I want to block off an entry, lookin for ideas

My front door entry room is a definite heat sucker, so I'd like to block it off. I can't do a pocket door, so a curtain, drape, muti-bi-fold, something or other needs to go in. The opening is 7' x 7', with 14" at the lower left raised (the hearth). Looking at thermal cell drapes but there has to be a better idea out there. I don't mind a new door system either. The entry room is 3 stair risers lower than the living room, so a short drop off.
I'm open to ideas. I'll check in later, have to machine new handlebar ends for a little kid with a birth defect, so he'll have his new bike for Christmas. Thanks, JB

 

Really hard for me to come up with something without seeing it.
Can you insulate the entry room more.
A new 2x4 insulted wall inside the room, only shrinks it 8"
Good exterior door & a storm door, saves lots of heat.

 

ya, it's hard to give ideas without pictures of exactly what it looks like.

could you build a 2x4 frame, nail foam/board insulation to it, and temporary stand/tack it up there?

 

pics please...

 

Perhaps you don't have the time or even the inclination for this, but could you re-insulate that room?
Our entry is into the stove room, and I've been taking it down to studs and putting in better nsulation after doing a bunch of airsealing.
Better heat retention ( and I'm only about 1/3 done), and it's helped with comfort levels.
How about a French door.

 

Sorry I haven't replied sooner.
Without pics. this would be tough to visualize. This is just a 7' x 7' opening. The lower left has the raised hearth protruding into it about 14", by about 3" high, so a French door wouldn't work all that well. I do need access , so walling it off won't work either. Furring out and reinsulating the entry, along with new windows is in the plans, just not right now. So I'm down to either a thermal curtain that can be retracted, a temp. framework with some glass/plexi panels for light and a door, or some sort of thermal bi-fold door system. that's what I've come up with so far.

 

I'd say that the blanket may be a temporary fix considering you have some things in the works for the future. And the blanket isn't permanent.

 

I'm in agreement with you, right now. A simple sheet hung across that opening showed a difference, wasn't huge but it was noticeable.

 

That sounds like a good compromise for now. If you can get a heavy blanket or thermal curtain, it should at least cut down some heat loss.
My wife made some double think curtains for the back bedroom, and although not perfect, they do help keep down some heat loss.

 

Thanks all! I'll try the simplest route first -(Thermal drapes) and go from there. If anyone finds a newfangled heat barrier that might work for this scenario, let me know.
I'll check in later, still un-loading splits and the next 4 days are going to be grueling. (-had offered to "us" sooo much clean log-length we're taking a Gradall to the site to load trucks over the next few days.) Fellas, thanks again. JB

 

Any way you can put velcro along the edges/sides of the drapes and walls?

 

Velcro? Didn't even think about that, I'm a duct tape kind'a guy.
Aaww yeah, Velcro. I do know a seamstress who makes custom ski/snowboard gear, she may have some personal insight on this.
See!....... you post a question here, aimed at a bunch of cavemen who barely walk upright and only know Fire= hot and Wah-Lah! an answer emerges.
papadave- thanks. I mean it. JB

 

I only know about it because my wife sews, and knits ...and stuff like that.

 

papadave, my better half also does the sew, knit, crochet, needle-point, etc. ....and yet, Velcro never entered the discussion.
"Our horizons have been broadened", so to speak. Thanks again, JB.

 

You can get rolls of bubble packing that will allow light in but keep the cold out. You can put it in a frame and butt it up to the door you want to block. Easy to remove if egress is needed or when the weather warms up. Cheap, easy, and practical.

 

As a quilter, my first thought was a heavy tied quilt to hang there. I like the bubble wrap idea as the light isn't blocked out. Or a quilt with bubble wrap inside to make it lighter to hang. Velcro is the duct tape of a sewer!

 

Growing up a plumber's son, I had to read that sentence several times till it registered correctly between my ears.

 

WW, not sure if you're aware, and this is a good tip for everyone......you can even fix duct tape with duct tape.
Brian, that's funny.

 

yes, Brian, that was funny. I had to read it a few times to get the joke because I am NOT the daughter of a plumber!

 

Heck, I had to go look it up. Velcro and sewer? Ugh! But I got