When friends and relatives visit overnight, it’s sometimes hard for each of them to have their own space to sleep. Using PVC room dividers, each person has their own area no matter how small to spend the night. During the day, they are carried to the garage or placed against the wall, bedding is folded up and everyone has space to move around.
This is a great idea for family reunions, birthdays and when folks need a place to sleep.
All the materials for this project are available at your local DIY store. Home Depot has a selection of different styles of PVC lattice to match any décor. You can also paint or stain your room divider in any color.
This project will make one divider measuring four feet wide by eight feet tall. That’s enough to just about reach most ceilings. This creates an instant study area in a bedroom; two will give the impression of a complete room. Use them outside to create an instant gazebo area. Top with a patio umbrella.
You will need:
• One 4-by-8 foot section of PVC lattice, any style
• Four each 8-foot long pieces of PVC cap moulding
• All-purpose PVC cement
• Felt furniture pads
• Two each – 5/8 inch 48-84 inch spring tension rods (if needed)
• Hacksaw or cutting tool
• Gloves, goggles, ear protection and dust mask
• All purpose cement for felt pads, if they are not adhesive
• Miter box
• Marking tools- I find grease pencils and colored pencils work well
Step One:
Measure the area you will build the divider for. Most rooms have eight- foot ceilings, so a little trimming of the lattice panel will be necessary. The cap mouldings will add to the height.
Step Two:
Dry fit the cap moulding onto the lattice panel and measure the length. If the ceiling height is eight feet, and the panel is longer, make the necessary cut so the panel just touches the ceiling without scraping it.
Mark the corners for the top and bottom pieces, use the miter box to cut the corners at a 45-degree angle, if desired.
Step Three:
Attach the felt to the top and bottom of the cap moulding. Stand the panel again and make sure no damage is caused to the ceiling or floor.
Cement the moulding to the PVC at the corner pieces and centerpieces. You need very little cement for this project.
Step Four:
If the ceiling is higher than eight feet, measure the distance. Use a spring rod to fill the space between the ceiling and the top of the moulding. Place felt pads on the rods to protect the ceiling.
If the rods won’t touch the ceiling even with the rods extended, as in the case of a gymnasium or garage, for example, a stand can be built to hold the lattice up, or the panels can be tied together to create a separate area.
Step Five:
If garden lattice is used, it generally has large openings, so hang curtains, sheets or blankets for extra privacy.
Step Six:
To make a larger panel, combine panels using divider moulding. This is moulding with an insertion track on each side. Only glue the corners and the middle pieces of PVC panels. Edge with cap moulding.
Place the panels against the walls for an instant room update when they aren’t being used to create sleeping or work spaces.
These make beautiful gifts for any homeowner who hosts relatives and friends overnight. They can be transported to campsites, carried in RV’s to create extra outdoor rooms, or other uses as imagination permits.
Source: The author of this article has over 40 years of experience in diverse forms of crafting, designing, and building furniture, outdoor projects and more.
