What could I install to make my downstairs less open plan?

Pandilex

I recently bought a house and I have discovered it has dreadful insulation. The downstairs has a living room and dining room that are adjacent with a large rectangular archway between them. The stairs are also in the dining room, meaning any heat downstairs eventually goes up the stairs.

What I want to do is block off the space between the living room and the dining room, which is the big rectangular archway.

I considered that maybe I could put up a curtain rail and have some curtains, if I make the curtain rail longer than the archway then I can slide them right out of the way when not in use.

But I don't know if some kind of door, shutter, or blind system might be better. There isn't a lot of room to play with so a door that opens out would not be practical.

I don't really know where to look for this sort of thing or what options might exist.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Here is a professionally drawn layout of the downstairs of my house



It has slightly high ceilings as well which makes the heat even worse.

The red dotted bit is the part I want to block off then I can heat the living room bit on its own when winter comes along.

Any advice welcome!

DoctorFoster

How about a bi fold door?

SailorSam

I think 'cos of the high ceiling i'd put in a fixed fanlight and a lower door.
With winter quickly coming i'd go for a simple curtain this year until you can sort something better.

Pandilex

SailorSam wrote: »

I think 'cos of the high ceiling i'd put in a fixed fanlight and a lower door.
With winter quickly coming i'd go for a simple curtain this year until you can sort something better.

What do you mean by a lower door?

Do you think it matters which side of the wall I affix the curtain? Or which type? I am so clueless!

tyllwyd

How about a panel blind?
http://www.louvolite.com/product-range/panel-blinds.aspx

Southend1

My stairs are in the lounge. When I moved in I added more loft insulation and this helped to keep heat downstairs as it didn't just go all the way up and out if you see what I mean. I would check what's in your loft and upgrade if necessary. It doesn't cost much to do.

SailorSam

Pandilex wrote: »

What do you mean by a lower door?

Do you think it matters which side of the wall I affix the curtain? Or which type? I am so clueless!

I don't think it will make much difference which side the curtain went, whichever looked best. I think i'd go the lounge side.
When i said lower door i meant shorter. If the ceiling is high then a sliding door that high would be heavier on the rollers/sliding mechanism. So if you got a standard door and built a fanlight above.

Ant555

Is the opening in question the only way in/out of the living room?

Was there once a door off the hallway into the living room that has since been blocked up.

The high ceilings have been mentioned in this thread but what is the height of the opening - surely its not all the way to the ceiling is it?

Would any of these look suitable
http://www.gallantdoors.com/
(no association, just the top search from 'bifold room dividers')

arbrighton

We have a large arch between the hall, which is large but somehow dead space and the living room. As part of (a large) renovation project, they've put us in an understairs cupboard with studwork/ plasterboard and the smaller opening is having two small doors made by the joiner, so that they don't protrude beyond the (very thick) walls of the opening.
Not a cheap way of doing it but will work with the house, increase storage and reduce the dead space in the hall way

SailorSam

I was thinking, if you didn't want a fanlight it would be easy to get some 2" timber to make a framework and some plasterboard to box it in. Maybe make a frame on both sides then when you put the plasterboard on you could get it 'even' with the other walls. Put some lining paper over and decorate.