Install tracks on the ceiling.

Thanks for the links mysh75

I had seen some of these elsewhere in Houzz and doesn't seem like there's online ordering.

Might also add cost effective is important since this may not be a permanent solution...

Thanks for the links!

the same stair gates that you use for kids would work fine. They don't need screws and would fit across your stairs no problem. Babies R Us or IKEA have cheap options or check out gumtree/ebay as you only need them for a few years with kids...

Just read your brief again and seems you may need sight protection from guests? If security is not an issue you may get away with a screen

grandeplan both good ideas also.

I have been searching the internet for my original idea and cant find it.. so here goes my explanation...
Originally I thought of the japanese screens, but on caster wheels to door frame height. That way you could take the to another room to use or for storage when out of sight without needing 2 people to move them through a doorway. Or, if they were only for one area, they could be almost ceiling height. For stability, you could have a few rings put in the ceiling and hooks on the screen side. That way if you wanted to get rid of the system later, you would only have a few screw holes to patch in the ceiling rather than a whole track. The rings I refer to are the same ones they use for kids swings to allow the chain to move. They have a heavy weight rating and should be secured to your roof beams not straight into the ceiling board. That way of someone falls or leans on the screens it wont rip half your ceiling down :)

mysh75 what a coincidence! When shopping today I saw several screens and like the idea of securing it to the ceiling. To get a feel for the space closed off we might put boards up for a few days just to feel how the space is with something blocking the stairs. I have 8' particle boards and it sometimes helps me to feel the space to mock up a solution.

May I ask why you want this? Are you running a bed & breakfast or a paying guest house?

Hi Dee
AWESOME! Glad you understood my gooble-de-gook! Trial run is ALWAYS a good idea as it costs nothing to test out the theory :)