A pony wall is a short wall that offers both privacy and open space. It’s typically used to partition off a kitchen island or bar area from the rest of the room. The wall can help with sound dampening, privacy, and provide a sense of coziness without making the room feel smaller. In this guide, I’ll show you how to build your own pony wall using plywood or MDF!
What is a pony wall?
A pony wall is a partition that divides a room, such as a kitchen. Pony walls are commonly found in kitchens and other areas of the home where there is limited square footage. A pony wall can be built to separate the kitchen from the dining room, or it can simply be used to create extra space for an island or peninsula area.
What materials you will need to build a pony wall?
To build a pony wall, you’ll need:
- Plywood or MDF. This will be the main material you’ll use to build your pony wall. Make sure it’s thick enough that it won’t bend when you nail it into place.
- Stain or paint for the plywood/MDF layer (if desired). If you’re using a dark stain and want the look of wood grain showing through, make sure to sand down any rough edges before painting so they aren’t visible from inside or outside of your kitchen.
- Nails for mounting plywood/MDF to studs in your wall—you can find these at any hardware store. The number depends on how large your pony wall is and what kind of surface it sits against (drywall versus concrete) but generally speaking 8d galvanized finish nails work well here because they are longer than standard drywall nails but not too long that they go all the way through both pieces being nailed together so there isn’t room for them to pull back out again over time without damaging either surface below once installed properly first time around…
How long does it take to build a pony wall?
Building a pony wall takes time. Depending on the size of your kitchen island, the materials you choose, and how much help you have around to work with, it can take anywhere from a few hours to several days.
How much does it cost to build a pony wall?
The amount of money you will spend on your pony wall depends on the materials you choose and the size of your wall. You can build a pony wall for as little as $50 or as much as $500, depending on what kind of material you use and how big your cabinet is.
Some materials that are less expensive include particle board panels, corrugated plastic sheets, cork boards and cork tiles (if they still exist). If you want something more durable but still cheap then choose plywood boards or MDF panels. These are going to cost more than other materials listed above because they’re tougher but not so much that they’ll break the bank if all else fails.
On top of this, there’s other things like hardware which will add up when building a pony wall rather than just replacing existing cabinets with new ones.
How to build a pony wall using plywood or MDF?
- Lay out the plywood or MDF to form the shape of your pony wall.
- Cut out any holes or openings in your design, such as for electrical outlets and sinks (if applicable). Use a jigsaw to cut through both layers of plywood or wood composite material if necessary, being careful not to go too deep into the underlying wall studs when cutting through both layers at once.
- Screw together or glue together all pieces that will be used in making up one segment (or “panel”) of your pony wall before proceeding with attaching this panel permanently to existing walls—this could include attaching it directly onto an existing back splash if there is one already installed above countertops, or building up its own support system using cabinet grade screws and metal brackets if no other backing structure exists yet within which it can rest safely without risk of falling over due to weight distribution issues caused by gravity pulling on its top surface area only being held up by one side versus two sides like normal kitchen cabinets do.
How to build a pony wall if you want the wall to be partially open at the top?
If you want your pony wall to be partially open at the top, follow these steps:
- Cut the plywood using a jigsaw.
- Use a router to create a groove for the glass. The width of this groove should be slightly smaller than the width of your glass panels.
- Cut each piece of glass with a hacksaw, making sure that it fits into the grooves in step 2 above. Remember that you will need two pieces for each side—one on top and one on bottom!
- Attach the plywood sides (with attached glass) onto either side of your wall. You can use screws or nails if necessary—it’s up to you.
Where can you install a pony wall in your home?
The main thing to keep in mind when it comes to installing a pony wall is that you want the space behind it to be free of obstructions. This means that if you’re installing a pony wall in a closet or other small room, you should make sure there’s nothing hanging from the ceiling like light fixtures or air ducts. It’s also important not to have any heaters or other appliances directly behind where your pony wall will go—you don’t want it touching anything hot.
If you have an unfinished basement, adding one of these walls can make it feel more finished and cozy. And if you have an old garage door opener installation still hanging up somewhere out of sight (like above a laundry room door), now would be a good time to get rid of that eyesore by turning it into something decorative.
It takes some work, but you can easily make your own pony wall.
You can build a pony wall in a day, but it takes some work. You’ll need to get the materials first:
- 2x4s for framing
- drywall for the backing
- furring strips (if needed)
Then you can build your pony wall with a helper or friend! They’ll help hold up the drywall while you make sure everything’s straight and level. Once that’s done, give them some snacks and make them leave so you have time alone with your new pony wall—it will be just like having a pet.
Conclusion
If you’ve ever wanted to build a pony wall, this guide will help you get started. If we’ve helped you out, tell us your story in the comments! And if you want more great DIY advice and inspiration, check out our blog.
