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Introduction
A folding room divider with removable fabric panels offers a stylish and practical solution for organizing your space. This lightweight design not only helps divide rooms but also hides clutter effortlessly.
The easy-to-make structure requires only basic carpentry skills and costs less than $15. With small curtain tension rods, you can easily change or clean the fabric inserts, allowing for seasonal updates in decor.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to create your DIY folding room divider and discover the simple steps to customize its look with removable fabric panels.
How to Make a Folding Screen with Fabric
Note: Screen Panel Measurements
- Outside measurements are 19 inches wide by 59 inches long.
- The inside measurements (for fabric insert) are 13 inches wide by 50 inches long.
Tools Required for the Screen
- Electric drill with 5/16″ drill bit
- Hammer
- Small Saw
- Screwdriver
- Wood clamps (optional)
Material for Pine Frame
- 6 pieces of 6 feet x 1-in x 3-in clear pine (2 for each screen panel)
- 6 brad hinges (two for each screen panel)
- 12 5/16″ wooden dowel pins
- Wood glue
- Sandpaper
- Varnish or stain (as desired)
- Small paintbrush (to apply varnish or stain)
Instructions
- With a pencil, mark off a 13-inch at each end of the 6-foot lengths of lumber.
- With the saw, at the 13-inch mark, cut each length of pine. There will be six 13-inch pieces – two for each panel.
- Sand each one of these and then set aside.
- Sand each of the six 59-inch pieces.
- Mark and drill a 5/16″ hole 1″ from the top and 2″ from the bottom of each 59-inch length.
- Mark and drill the 6 smaller pieces, center the holes at each end.
- Fasten pieces for the panels as shown in the Figure below, using glue to reinforce the joints. Set aside to dry.
- When dry, sand and varnish or stain each frame panel. Let’s dry.
- Attach two hinges to either side of the center frame 12″ from top and 12″ from bottom and then attach these hinges to side frames to complete the assembly. For easier assembly, clamp the frames together to evenly mark the hinge holes and drive in the screws.
- Use small curtain tension rods at the bottom and top of each screen section to hold the fabric inserts. See the instructions below on how to make the fabric inserts.
See the instructions below on how to make the fabric inserts.


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How to Make the Fabric Panel Inserts
Material Required
- 9 yards by 45-inch wide fabric
- 6 curtain tension rods (11-inch to 14-inch extension x 7/8-inch)
- Scissors
Instructions
- Measure and cut three panels of 3 yards long by 15 inches wide each.
- For each panel: Fold and sew a 1/4-inch seam along both lengths of the edges of the fabric.
- Press, fold, and sew a second ¼-inch seam again to give both sides a clean finished appearance.
- Fold the material in half lengthwise right sides together and sew the bottom edges together to make a “circle” of fabric.
- Press the seam flat and turn the right sides out. Press again.
- Insert these panels using the tension rods.
It takes very little time to assemble this folding room divider. It’s lightweight making it easy to move around and also to store.
RELATED: How to Install Curtain Rods
Conclusion
Creating a folding room divider with removable fabric panels is a simple and cost-effective way to enhance your living space. This lightweight and easy-to-move divider not only provides privacy but also helps keep your home organized.
With basic carpentry skills, anyone can assemble this stylish piece in no time. The versatility of changing fabric for seasons adds a personal touch. Try making your own divider today and transform your space effortlessly. Your home deserves it.
FAQs
You’ll need 6 pieces of 6 feet x 1-in x 3-in clear pine, brad hinges, wooden dowel pins, wood glue, sandpaper, varnish or stain, small curtain tension rods, and fabric for the panels.
The total cost to make a folding room divider is under $15.00.
You’ll need an electric drill with a 5/16″ drill bit, hammer, small saw, screwdriver, and optionally wood clamps.
Yes! The small curtain tension rods hold the fabric inserts in place, allowing you to easily remove them for cleaning or to switch out for different looks or seasons.
For each fabric insert, the dimensions should be 13 inches wide by 50 inches long, and you’ll need to cut three panels of 3 yards long by 15 inches wide each.
Absolutely! This folding room divider only requires rudimentary carpentry skills, making it a great project for beginners.
3 comments
Can someone please tell me what ‘brad’ hinges are. Have asked in several shops but no-one seems to know.
Thank you very much. There are very few plans shared with the detsils,directions,details,, needed, everything spelled out. Very much appreciated. Looking forward a rd to starting and know exactly it will be going.
If we’re cutting 45″ fabric into 3-15″ wide pieces of 3 yards’ length each, don’t we need just the 3 yards, and not 9? I’ve already bought the 9 yds, unfortunately, but the directions don’t say to cut 3 pieces of 3 yds x 45″…