Do you have a preference for an open-plan layout, but don’t quite like it? If you like its spacious feel, extra light, and views from the outside, but want to know how to subdivide the area, then a half-wall or pony wall can come in handy.
As shown in the image below, horizontal or vertical mini-walls can be separated without being enclosed, satisfying both the desire for a modern layout and the need for a cocoon-like area, a bit of privacy, and a place to place furniture or hanging items.
Draw a line. In this open space, a half-wall separates the lounge area from the dining area so that the loungers feel fixed in the large space, while the dining area feels very different. The wall also creates a place to display favorite items.
Another open-ended division technique is also used here. The bed is located on a platform, closed but not partitioned by glass, so that it is both away from and above the living area, adding another level to this small house.
Warm on both sides. In this home, the partitions are vertical, not horizontal. Again, it creates a more intimate area in an open-plan layout. An added bonus is the built-in fireplace, which is double-sided and is the focal point of comfort in this and other seating areas.
The firewood storage room next to it also allows people to see from one space to another, maintaining a sense of openness.
Hire a multitasker. In this bedroom and bathroom space, the partition is a headboard that allows the bathroom to access one side and makes the overhanging ceiling visible. Notice how it is fitted with glass panels to let light through.
This strategy leaves room for wall-mounted items, such as cast concrete bedside lamps.
Create a dressing area. In this bedroom, the dressing area is halfway off the wall (see the next photo for the view on the other side). This partition again doubles as a headboard and at the same time allows the closet cabinets to be seen from the bedroom.
Look at the carpets here. The soft texture to treat barefoot is bound to make the early start less painful.
Double the effect. The combination of half-walls and varying heights separates the fireside seating area from the sofa area filled with books. The walls divide the areas without obstructing the light from the windows on both sides. Of course, the stove itself can be an open partition, but combining it with the walls helps to make the cozy area more unique.
The top of the half-wall is finished with wood, showing off natural materials and warming the space in cool tones.
Provide a view. In this home office, the half-walls create a workspace that overlooks the entire house and shares the light from the windows on both sides. This ingenious trick draws a boundary to the desk area instead of confined it to a narrow place. See this space from the other side in the next photo.
Keeping the floors consistent – in this case, the wood in the office and on the stairs – is another way to visually expand the space.
Choose what you want to reveal. Both vertical and horizontal half-walls allow you to manage what you see in different parts of an open space, so make the most of this in your planning. In this room, for example, the elegant freestanding bathtub takes center stage, while the more mundane areas of the bathroom are hidden.
This room also exemplifies the white stretching effect of space, with the long room appearing longer as the half-walls and the distant walls visually recede.
Consolidated storage. In this barn remodeling, there is a middle and middle partition between the bedroom and the bathroom. Here’s another example of multitasking, this time by adding a closet to the room.
The color palette is also a visual separator of this open plan, with the dark tones of the bathroom contrasting with the clean white of the sleeping area.
Speed up table setting. Storage space is also an added bonus to the half-wall, which separates the dining room from the living area. There is a glass and vase holder on this side for easy table setting. On the other side there is a shelf and a place to install a TV.
Notice how the dividers are placed to allow air circulation and light flow.
Install niches. Half walls are available in various sizes. Here, a wall of equal length to the bathtub partially conceals the shower. Installing an alcove keeps bath supplies readily available – if you want a freestanding bathtub with no room for potions on the edge of the tub, then this idea is worth remembering.