Top Tips To Create More Privacy In Your Home (& Common Issues To Avoid)

Are you living in a shared space and struggling with ways to create more privacy in this scenario? You're not alone! In fact, a 2017 Pew Research study found that over 75 million U.S. adults live in a shared household. For some, feeling crowded in their living space can lead to unnecessary stress and mental health struggles. Finding a balance between open-concept living and privacy can be hard when there are multiple people under one roof, but setting up screens or room dividers and having frosted glass in the bathroom are just some of the steps to giving everyone their own space.

It's important to make sure you aren't inadvertently creating more privacy issues with your decor or overlooking areas for improvement. For example, filling a space with too many items can make it feel suffocating. Instead, arrange your furniture strategically to create different zones or sections in a room. Another issue people run into is realizing that privacy is not just a visual element, but auditory as well. Don't just focus on what you can add to visually block out an area, but keep in mind how sound travels between rooms. Some find that using sound-dampening curtains or running a sound machine can help prevent conversations from carrying.

While there are backyard privacy hacks galore, concerns over interior space sharing are sometimes overlooked. If you're looking to designate space in an area like a bedroom or living room, using a room divider can help without blocking out any natural light. These screens are easy to set up and ideal for those whose situation is temporary. Changes like adding an entirely new wall are expensive and more permanent than these moveable structures. You can choose what material and design the screen is, as well as the height and width, to make sure it provides the level of privacy needed.

If you're looking for a way to increase privacy in a shared bathroom, consider frosting the shower door glass. This simple hack will make it so anyone in the shower is not visible to those who need to come into the room, which is sometimes unavoidable in a shared space with only one bathroom. You don't have to replace the entire glass panel to achieve this, though! You can use a frosted-glass finish spray paint to change the appearance or use an adhesive film that sticks directly to the glass. It can be challenging to create privacy in a small or shared space, but being proactive with these steps and communicating your needs can make this process easier.