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Front wall ideas


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(Image credit: Kyal & Kara/MC Design /Mindy Gayer)

Defining the boundaries of your home, front garden wall ideas can create the perfect introduction to your front yard. Offering security and privacy, front garden walls can also deter passersby from encroaching onto your property.

Front garden wall ideas should form part of your front yard landscaping ideas, providing a solid frame around your plot. However, they can be seamlessly reverse engineered into your space. 

'The wall should feel integral to the design. You want to lose the idea of it being a placed object, and instead aim for it to feel stitched into the fabric of the design', says Kevin Lenhart, design director at Yardzen . 'Following this metaphor, think of the wall as a new color of thread, not an iron-on patch. By introducing clean lines into planting areas, walls also offer great foils to accentuate the wild, naturalistic form of plants.'

Front garden wall ideas

There are lots of options for front garden wall ideas that can breathe new life into your space. Choosing the best material is important: always start by looking at the materials used in the fabric of your home – your front garden wall needs to work in harmony with your home’s exterior. 

Secondly, survey your neighbors’ front garden walls and factor in the character of your area. For example, if you live in a neighborhood where the houses are predominately built from a golden colored stone, a red brick wall will negatively stand out. 

'Front walls are a source of elegance that will add curb appeal to homes. The good thing is that it doesn't take much effort for homeowners to design their front walls in a way that will take their outdoor spaces to another level,' says Allan Jeffrey, managing director at Ultra Decking .

1. Add a low-level garden wall to demarcate a driveway 

(Image credit: Carson McElheney)

Stone is a popular material that can be used to create a wide range of looks. These vary from traditional straight edged stone bricks laid in a rectangular pattern, to more rustic stones that have been laid to create a dry-stone look. However, it's worth noting that stone walls are an expensive option but will last for decades.

With any front garden wall ideas, it's important to ensure that they are kept in good condition. 

'It's a good idea to inspect garden and boundary walls regularly, especially after the winter, to check for any damage or deterioration that may have occurred,' says  Toby Marlow, building and construction director at Haddonstone .'Hairline cracks are not usually serious, but large horizontal cracks in a wall, can be concerning and should be inspected immediately by a professional.'

2. Integrate your mailbox into your front garden wall ideas

(Image credit: Getty Images)

When installing front garden wall ideas, consider integrating mailbox landscaping ideas into the design. As well as providing a practical addition to the entrance to your home, embedding your mailbox will also offer it a greater level of security. 

Once you've built your front garden wall, be sure not to overlook the planting. In this design, pretty purple shrubs climb over the wall, softening the harder elements of the landscaping. 

'Plants, for their part, help walls feel more firmly situated within a landscape when they climb high enough to partially or fully obscure the face of the wall. There’s something very compelling about seeing plants assert themselves against a built element – it’s like nature reminding us that we aren’t the boss,' explains Kevin Lenhart.

3. Consider front garden wall ideas for a townhouse

(Image credit: Mindy Gayer)

Front garden wall ideas are not just for rural properties. A curved brick wall creates a statement in front of this 1910 townhouse, disguising the stairs up to the front door.

'Everything on the exterior of this San Francisco home is original to its 1910 construction, with the exception of the front door and garage door. A fresh coat of paint was all it needed! Since many of the homes in the area are painted in lighter colors, we wanted to choose a hue that would provide more contrast. Practically, the darker color also tends to be more forgiving in a downtown urban environment,' explains Mindy Gayer, designer and founder of Mindy Gayer Designs . 

4. Consider composite material for a sustainable option

(Image credit: Bradstone)

There has been a recent rise in the use of composite materials for front garden wall ideas. 'With contemporary stylish appearance, composite boards and bricks come in a variety of colors. They are also low-maintenance, easy-to-clean and time-saving. Homeowners wouldn’t have to worry about adverse weather conditions because composites are weather resistant. They are also favored for their eco-friendliness and durability,’ says Allan Jeffrey.

