5 Tips to Create More Privacy in Your Shared Home, According to Designers

Looking for simple ways to incorporate more privacy into your shared home or apartment? Three design experts chime in to share five different, easy-to-implement hacks that will transform your space in no time. These approaches are all budget-friendly and stylish, and many are ideal for those who are renters, too.

Carefully Position a Bookcase

The right style of bookshelf can aptly serve as a divider wherever needed, creating various zones allowing family members to work and play in private, even if they're technically in the same room. Opt for one wide shelf or push two together to create your desired look depending on how much space you have available.

Alice Arterberry, who is the co-founder of Arterberry Cooke, recommends adding more books for privacy and less for more openness. And do not forget to tackle the top of the bookcase like placing some plants for a pop of greenery, Arterberry suggests.

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DIY a Wall Panel

Put your skills to the test and build your own wooden wall panel inspired by this creation that Alexandra Gater, a home decor expert, made. The panel successfully separates Gater's bed area from her main living space, allowing for privacy, while also providing storage thanks to the hooks attached to its back.

Its design complements the apartment's sleek, mid-century modern style and extends all the way up to the ceiling, making for an eye-catching moment that brings unique architectural flair to the apartment.

Make Use of Room Dividers

Amanda Foster, who has a background in interior architecture and is now the founder of Foster Decor Consulting, is a proponent of making use of traditional room dividers wherever possible.

"There are endless options in the textures, colors, and styles," she says. "They are also customizable so they can grow with you and your changing styles."

Folding screens, in particular, are quite popular these days and come in many different patterns, as Foster notes. You may also wish to take things into your own hands and once again enjoy a DIY project. You can use fabric remnants to make your very own folding screen or recover an existing one so that it better suits your design aesthetic.

Use Stained Glass Decals

Stick-on privacy options are great for those looking to cover their windows, Foster notes.

"These add so much character and fun to your home not to mention gorgeous colors when the sun hits them," she says.

Many people make use of these types of window decals in bathrooms, oftentimes positioning them solely on the bottom half of the window. As an extra perk, these decals can work wonders in livening up a plain, rental-grade bathroom due to their colorful designs and fun patterns. When your lease ends, simply remove the decals, and your apartment will be as good as new.

Thoughtfully Position Some Plants

If you love decorating your home with green friends galore, then this hack will come easily. Whether you're an experienced plant parent or a new one, you may wish to think about making use of potted plants to bring more privacy into your home.

"Use indoor plants and outdoor elements to divide your space up in a way that feels natural and inviting without completely blocking it off," Foster says. "This will also bring life into your space as well as pops of color depending on the plants you choose to use."

This concept is similar to how many people artfully position trees and greenery outdoors so that neighbors cannot peer directly onto their porches, yards, or balconies.

Better yet, you can replicate this concept using fake plants, too, if those are a better match for your lifestyle. There are many realistic, life-like faux plants on the market today, so your guests certainly won't be able to tell what's actually growing and what isn't right off the bat.