Using room dividers that rule is one of my favorite ways to create designer vignettes in homes big and small. A room divider can help carve out distinct areas in a tiny apartment, but it’s also a smart solution for making a big space feel cozier and more user-friendly.

The "window walls" I designed in this Mulholland mansion's chic Dining Room were crafted from over 3,000 small pieces of recycled wood. The result is a room that feels private but lets in natural light, stunning views and the “essence” of the rest of the home.

To recreate the look in your own space, skip the custom carpentry and check out this Double Happiness Wood Room Divider. Arrange the four panels in a configuration that works for you, or display it flat against a wall as an eye-catching art piece.

I'm in love with this color! And this vibrant, turquoise-hued spider web screen will create the feeling of a separate space while still allowing light to stream through.

This black and white room divider is modern, graphic, and brings a bit of the outdoors in - my favorite design element! The four panels offer extra width and the solid construction would allow for total privacy for a bedroom nook.

Room dividers that rule don't have to stretch towards the ceiling. This hip zebra wood bar cabinet could be pushed against a wall to display classic shakers and bottles, but you could also set it perpendicular to a wall to create a sense of two separate spaces. During parties, play bartender and stand behind it to serve your guests their speciality cocktails.

Think outside the box. Room dividers that rule can also come from above! Group four of these wonderful crystal pendant lights in a row to cordon off a section of a room and lend a magic glow. These would be perfect to transition from the living room into an office, or to separate a kitchen from the dining area. Remember, you want the lights to hang low enough to create a natural divide, but not so low that someone might hit their head!

You can even achieve the look of a room divider without a single new piece of furniture by using paint. Create the sense of a separate space by painting adjacent walls (or even the same wall) contrasting colors or a light and dark version of a favorite shade.  

My eco-friendly, do-it-yourself paint kit Wall Makeup can help you mix up ideal custom colors and save money without wasting tester cans of paint. So grab a few friends, pick up some brushes or rollers and get creative to make a statement that sets off your space!

 Images: Kari Whitman