5. Render your front garden wall for a modern look

(Image credit: Mindy Gayer)

Brick walls can be rendered for a sleek look, though rendering is best carried out by a professional. Rendered walls have an elegant white appearance against which your front yard flower bed ideas can really sing.

In this garden designed by Mindy Gayer, this rendered front wall provides the perfect entrance to this Spanish-style home. 'We wanted to preserve as much of the bones and architectural style as possible. A fresh coat of white paint, a new oak entry gate, and lush landscaping fit the bill perfectly,' says Mindy.

When assessing the wellbeing of your rendered walls, it is important to look for bulges, cracks and leaning. 

‘Render sometimes deteriorates due to water ingress, be sure to identify the cause of the failed render before repairing,’ says Roger Hunt, author of The Old House Handbook . ‘Wherever possible original rendering should be retained and any damaged areas patched by carefully building up thin coats that match the traditional materials used. Re-rendering should be undertaken using lime with no added cement.’ 

6. Channel cottage garden vibes with a brick wall and wooden gate

(Image credit: Ben Macdonald Gardens)

Brick is the most common choice for front garden walls. Offering timeless style, brick walls are available in a range of colors from deep reds through to paler tones or darker greys. They are also durable and affordable and can be installed to any height and depth. Pair with a rustic wooden gate to bring added charm to your front yard cottage garden ideas.

7. Soften front garden walls with climbing plants

(Image credit: Alamy)

There is undoubtedly an aesthetic benefit to growing the best climbing plants over your wall. They bring with them a softer edge to the look while also adding valuable habitat and pollen for wildlife.  If you're looking for a plant that will provide year-round interest and coverage to your wall, then be sure to opt for the best evergreen climbers.

8.  Install a gabion wall to offer privacy

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Gabion walls are rectangular metal cages which are filled with materials, typically rocks or rubble. Highly flexible and offering good drainage, gabion walls don’t require concrete foundations making them a great choice for DIY installation. A relatively economic way to create a garden wall, if correctly installed they will last for over 60 years. Due to their flexibility, gabion walls are a particularly worthwhile consideration if you live in an area that is prone to earthquakes as they are more likely to retain upright following seismic activity.

9. Add architectural interest with a water feature

(Image credit: MC Design)

Front garden wall ideas can also provide divisions between your property and your neighbors'. However, opting for a design that's broken up by planting or even water feature ideas can create a ton of curb appeal.

'I like it when walls are not the tallest feature in the scene – not only
does it cut your wall budget, but it usually means redirecting emphasis to
natural elements like trees, tall planting, or boulders. When you do this,
the wall becomes a supporting actor, and that tends to generate simpler,
more elegant wall designs that integrate more harmoniously into the overall
landscape,' says Kevin Lenhart.

10. Mix and match front garden wall materials

(Image credit: Kyal & Kara )

Your front garden wall ideas will be informed by the look of your home. While some homes may suit a rustic stone wall or a more modern painted brick wall, some homes will suit a combination of materials, which will create added interest. Here, render is paired with natural stone walling to add texture and color to the front yard.

How do you disguise an unsightly garden wall? 

There are lots of ways to disguise an unsightly wall. If your wall is brick, you can render it, which will provide a clean, modern look. Alternatively, on a stone or brick wall you can replace or add coping stones to the top of your wall. If your unsightly wall is cracked or seriously damaged, it is worth considering replacing your front garden wall. 

How do you make a small front garden look nice?

You can make a small front garden wall look by adding a front garden wall. This will frame your garden and provide an ordered space which you can fill with planting. ‘Decorating your wall with luscious greenery is a surefire way to add life and character to your front garden. Vines give a mystical feel whilst roses add a touch of romance. Whatever botanic you go for, you will get a chance to express your personality through unique flora and foliage,’ explains Volodymyr Barabakh, co-founder of Structural Beam .

