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vincent_musanti

How to temporarily divide attic from 2 other room mates?

5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago



Moving into a college house. We are all pretty handy but can not figure out how to divide the attic up for 3 guys. I plan on living in the front by the 2 windows. We were thinking heavy Drapes and large furniture. Or building a wall and screwing it to furniture instead of the walls and ceilings. Would love antique furniture up there. Possibly chaise and Wingchairs. Any suggestions?

Comments (23)

  • 5 years ago

    Could you use tall free standing bookcases to divide your space.? One side with shelves facing one room and the back of the bookcase would face the other space. Of you could use two bookcases back to back so that each space would have shelves. One set for each of the three spaces. You could configure the bookcases however you wanted....a tall one in the middle and small ones on either side. Not sure I am saying this so it is understandable, but think bookcases might be your answer for storage and etc.

  • 5 years ago

    You might be better off to separate the room in half - one part for all three beds and one part for living area if this is all the space you have. If it is for separate bedrooms, I would separate the room along the flat part of the ceiling so at least two people have a window and light. You could try stick-on hooks on the ceiling with shower curtains to give some privacy.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Children? Ages? Gender? One girl and two boys or two girls and one boy? Three of the same gender? Are you DIY inclined? HOW TEMPORARY?

    Could you draw the room, to scale, on graph paper -- size and shape of the room with windows/doors indicated -- and post?

    Have you purchased any furnishings yet?

  • 5 years ago
  • 5 years ago

    @suezbell The OP says in his post it is three college age men.

  • 5 years ago

    The flexibility of using portable heavy duty, inexpensive room dividers allows for lots of configurations and adjustments as you live in the space. Fix two together for longer partitions. Could also be fun to add graffiti to personalize the spaces




  • 5 years ago

    Same questions apply for three college aged guys and the rolling clothing racks could still work for the same reasons, calidesign . In addition to seeing a stuffed toy in the attic window, I read nothing about age in the original post that came up on my screen or in the comment except yours. Are we looking at the same post? Now note "last modified" so, maybe I didn't read it before it was modified? This is what I read:

    "How to temporarily divide attic from 2 other room mates?"

  • 5 years ago

    Looks like you have no closets, so you might want to try the Ikea wardrobe systems, which are tall enough to serve as a wall and can be customized with various combinations of shelves, hanging, etc. Pax is the main one, but they have a couple lines...





  • 5 years ago

    Idk if something like pallets --

    Studio · More Info


  • 5 years ago

    IKEA also has curtains that go on tracks with hooks, or can go on a wire. Or someone could buy fabric and make a curtain.

    I would suggest an extra long twin bed with shelves underneath for your clothes. You could make a bed frame without legs. Sand some boards, then paint and put on blocks. Or you could make it out of all wood. You don't really need drawers if you have shelves. Then a small hanging rack for other clothes and coats.

    You could also build a loft bed, and find a used dresser and/or desk for under the bed. However, you wouldn't want a loft bed if you major in "Budweiser" like my husband did. ; ).


    Remember, you need to divide the room up where everyone has a receptacle to plug their electronics in. And access to a window. Fire Marshall will require an escape window plus the stairs. (means of egress)

    Since this seems like a frat house situation, get a locking box to keep valuables in because you can't control who comes into the house.

    What do you have for escape in case of a fire? A rope ladder? Make sure everyone knows how to use it, and knows where it is.

  • 5 years ago

    @suezbell Houzz has changed the postings so you have to click on the "read more" underneath the first part of the posting, which is where the extra info from the OP showed up.

  • 5 years ago

    The three of you know each other? are your friends? are all of you in agreement on square footage each will occupy w/your stuff?


    Are you in agreement about who "lives" by the windows? Each of you gets one window above your bedding? inflatable beds and/or sleeping bags and/or bean bag beds doubling as seating?


    Sharing the other side and/or center of the room for shared table with light for computers studying?


    Do you know which way each window is facing: (absent blocking structure or tree): north/cold; south/warmer sun; east/morning sun; west/afternoon sun? Is there sufficient separate closet space -- hanging rods plus or not; shelving or not? Bathroom storage for personal items or carrying kits in and out of bathroom with each use?


