If you have an old set of wood-slatted folding doors sitting around in your garage or attic, put them to good use by creating a privacy screen for your child. This material is easy to paint and is self-standing, making this a fast and economical project. Pick up some bright blue, red, yellow and green paint at the home improvement store. Two double door units will create an ideal work environment, allowing for substantial blockage of noise and movement. Take your time and paint each wooden slat a different color, moving downward from blue to red then yellow and green. Paint your child's name in white across the middle rectangle on each set of doors.
Pick up some plywood at your local wood supply store and head home to craft three individual frames. Make all three frames the same size, 3 feet by 4 feet. After nailing together the ends of the four structural pieces, wrap fabric around the entire wood frame four times and staple along the edges. Make this screen appealing to kids by allowing them to select the fabric for their dividers. To secure this divider in the ground, use plywood to construct a base to support all three units.
One quick, affordable and simple way to create a private work space for your child is to hang a long wide blind from the ceiling. Make sure that the blind reaches at least three-quarters of the way to the floor, so when your student sits down at her table she won't have an open view of the distracting action taking place behind her. To assure that ceiling-to-floor measurements are exact, head to a fabric store and pick up the material for your divider, then sew it together yourself. Sew two small metal rings--one on the left end and one on the right--into the top of the fabric. Sew a 1/2-inch opening all the way across the length of the blind at the bottom, then insert a brass rod to weigh the screen down. Screw two hooks into the ceiling and hang the screen by its rings.
Constructing wooden bookcases in your garage or backyard allows you to determine the exact measurements of the privacy screen your child will enjoy. Use sturdy wood such as oak or maple to ensure the cases stay firmly planted on the floor. Whether you use a hand or power saw to cut the wood, the only other materials you need are a hammer, some nails and sandpaper, plus paint, as desired. For ideal privacy build cases at least 2 feet taller than your child, and construct three units in total. Line shelves with colorful contact paper and fill then with plastic colored bins for storage.