Having graduated with a first class degree in English Literature four years ago, Holly started her career as a features writer and sub-editor at Period Living magazine, Homes & Gardens' sister title. Working on Period Living brought with it insight into the complexities of owning and caring for period homes, from interior decorating through to choosing the right windows and the challenges of extending. This has led to a passion for traditional interiors, particularly the country-look. Writing for the Homes & Gardens website as a content editor, alongside regular features for Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors magazines, has enabled her to broaden her writing to incorporate her interests in gardening, wildlife and nature.  

Front garden wall ideas: 16 ways to add interest and make a good impression

(Image credit: Concept Landscape Architects)

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Front garden wall ideas can ooze style and with just a little effort and imagination they will actually add a whole different dimension to your outside space. Whether they are tall or short, single skinned or built as a retaining wall there are plenty of stylish materials, plants and ideas to choose from. 

From stone filled gabions, raised planters made from weathered driftwood to smooth and contemporary cedar panels, it’s possible to devise a solution that’s just right for your plot. 

You can’t get away from it, walls have to be practical, especially if they form part of your front garden ideas and are bordering a busy sidewalk or public area. Make sure any existing or new designs are stable, durable and don’t encroach beyond your property’s boundary otherwise your neighbors or local planning department could legally require you to demolish your efforts. If you live somewhere like a conservation area too, it’s also worth checking out any restrictions on design, construction materials or techniques before pressing ahead with any work. 

Security and privacy are also issues, worth considering. Do you want to see your property from the road or pavement, or would you prefer total privacy? These decisions may impact on the materials and design of any new wall constructed or how you rework your existing boundary. Keeping out prying eyes doesn’t mean you have to turn your property into a fortress though, as smart screening, a dense thorny hedge or border or tiered wall and fencing design can also work well. 

Whatever your needs, we’ve rounded up our favorite front garden wall ideas to help transform your garden’s front boundary and to make them an outdoor feature to be proud of. From the most arresting planting combinations to the latest trellis and construction designs, there’s endless inspiration, no matter how big or small your project. 

1. Try rhythmic planting for a classic feel

Design by The London Front Garden Company

(Image credit: The London Front Garden Company)

Want a smart but subtle divide between your home and passers-by? Well take inspiration from this elegant design. Not only does it look classy, it enhances the period property and creates a degree of garden privacy ideas too. 

The secret to success lies in the rhythm of the planting and ornate, pristine railings. A row of five standard viburnum trees, clipped into spheres and underplanted with variegated pittosporum provides all year greenery and interest and is the perfect foil for the sentry style cast-iron railings. Painted black, the metalwork really stands out and unifies the simple planting.

2. Use trailing plants to soften the landscaping

Trailing plants are the perfect companion to your front garden wall ideas

(Image credit: Alamy)

If you want to soften the hard lines of your landscaping ideas for front of house, then adding plenty of planting is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to do this.  

Including trailing plants on top of your front garden wall ideas can break up the mass of brick or stone, introducing color and scent to your space. Plus, passers-by will also get to the enjoy the visual impact too. 

We love how this vibrant mass of petunias cascades over the top of the traditional stone wall, creating an intense burst of color in the warmer months. Another colorful option are aubretias, which will produce flowers that cover walls in the spring. If you want year round color, then go for evergreen options such as ivy or creeping Jenny. 

3. Combine with steps to create a tiered garden

Opt for natural stone for your front garden wall ideas to create a more classic look

(Image credit: Alamy)

If you're struggling with sloping garden ideas in your front yard, this is the solution for you. Low-level walls teamed with steps will make your front garden far more user-friendly and help to create space for planting. 

Here, the materials used for the garden walls are echoed in the garden steps ideas, with the rustic stone just visible beneath the more modern paving slabs used for the steps, giving this front yard scheme a more contemporary twist.  

Galvanized steel gabions have been used to create this front garden wall by Karl Harrison Landscapes

(Image credit: Karl Harrison Landscapes)

A bold mix of natural and industrial materials give these front garden wall ideas their contemporary credentials. Galvanized wire gabions filled with red tinged Bayfield stone create a robust and textured wall, peppered with varying shades of red, plum and rust. 

