How to Design a Built-In Cabinet Room Divider

Cabinet room dividers spearate any space, such as kitchen and dining areas.


If you long for an office area, extra privacy in a shared bedroom or if you simply wish your great room was more cozy, a built-in cabinet room divider could be the answer. A cabinet room divider is a more functional option than a solid wall — offering instant storage and display space, without having to add shelves or cupboards to a new interior wall. Another bonus is that a room divider does not have to be solid like a wall, allowing light to pass through and illuminate both sides of the divide, even if one side is lacking a source of natural light.


Draw a simple, scale plan of the room you wish to separate, using a piece of graph paper. Use 1 inch to represent 1 foot. Note immovable features such as doors and windows, any existing built-in furniture, light switches and electrical outlets.


Study your plan to ascertain if there are any obvious architectural features that dictate the position of the divider. If not, list the furniture you will require in both spaces on either side of the divider to determine how much space is required on either side. For example, if you wish to create a cozy reading nook off a large living room, you won't want to position the room divider in the center of the room, creating two equally-sized spaces. Ensure the position of the divider allows all doors to open fully and position it in such a way that each space has its own window, if possible.


Determine what items you intend to display or store on the room divider. For example, a dining room cabinet may require glass doors to keep glassware clean yet displayed. In a library, shelves will be required for books, but you may wish to incorporate a drinks cabinet as well.


Take careful measurements when you have decided on the positioning of the cabinet. Plan to use 2-by-4 boards for the frame, plywood boards to cover the frame and veneer sheets to cover the plywood. Alternatively, cover the frame with a solid wood such as oak.


Opt for a design and finish that complements the decor of the room. Ensure that the cabinet matches the existing decor, unless you are remodeling the entire room around the new cabinet divider. Don't take your cabinet all the way to the ceiling; leave a generous gap to allow light to travel through and maintain a feeling of light and space.

Things You Will Need

  • Graph paper
  • Tape measure


  • Remember to secure the cabinet to the floor — in the same way as an island cabinet — by attaching 2-by-4 blocks to the floor and screwing the cabinet to them.
  • Although oak is significantly more expensive, it's extremely long-lasting.

About the Author

Based in England, Tami Mason writes for and various other websites. Mason has worked as a proofreader and copy editor since 2007 and is a trained interior designer who also specializes in art history, art and crafts.

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