Half walls are not necessarily different from regular interior walls except for the overall dimensions and the purposes. As you need to separate two or more areas having an open floor; a partial wall is always worth considering.
Although these walls are useful in several places, the most common example can be a wall cut out between the kitchen and living room. When you are not sleeping, you are likely to be somewhere near or within the kitchen or the living space.
So, the wall that separates these spaces has its significance, and you want to use your best imagination to build such a wall and use it to your advantage. In this article, you’ll come across some cost-effective half-wall ideas between the kitchen and living room as well as the steps to build one and knock down an existing wall.
Five Wall Ideas Between Kitchen and Living Room
As you look for ideas, there are dozens of ways to choose from, depending on the interior setup of your home. The following are the most popular and useful ones to try.
If you think your walls are too dull and are looking for a unique decorative element, then you can brighten it up with neon lights. Personalized neon signs can create a unique focal point for your private space. You can simply turn it on when you have the whim to dance or drink in your home and it will add a wonderful ambiance to your life.
Permanent Options
We can tell you about two permanent fixtures when you are sure to have something to section off the area between your living room and kitchen and not knock it down anytime soon.
- A low ledge with short/ full-length pillars or a knee wall that maintains a spacious feel
- A room divider that slides on a track system with a wall-to-wall extension and can be closed partially or completely to allow the level of privacy required
Each of these options requires a considerable amount of effort and investment (several hours to a day’s work and around a thousand bucks plus the labor if you want to tear them down at a later period). So, think through the idea before going with either of them.
An Island Counter
Typical to small homes, the living room and kitchen share a wall where an island counter can be built or placed in between the two areas to separate them. Your living area gets a bar counter furnished with items of your choice, and you’ll find a new way to entertain your guests.
Brick and Mortar Columns
Dwellers inside larger houses can create a useful partition between their kitchens and living rooms by building traditional columns, brick-and-mortar ones. You can do it without blocking the ventilation system or the flow of light between these two spaces.
However, brick partitions might not be an attractive choice to those who own smaller apartments. Thinner columns made of wood can be built to create the same effect.
Furniture Items
A piece of furniture can be placed between the kitchen and living room, should you need to section them off. However, first things first. It is highly recommended to paint furniture without sanding. This is the suggested method by professionals from Holapaints and it will improve the aesthetics of the living room. It can be as simple as situating a living room sofa in a way that its back faces the kitchen.
You can also position a table behind that sofa to further define and enhance the partition and then choose a small spot where table lamps can be set to provide illumination across both spaces. Other items like a sideboard, bookcase, armoire, or some open shelving units can be considered too.
However, you need to choose the ones that come with a good finish on both sides. These separators not only make an ideal divider but also provide some extra storage.
Frosted Glass Walls
According to VIP Realty, some households enjoy a limited amount of natural light but look for ways to get more. A frosted glass wall can be the most reasonable solution to this problem, and you can separate the kitchen area from the living room without causing any hindrance to the brightness.
In addition to these half-wall ideas between the kitchen and living room, you can initiate a DIY half-wall project to build something using your imagination. Unless you have a specific demand to fulfill for your interiors, you can go ahead and build a simple half-wall.
How to Build a Half Wall Between Kitchen and Living Room?
First, you need to make the frame. We recommend that you use 2×4 lumber. Measure the height and length of the desired wall and figure out the size and number of the vertical boards or studs based on the wall’s width. Make sure the studs stand 16 inches apart from each other and at each of the wall’s ends.
Build the Frame
Start with calculating the height of the studs which should be between 35 inches and 45 inches. Find out how many boards you need and then determine their length. Cut boards according to these calculations and screw them to build your half-wall frame.
Anchor the Frame
You have to anchor the frame. With walls having exposed sides, you can easily screw the frame into those studs. With a covered wall, you want a stud finder and locate all studs, so the frame can be screwed to them. Anchor the wall to your floor using concrete screws or liquid nails depending on the floor type.
Apply Drywall
A common choice for interior walls is 1/2-inch drywall sheets which need to be measured and cut to size. Screw the drywall into place using appropriate screws. Measure everything carefully before initiating the cutting process.
There is barely any chance for you to avoid having some wiggle room at the wall’s bottom. Don’t worry because you can cover it using baseboards or wooden cabinets.