A galvanized steel gate complements the industrial vibe and breaks up the vast wall of stone. Cost effective and perfect as a standalone or retaining wall, gabions can be filled with a wide range of stone, cobbles, slate or, if you are feeling more adventurous, reclaimed bricks, terracotta piping, logs or glass bottles. 

Want to keep down costs further if you're searching for cheap garden ideas? Fill the center of each basket with bricks, hardcore or broken paving and use your decorative material to clad the visible sides and top. 

Traditional railings add an elegant touch to this design by The London Front Garden Company

(Image credit: The London Front Garden Company)

Smart, sympathetic front garden wall ideas can increase your home’s curb appeal and add structure and interest to the exterior too. This is particularly important in period homes and, if you get the balance right, the results are immensely rewarding. 

'For me, it is important to make sure the new front wall is in proportion to, and complements the design of, your house,' says Chris Martin from The London Front Garden Company . 'The Victorians had a great sense of proportion and the classic ‘½ and ½ wall and railings is a great place to start. This design is a direct copy of the period original, with a low brick wall – in bricks to match the house – a neat coping stone with cast-iron railings above.'  

6. Add some sharp architectural detail

Easy Stack walling from Bradstone

(Image credit: Bradstone)

Looking to create a chic, tactile wall in a jiffy? Then this easy-stack walling is a must. The preformed rectangular blocks are hollow in the centre and can be piled high and infilled with concrete to create a stable boundary with a distinctive notched facing. 

Team it with timber fencing for a truly contemporary feel and plenty of privacy. Alternatively build up to 1 meter and plant behind with a mix of tall, airy grasses such as bronze carex and miscanthus sinesis, wiry verbena bonariensis and hot and spicy heleniums for a softer, contemporary look. There's more advice on how to grow ornamental grasses in our guide. 

7. Cover walls with scented climbers

A beautiful rambling or climbing rose will add interest to your front garden wall ideas

(Image credit: Alamy)

Selecting the perfect plants for your front garden wall ideas is worth taking time over. It’s not just a matter of which plants capture your imagination, there are practicalities to consider too. 

Which direction does the wall face; does it bask in the sun or sit in shade for most of the day? If planting direct into soil, note whether it is free draining or moist as this will all help decide which plants will thrive. 

Garden designer Joanna Archer has transformed many plots and has this advice, 'As space can be limited, I try to include climbing plants and hedges to green up the vertical boundaries. Scented climbers such as jasmine or climbing roses are so welcoming and are perfect for entranceways.'

Our guide to the best climbing roses has plenty of inspiration for your space. 

8. Use tiers to make room for planting

Simple color choices gives this front garden by Concept Landscape Architects a sleek, contemporary feel

(Image credit: Concept Landscape Architects)

Simple structures are often best when dealing with tiered garden ideas, as this distinctly sleek design shows. 'A minimal material palette including rendered walls, slatted fencing, and tiled surfaces, accompanied by clipped hedges and evergreen planting creates a modern and clean design,' says Steven Kingsley of Concept Landscape Architects . 'Plus, it's practical as it can also be easier to maintain in the longer term.' 

Crisp white walls create an uplifting feel that would suit our modern garden ideas, and set off the lush green planting beautifully.

9. Go for curved beds for interest and movement

Curved front garden wall ideas are a clever way to create interest in this project by X-Scapes

(Image credit: X Scapes)

Soften a stark exterior by introducing curving beds on multiple levels. Creating sinuous, weaving lines that meander across the front of the property, the space instantly feels more welcoming and engaging thanks to these clever front garden wall ideas. 

This project uses chunky sections of larch to construct a series of raised garden bed ideas and a cosy and secluded seating area. The perfect solution for a narrow yet wide front plot, the smooth planed timbers have been painted grey, the pocket borders filled with topsoil and topped with shingle for a contemporary coastal feel. Ornamental grasses in various colors and sizes add movement and texture. 

10. Add movement with soft, billowy planting

Designed and planted by The London Gardener

(Image credit: The London Gardener)

Bring a touch of elegance and softness to your front garden wall ideas, with raised beds of billowing plants in pale shades. This beautiful, raised brick border lends a cheery note to the driveway and looks good year-round. 

