How to Close Off a Loft

Give your loft increased privacy with a partial wall.

Choose a portable wall design with complementary hues and textures to enhance your existing decorating style and color scheme

1. Place one or more folding screens in your loft to provide a visual wall between the open loft area and the room below. Paneled screens are available in a wide variety of styles, colors and designs, so select a screen to complement your existing decor. The Asian-inspired Shoji screen is an enduring favorite, and is constructed with rice paper panels fitted onto a decorative frame. The translucent rice paper panels allow light to filter through the screen, while providing limited privacy. Because folding screens are portable, you can easily fold and store them in a closet when you desire an open-loft atmosphere.

2. Install a ceiling curtain track outfitted with floor-to-ceiling drapes to provide visual privacy to almost any loft area. Use draperies with an attractive appearance on both the front and back sides, or hang two sets of drapery panels back-to-back to offer a different look for the loft area and the space below. Pull the drapes wide open when you prefer a more spacious ambiance. Hang strings of beads or shells from the ceiling in lieu of draperies for decorative appeal with some visual privacy.

3. Situate large pieces of furniture between the loft and open area below to supply a partial visual partition. Line up one or more towering bookcases to create a decorative furniture wall for the rooms below your loft, as well as supplying a functional piece for storing books and displaying collectibles in the loft area. Alternatively, opt for an open-shelving unit, two-sided bookcase or oversize armoire instead of the bookcase. Flank the divider furniture pieces with potted floor plants to add visual interest to your faux wall.