SO, WHAT IS A PONY WALL?
'Simply put, pony walls are just short walls often used to create a divide within a space,' explains interior designer Marie Flanigan. In height, pony walls tend to be under half the height of the space – just imagine a pony sticking its head over in a stable. But what purpose do they serve? Pony walls tend to be used as room dividers, creating divisions while retaining the charm of an open-concept space. 'Pony walls are nice as a soft architectural separation while keeping the visual feel open and airy,' interior designer Kristen Pena at K Interiors tells us. As well as separating spaces, pony walls have also been used to create anchors in spaces that require a radiator, allowing pipework to be boxed in, while also keeping sightlines throughout.
ARE PONY WALLS ON TREND?
In reality, pony walls aren't an architectural feature that is on the up. 'I love designing seamless sightlines and pony walls can often impede the view into a space,' says interior designer Marie. 'Today, pony walls aren’t typically prevalent in new builds, but you’ll often find them in older homes, especially ranch-style homes.'
1. FOR PRIVACY IN A BATHROOM
One exception to the pony wall is if it creates a sense of privacy in a bathroom, suggests Marie. 'I’ve used it as the exterior of the shower surround and thought it created beautiful symmetry between the paneled bathroom walls and shower,' she tells us. 'Further, it added privacy to the shower stall, which can be important to homeowners. If you have a small bathroom and a water closet isn’t feasible, a pony wall helps to delineate the toilet from the vanity area, while providing privacy,' she adds.
2. IN A LIVING ROOM WITH NO ENTRYWAY
As a room divider, a pony wall works best to replace what would have once been a full wall. In some cases, you may want to replace a wall with a pony wall to open up your space, but in some instances, a pony wall can be added to help add a divide where there isn't one, like in this living room with no entryway, designed by K Interiors. 'The pony wall was used in this entry to create separation between the living room and the entry, but to also allow for the feeling of an open floor plan,' Kristin explains.
3. AS A HEADBOARD
If there's one way the pony wall has been embraced by a new generation of architects and designers, it's used as a headboard idea. It allows for a less traditional bedroom layout, where a bed can be 'floated' away from the walls, creating a path around the entire bed.