An imaginative mix of evergreen grass, white flowering leucanthemum and valerian creates a relaxed and contemporary feel, perfect for brightening your shade garden ideas. Hardy and happy growing in poor soils, they also need very little care and attention.

11. Harmonize your wall and plant color

Walls painted in Carmine and Knightsbridge Intelligent Masonry Paint from Little Greene

(Image credit: Little Greene)

Painting brick or rendered walls are sure to make your front garden wall ideas stand out from the crowd, but a carefully thought through color palette will be the envy of others. 

Look for a paint shade that echoes the plants that surround it for maximum impact. For example, team the bronze-pink flushed shoots of sorbaria or Sambucus nigra ‘Serenade’ with a deep pink wall color. Or try teaming the deep purple leaves of cotinus, berberis or pittosporum with purple-tinged shades.  

Loose textured grasses in all shades of green will heighten the effect, and why not underplant with co-ordinating tulips and alliums for surprise seasonal highlights.

There's more inspiration on choosing the right tones for your outdoor space in our garden color schemes. 

12. Clad brick walls for a sleek, contemporary look

Hydra Argen Luxury DesignClad wall cladding from London Stone

(Image credit: London Stone/designed and built by Kate Gould Gardens)

Update boring brick walls with smooth porcelain cladding. Easy to install and to maintain, its sleek good looks will give your front garden wall ideas a smart, contemporary note. Available in a palette of light and dark grays, the matte, even ceramic surface works perfectly with airy meadow and wild-style planting or more architectural lush green foliage. 

Chosen by designer Kate Gould for her Greenfingers Charity Garden at RHS Chelsea, this London Stone product was used to clad and top low garden walls and to complement the warm, light colored paving ideas.  

'DesignClad is a porcelain cladding that is not only hard-wearing but is incredibly stylish,' says the team at London Stone. 'The sheets are supplied in large format, to create a seamless look and can be cut, engraved, and the edges can be chamfered or mitred when connecting pieces.'

13. Create two distinct displays

A combination of raised wall planters and fencing has created a private space in this garden design by Ruth Bridgeman

(Image credit: Ruth Bridgeman Garden Design)

As valuable outside spaces, front gardens deserve to be reclaimed by their owners. But just because we want to make them more private these days, that doesn’t mean the front facing impression has to be dull. 

'Front gardens are often overlooked spaces,' says garden designer Ruth Bridgeman of this garden redesign project. 'By changing original walls into raised beds with fences above, the outside is planted for the community and inside for the family. It dramatically increased their everyday space and is both welcoming and private.' 

A mix of French and English lavender, Erigeron -also known as fleabane – and blue salvia top the raised border and blur the space between the garden fence ideas and wall, while a single stemmed Himalayan birch underplanted with festuca glauca ornamental grass fills the front corner.

14. Combine a planted wall with storage

Live in an urban area and need somewhere to store your bikes? This clever space by Bikebox London combines secure storage and planting space in one modern garden wall design

(Image credit: Bikebox Works Ltd)

Put your front garden wall ideas to good use by incorporating easy-to-access storage. This design makes use of every inch of space, illustrating how small front garden ideas can be both clever and stylish. 

The design savvy team at Bikebox London created substantial storage units using structural steel, topped with ample planters, that double as a garden wall. Born out of their need to replace their collapsing garden wall in east London, Lawrence Friesen and Tracey Bendrien came up with a design that made good use of the limited space with room for planting too. 

'The neighbors soon noticed and so the adventure of Bikebox Works began,' says Tracey. 'With a brick wall currently costing £3.5k (as a prospective client told us last week) and offering no benefit to the homeowner who’s short on space, it’s not really viable. Bricks also have a very high carbon footprint, unlike steel, which is mainly recycled and recyclable.'

Love the idea of adding planting on top of your garden buildings? Our guide to green roofs has all the expert advice you need to get started. 

