The quick answer
For a renter, the options that go up and come down without screws are a curtain on a tension rod, a folding screen and a bead curtain. Accordion doors, barn-door tracks and anything else screwed into the frame or wall are fixed work and may need your landlord's written okay. Read your lease first, and never block a doorway that is a way out.
People look for a temporary door because the room has an opening with nothing in it: a bedroom carved out of a studio, a walk-in closet, a doorway the previous tenant took the door off. The trouble starts when the fix leaves holes, because deposit disputes and lease clauses care about what's attached to the building, not how stylish it looks.
Check Your Lease First
Leases vary, and the wording decides what you can do. As one example, the HUD lease form for assisted housing says no alteration, addition or improvement may be made to the premises without the landlord's prior written consent, and that tenants may not place fixtures in or about the premises without written permission. If permission is given, the tenant must remove the fixtures at move-out without damage. Ordinary private leases often have a similar clause, though not all do, and state law differs.
Search yours for "alterations," "fixtures," "nails" and "damage." If a clause is vague, ask the landlord by email and keep the reply. A one-line yes in writing is cheap protection. The no-drill options below are the safest bet, though whether any of them is allowed in your building depends on your lease.
Keep Every Way Out Open
A temporary door changes how fast you can get out. The US Fire Administration says to find two ways out of every room and to make sure doors and windows are not blocked. A curtain or bead strand is fine for that, since you can push through it. A bookcase, a locked panel or a screen wedged in a narrow hall is a different matter. If the opening you're covering is the main way out of a bedroom, choose something you can push or pull aside in the dark.
The Options Compared
The notes below are judgement from how each is built, not test results.
| Option | Drilling | Privacy and sound | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curtain on a tension rod | None | Good for sight, little for sound | Rod rating limits fabric weight |
| Bead curtain | Usually none with a tension rod | Low | Doesn't hide much |
| Folding screen | None | Good for sight | Takes floor space |
| Accordion door | Yes, track and jamb | Medium | Fixed work in the frame |
| Sliding barn door | Yes, wall track | Medium | Heavy, needs solid mounting |
| Bookcase divider | Anchoring advised | Medium | Tip-over risk, blocks passage |
| Saloon-style swing doors | Yes, hinges | Low | Permanent look in the frame |
Curtains and Bead Strands
A tension rod is the least trouble. One DIY blogger's walkthrough says to measure the doorway, extend the rod just past it and slide it in nice and tight, then use an opaque single panel to block light. The same post warns to know how much weight the rod holds before hanging anything heavy, and it gives no number, so read the package.
A curtain gives sight privacy and almost no sound blocking. If the aim is to keep a partner's lamp or TV light out, a lined panel does the job. If the aim is to stop noise, a curtain won't.
Bead curtains hang the same way and let you walk through, but they hide little. They work for a kitchen nook or a closet more than a bedroom.
Screens and Folding Doors
A folding screen needs no tools and moves with you. The cost is a strip of floor, and it only works if the opening is not the room's path in and out.
Accordion doors are different. A manufacturer's installation sheet for one folding door line has the installer screw the track along the top of the opening and fix a wall jamb to the permanent wall with metal screws, after checking the wall has enough support. That is permanent work with holes, so it needs permission in a rental, and the landlord can ask you to restore the frame.
Bookcase and Barn Door
A bookcase makes a divider with storage, but a tall unit that isn't fixed can tip. CPSC says existing furniture can be anchored with inexpensive anti-tip brackets, which means screws into the wall, and that's a rental question again. It also blocks passage, so it suits a space that has another route out. Avoid it across a bedroom doorway.
A sliding barn door hangs from a track fixed to the wall above the opening. Mounting hardware varies by kit, so read the product's own instructions. A solid door adds real privacy, but it's the most invasive item here. Saloon-style doors need hinges set into the frame, so they land in the same group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put up a temporary door in a rental?
It depends on your lease. HUD's lease form for assisted housing requires written landlord consent for alterations and fixtures. Check your own lease, and ask in writing if it isn't clear.
What is the cheapest temporary door for an apartment?
A curtain on a tension rod is generally the lowest-cost option and needs no tools. Pick a rod whose package rating covers the weight of your fabric.
Is it safe to block a doorway with a bookcase or screen?
Not if it's a way out. The US Fire Administration advises two ways out of every room with doors and windows kept unblocked. Anchor any tall furniture too, as CPSC recommends.
Do temporary doors block sound?
Curtains, beads and thin screens block very little. Heavier panels help more, but none of the options here are soundproof.
Sources
- HUD: Model lease for subsidized housing (form 90105b) (alterations and fixtures need written landlord consent)
- US Fire Administration: Home Fire Escape Plans (two ways out, unblocked doors and windows)
- CPSC: Anchor It (anti-tip brackets for furniture)
- Chas' Crazy Creations: Using a tension rod for privacy (fitting a rod and curtain in a doorway)
- Moderco: Unifold folding door installation instructions (track and wall jamb are screwed in)
The HUD form covers assisted housing only. Private leases and state law vary, so your own lease is what counts.