Define Living Spaces With A Room Divider Made Of IKEA's Outdoor Deck Tiles

As is the case with most of IKEA's products, the ALTAPPEN deck tiles are truly versatile. Made of durable plastic, these weather- and fade-resistant light gray tiles snap together to fit any size space. What's more, they can easily be cut with scissors to wrap around edges, nooks, and crannies. Better yet, at just $15.99 for a pack of nine titles which covers 8.72 square feet, it's a truly budget-friendly option. They're fabulous for creating outdoor decking and also come in handy around pools and hot tubs where they create a surface that's easy to wipe clean. However, their DIY uses reach far beyond that. For example, you can turn these simple IKEA tiles into a dreamy privacy screen for your balcony. You can also bring them indoors and build your own custom-made room dividers, ideal for studios and small apartments. To complete this DIY, you'll attach the tiles together and hang them from the ceiling between two areas.

Turning IKEA's ALTAPPEN deck tiles into a privacy screen only requires a few unique items (including book rings, cup hooks, Command strips, and a PVC or wood trim board). This DIY is also a great way to define living spaces while letting through natural light and allowing for air circulation. And because installation isn't permanent, it's the perfect option for anyone who's renting their place. Here's how to complete this project.

There are plenty of great ways to create your own room divider, and using IKEA's ALTAPPEN decking is certainly one of them. First, measure the size you'd like your screen to be and purchase the right amount of tiles, keeping in mind that each one is 11¾ inches wide and long. Three packs would set you back about $48 — a great discount compared to the retailer's ready-made room dividers, which cost over $100.

Then, per Yoduvh Essentials on YouTube, snap the tiles together to fit the dimensions of your space. Attach book rings to the exposed hooks on top of what will be the uppermost ALTAPPEN tiles. Next, drill pilot holes and screw cup hooks into your trim board made of PVC or wood that will be attached to the ceiling. The hooks should correspond to where each book ring will hang from. In order to ensure your DIY screen is easy to remove later on, use Command strips to stick the trim board to the ceiling. Finally, hang the rings on the hooks.

While creating your divider, you can snap all of the tiles together or let them hang as separate panels. Alternatively, you can superglue panels of foam board covered in mirror paper between your ALTAPPEN panels. You can also use a strip at the bottom to give your divider a clean finish, then attach it to the floor and/or wall with more Command strips.

Since there are so many great IKEA hacks out there, it's no surprise that you can create a DIY room divider using a myriad of IKEA goodies. While ALTAPPEN outdoor deck tiles offer a great option, you can also easily DIY a room divider for $20 with IVAR shelving sides or create a functional dividing wall using BILLY or KALLAX bookcases. Both come in a variety of heights and widths, allowing you to build the right size partition for your home. They also serve a double function as both dividers and handy storage units. Alternatively, if you don't need any extra space for your things, you can use the VIDGA curtain track system to hang a curtain in the middle of a room rather than by the window. This option allows for great flexibility, as you can easily slide the fabric panels back and forth as needed.

However, one of the most fun and versatile options is a DIY hanging garden partition. All you'll need is a RIGGA clothes rack and a handful of gorgeous trailing plants. Place the planters on the base of the rack and wrap their vines around the bars. What's more, thanks to its wheels and light frame, the RIGGA is easy to move around so you can switch up your room configuration at any time. Or, combine the ALTAPPEN divider with this idea and grow plants up the deck tiles for the best of both worlds.