15. Give garden walls a dash of coastal style

Coastal front garden scheme by Anita Sullivan

(Image credit: Anita Sullivan Gardens)

Whether you live by the sea or just fancy bringing some coastal style back home, a driftwood planter is a fun and practical way to set your patch apart. 'This front garden in coastal Hove [on the south coast of England] is a prize sunspot, but overlooked from the street,' explains garden designer Anita Sullivan . 

'The bespoke planter made by Ben Fearnside adds height to the wall while drawing the eye to the foreground and away from the seating behind.' Teamed with airy planting, the driftwood has silvered with age and the beautifully smooth surface and irregular shapes add plenty of character and charm to these rustic garden ideas. 

16. Don’t be afraid to mix materials

In this project by Aoba Home Landscapes , a new rendered front garden wall was topped with cedar battens. The path is made from blue-grey granite 

(Image credit: Aoba Home Landscapes)

Combining different screening techniques is a great way to personalize the approach to your front garden wall ideas and create a view that looks good from inside as well. 

Here, a few simple materials have been cleverly repeated. 'This small garden wall was rendered and painted a blue grey,' says designer John Ward from Aoba Home Landscapes . 'The dark color contrasts nicely with the planting and horizontal cedar which was added to match the bi-fold gates and provides a uniform feel to the whole space.' Three pleached photinia ‘Red Robin’ provide a smart finishing touch, adding dramatic color and valuable privacy.

You'll find more ways to add interest to your garden gate ideas in our feature. 

How can I build a small garden wall?

(Image credit: Alamy)

What can I plant by a front garden wall?

(Image credit: Mark Bolton Photography/Future)

Wondering exactly which plants will thrive happily near your front garden wall ideas? Garden designer Ruth Bridgeman shares her tips and some of her favorites.

'Front garden wall ideas are such interesting places to plant as each creates an entirely new scene,' she says. 'The look of the wall may be something to show off or contrast with the planting, or you may wish to use planting to hide a less pretty structure. Masonry walls often suck up moisture, as well as creating their very own "rain shadow" which makes for dry ground. Look for varieties that manage these conditions happily.'

  1. Choose fruit trees for a sunny spot If you’re lucky enough to have a full height, pretty south- or west-facing sheltered wall, train some of your favorite fruit. The wall will keep it warm, and you can try out espalier patterns with apples, pears, or a fan shaped fig. Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey’ is very reliable and easy to source.
  2. Plant easy going lavender With so many different varieties you’ll easily find a lavender the right size for your front garden wall ideas. Plant a few different ones so they flower at different times and try underplanting them with small spring bulbs for an early splash of color – the bees will thank you too! Our guide on how to grow lavender has lots more tips.  
  3. Go for shade-loving ferns A shady north wall is perfect for ferns, whether it’s a damp or dry. Reliable and often evergreen they provide good texture and architectural shapes even in the darkest space. My favorite fern combo has to be the coppery pink Japanese shield fern (Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’), the black stemmed ‘Holly fern’ (Cyrtomium fortunei) and the glossy lime of ‘Hart’s tongue’ (Asplenium scolopendrium)
  4. Try a climbing hydrangea for a tall, shady spot For a 6ft wall in the shade go for a climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris). It does take time to get going but will grow to cover the space with pretty foliage and flowers. This is a great plant, unusual in its preference to flower in the shade. Head over to our guide on how to grow hydrangeas for more advice. 
  5. Start from the top down! The other option is not to plant at the foot of the wall at all but start at the top (or wherever you like). In a sunny spot, bush cherry tomatoes, such as ‘Tumbling Tom’ grow well. For a more sophisticated look that doesn’t need much water, try combining several varieties of sedums including some trailing ‘String of beads’ (Senecio rowleyanus). 

Jill puts her love of plants and all things garden related down to the hours spent pottering around with her Nan and Grandad when she was little. Today she is lucky enough to have a garden of her own in Surrey, England, and spends much of her time writing about them too. 