Mud Each Joint and Screw All Holes
Use tapes that are suitable for drywall joints and apply mud to cover each visible seam (the point where both new and old walls meet. Cover all screw holes with mud as well. Use a spatula or a joint knife while applying the mud. Use the same tool to smooth it out.
Doing a drywall job requires the angle and the pressure you maintain holding the spatula to be precise. A rule of thumb is to hold the joint knife at a 45° angle while applying a little bit of pressure, but not brute force. Leave it for at least 24 hours to become dry.
You’ll see some white-colored patches on your drywall, which are dried mud covering the screw holes. You need to sand it for a smooth finish to get rid of the bumpy look.
Sand the Wall to Perfection
This step comes before the one where you want to paint the half wall. Use 150-grit sandpaper to smooth out all the lines and bumps left by the mud. Sand at an angled motion instead of an up-and-down style to avoid weird lines through the paint.
A little pressure needs to be applied evenly over your sander since you’ll be working to smooth out the raised parts if any. Find a piece of dry rag and use it to wipe down your wall to remove whatever dust is on it.
Now that the half wall has been built, you want to give it the look it requires to match the interiors. Start painting it and apply the baseboard to make it look consistent with all the walls that stand next to the new one. You can also apply trim to the wall’s edges.
How to Decorate a Half Wall Between Kitchen and Living Room?
These walls are dividers that separate two distinct spaces without requiring you to completely close off one from another. So, you want to think of decoration that works for both spaces, thereby bringing an airy feeling and openness between them.
From painting to accessorizing the half-wall, you’ve several choices to pick from. Here’s a list of things you can do to utilize the wall in the household decor.
- Paint each of the wall’s sides with a different shade of color, so it can reflect the space that faces that painted portion of your wall.
- A textured wallpaper or one with a special color or pattern can be put on the wall.
- You can place furniture items either in front of your half-wall or looking toward it. You can also keep the furniture facing that wall, should you use that spot as a focal point for both spaces.
- Small decorative items and other things like pottery, vases/ bud vases, pictures, houseplants, trophies, or knick-knacks can be added too.
- Above your hall wall, items like lights, chandeliers, shelves, or plants can be hung to bring a dramatic look. A movable curtain of panels or beads also makes a great addition to the half-wall.
- To add a touch of warmth and beauty to the space, consider using a Persian rug in complementary colors and patterns that will be an accent piece on the living room side of the half wall.
Recommendations for Room Decoration Ideas
VIP Realty states, that for room decoration recommendations, the best is to have a unique design. custom wall decoration stickers from CustomSticker.com, not only the factory price but also provide free design services. If you want other ways of decoration, then custom hard enamel pins on display, are a unique way to design. Whether it’s an honor you’ve received or a pin you designed yourself, use it to decorate your room and make it unique. Solutions are simple, ranging from simple hanging fabrics to fabrics with storage cabinets, beautiful wooden boxes with special frames, and plexiglass or glass screens. Turn your walls into works of art.
How Do I Separate My Kitchen from the Living Room?
An interior layout with no walls between the living room and the kitchen is as popular as it gets. But where is your privacy, especially when all the house guests are in and you need some space of your own? The layout may be good but not enough to outweigh your privacy. Here comes the idea of separating both areas. But how can you do it?
Many options are available. Just as we mentioned above, you can divide both spaces using a kitchen island, a table, a sliding partition, a glass wall, or a few pieces of furniture like the sofa. A partial wall can be an appealing choice for those looking for a solid partition.
It is easy to tear the wall down to its entirety, but that won’t enable you to keep these rooms separate. So, the whole wall can be knocked down to half, but you must make sure anything that is done to that wall doesn’t affect the building’s structural integrity.
- A textured wallpaper or one with a special color or pattern can be put on the wall.
- One option is to add window blinds from Affordable Blinds. This can give the space a more finished look and provide some privacy if needed.
- You can place furniture items either in front of your half-wall or looking toward it. You can also keep the furniture facing that wall, should you use that spot as a focal point for both spaces.
That is pretty much what we wanted to tell you about half walls and how they fit inside our houses. But you can write to us for more half wall ideas between kitchen and living room or suggestions for home improvement within budget. We’ll be happy to write back to you.
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