    Needing desk/tables w/ lights and wiring for computers?


    With a space this small, you might not get what you want -- three of you might barely have room for what you need.


    If you don't know/trust your roommates and/or all their guests, you might also want a locking cabinet such as a (used-less expensive) four drawer lockable filing cabinet( that could certainly hold more than file folders.)-- paint the ugly thing your favorite team colors.


    It may be you need any furnishings in the room to be dual purpose. Bed side table has enough drawers for underwear.


    You might want a bed with under-bed storage or tall chest of drawers to maximize storage w/minimum foot print or a plastic tool cabinet with shelves might even be more practical..


    Not all antiques are huge but many are.


    You might get some graph paper and draw the space to scale and then see what room there is for each of you.

  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    How handy are y'all? How much work do you want to do to create an actual room for yourself? Do you have an Ikea nearby? The Kalix system is a sturdy shelving system that comes in many different size ranges and colors. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/kallax-shelf-unit-white-80275887/

    I would get the ones that go up as far as you are able to take them height wise. Line them up across the expanse of your "space opening". Now run to Lowes or Home Depot and buy some drywall. You could also use plywood but drywall is cheaper. Prime it and paint it a nice color of your choice. Cut them to the appropriate height to close off your portion of the space and cut them to fit the angle of the ceiling. Keep in mind exactly where they are going to go because you are going to attach each piece to the back side of the Kalix pieces to create a wall with your Kalix shelves on your side for storage. You can get bins that fit the openings and use these as a dresser, storage and leave some open for book shelf display as well. If you are allowed to screw into the wall or ceilings you can use "L" brackets to really secure the drywall. Remember to leave a "doorway" to enter and exit from on your new pseudo wall. You can install a curtain rod and drapery panel across this doorway for more privacy. This can be found at Ikea too. Although not antique furniture it is more practical and will give you ample storage.

  • 5 years ago

    Framed Paulownia wood torched brown / metal sheets are patterned. W 60" / H 67" / 15 lbs.

    Could try hanging/ tacking anything that stays - fabric over it...

    https://www.houzz.com/products/nova-folding-screen-with-paulownia-wood-ash-brown-prvw-vr~114241703

  • 5 years ago

    Lots of options on this website:


    Room Dividers Are Us

  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    IMO a floor plan to scale is a must. I think anything tall will also need to be attached to something do probably heavy drapes are the best answer to the issue but I am not sure how to hang them in all angles. Privacy is IMO a big deal in a shared space so post a floor plan to see hat is possible and make sure all the measurements are marked and aslo how you guys have planned on dividing the space up. IMO getting large pieces of furniture up there will be an issue for sure. From what I see egress is not an issue best if a ladder in incorporated with the windows for sure.

  • 5 years ago

    Something to consider: Instead of blocking off /dividing up space next to the windows and blocking the light from the windows, perhaps you should create a couple of dividers on interior walls opposite the windows for bed/private space so that the common "living" area will have natural light. Have you discussed how you will share this room with your prospective roommates? If not, do.

  • 5 years ago

    Vincent???? Floor plans?

  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Be real collegians just use painters tape to mask off the imaginary walls put up some shelves made of planks and cinder blocks and a couple of blackout curtains. You are good to go. Desk from Ikea or Walmart 100$ Get captain beds that can be assembled each add a lock to the drawers (you are handy) Lockable file cabinets are hard to move (bet stairs are not regulation size) Everything needs to able to be broken down and assembled in place I am sure. Just remember windows make drafts and contribute to head colds. Back in the day my roommate and I made all of our furniture except mattresses out of plastic milk crates. They stack and combine in lots of ways so we had them as box springs with just a mattress on top good for air flow. We had shelving for 100's of books along with a built in TV stand by adding a plank to the top, Also good to make a separator use a peg board and attach using twist ties or baling wire to the milk crate wall shelf and you have a closet ready made to order. Sorry don't have photos to refer to as 30 years ago. Try this milk crate furniture ideas.


    ______


    PS - see the bed with plywood on top... don't either put mat right on crate or use peg board sheet as you need air flow under the mattress

  • 5 years ago

    Is there a common social area and is this just for sleeping, or do you need more than just placing of beds and study areas?

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