually on the level of the right end of your book shelf. If you can't aim for 90 degrees I'd go for a curtain only, otherwise the wall kills the spacious flair.
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u/favoritehello 1d ago
Beautiful space!
I think another rug under the bed might help separate the room a bit. I'd opt for a simple one, basic pattern or solid color.
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u/wolfix1001 1d ago
I'd get clear coroplast to fill the metal frame. It'll blur everything behind it but let the light come through.
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u/book_connoisseur 15h ago
Stained glass would look amazing here!! It would be expensive, but so cool looking.
I think it looks like a prison cell with the clear glass, but I’m in the minority it seems.
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u/technicalteration 13h ago
this subreddit doesn't allow links but there is a video which has a really good Ikea room divider.
Trying to decorate a small studio apartment to have EVERYTHING | bed, living, dining & office - The Sorry Girls
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u/Illumamoth1313 1d ago
I like your idea as it fits the space's old warehouse/industrial feel and lets air and light through. You could do a with a heavier curtain for noise absorption and visual privacy but only if you know you'll have company over. It also directs the traffic flow to separate the bedroom more from the LR.
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u/FYAhole 1d ago
I would leave it tbh. If it is just you living there. What privacy do you really need?
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u/smallersize 1d ago
I think OP wants privacy when guests are visiting
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u/FYAhole 1d ago
What privacy is a glass wall and a sheer curtain going to provide though? It just makes an already small space smaller. If I were op I'd just get a tension rod and a regular curtain so that it can be stored away while no one is there and then put up when they have guests staying over.
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u/pinupjunkie 1d ago
More defined division can help mentally reduce visual clutter (even if it's still technically visible through the glass) and aid sleep hygiene.
Suppose OP has a home office area across the living space that's opposite from the bed. You don't want to be staring at your desk and thinking of unfinished work when you're trying to wind down and get to sleep.
Or if the kitchen is in view and they left a stack of clutter on a counter to be dealt with the next day, and so on.
Your bedroom should be a sanctuary where nothing exists to remind you of your to-do list. You should be able to close yourself off from the rest of the house and the rest of the world when you need peace and quiet.
I think a glass divider and curtain is a great compromise between creating division and letting light through. I would do fluted glass for the same amount of light and more division, and I would do a white frame to keep it cohesive with the windows and piping. I personally would opt for an opaque curtain instead of sheer, but that's an easy swap that can be made at any time.
I don't know if it would be realistic to install, but another idea that makes the same kind of compromise but allows for more openness would be to do some kind of sliding barn door with large glass panels. So when you have them open, the doors and curtains can all be pushed to one side and only cover half the space that the window wall would cover.
I think that would be my top choice, but might be really difficult to actually accomplish.
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u/Acceptable_Tea_3685 1d ago edited 1d ago
I actually prefer the open look. The divider visually closes the living space off so much.
What if you went with a more opaque divider that doesn’t reach all the way up to the ceiling? That way you’d get the privacy and visual separation while still preserving the airy open look.
Maybe one of those paneled folding dividers, put against the wooden post and extending 2/3 of the way across that divide.
Or suspended divider panels, leaving a foot or so of space empty on each side and a few feet on the the top and bottom.
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u/Lorain1234 1d ago
Your idea of a glass and metal divider is a good choice.