Glass walls in the house and apartment. Ideas for arrangements (PHOTOS)

Glass walls are still rare. On the one hand, the influence is a rather conservative approach to the location of apartments, on the other - we immediately add unreasonable ones - we are afraid that glass walls, for example, in front, will burden our budget in winter, because they let in a lot of cold.

Many people associate glazed walls with a rather unfriendly workplace in a corporation, rather than home warmth. In a way, this is correct, because the fashion for glass walls and partitions came to apartments and houses from offices.

Glass in a large space

However, the glass can be adapted to suit almost any interior. Owners of large houses and lofts benefit the most from glass solutions where glass walls work great. This is because glass helps to organize a large space without much construction work. Instead of sculpting partitions or installing new ones, sometimes just a few glass plates in profiles are enough to separate an office or room from you from the general space. Glass applied in this way means that after some time, without much difficulty, the room can be enlarged or changed to any shape.

Glass front wall

This standard approach is overcome by the proposals of several developers. In apartments on the ground floor, for example, the entrance to the apartment from the side of the balcony is increasingly being offered. The entire front wall in this apartment is glazed, and the entrance is level with the ground - no stairs or approaches.

Worth a look: Wall decorations used when placing the apartment

The use of a glass front wall means that the apartment is as bright as possible, and sunlight works inside most of the day. At the same time, family members and guests get the impression that the apartment is much larger than it actually is. Such a wall also provides an expansive view of the surroundings or the garden.

Glass walls and the cold of the apartment

On this occasion, it is worth dispelling the fears of cooling the apartment in winter. A glass wall built into sliding profiles, well made of glass with an appropriate heat transfer coefficient, has similar thermal qualities to the extremely popular "plastic" windows. The door in such a wall - also glass - opens parallel to it, and not like a traditional door in door frames: inside or outside the apartment, which, in turn, facilitates the organization of the apartment and saves a lot of space.

Glass must not be transparent

Glass used in arrangements must not be transparent. There are many ways to enrich it with new elements. Foils can be stuck on the glass, the glass surface can be sandblasted, painted or frosted. Specialist companies can offer turnkey solutions in many colors, including graphite, green, brown or blue. Thanks to this, it is possible to separate the kitchen from the living room in an attractive way and extract, for example, a dining corner or a computer corner.

Privacy glass

Bedrooms are rarely separated, but to provide some privacy you can use blinds on the glass wall or just do it with frosted glass. By all accounts, apartments that use glass are becoming modern. However, it suits both modernist interiors and well-composed conservative retro-style spaces. Glass walls seem interesting in almost every apartment, which makes it very elegant.

Kitchen and bathroom glass

People who are not completely convinced of the benefits of glass walls at home can start their adventure with bathroom or kitchen glass fittings. In the first case, the shower cabin is made of glass in the company of properly selected tiles.

However, it is becoming more and more popular in the kitchen to create glass walls in the work area. However, they are not glass walls, and glass-covered walls are usually hardened. Well-chosen colors or special foils glued to the glass, which can also be illuminated with LED lamps, enhance the look of the furniture used in the kitchen. The glass surface of the wall makes it easy to clean the kitchen, and the resistance of the glass ensures that the walls are not damaged or dirty. Some people are concerned about the safety and durability of glass structures with suspicion, especially in glass floors or stairs.

What do you say?: Trendy walls for 2015

It is true that the glass used inside - no matter if it is related to the construction of stairs, partitions, facades or floors - must be safe and therefore tempered, reinforced or glued. This in practice means that it will be expensive. A square meter of a glass surface in the form of a partition can cost (including assembly) about PLN 1,000.

You can't be cold


And one more aspect. Some people have concerns that glass front walls, for example, will put a heavy burden on our budget in the winter because they let in a lot of cold. This turns out to be a myth. Large glazing, common to many modern buildings, provides interiors with excellent daylight. However, they can also have the disadvantage that they cause rooms to overheat,” says Monika Makowska-Jaroš of glass company Guardian. “Meanwhile, regulations require that solar energy transmittance be limited to a maximum of 35 percent.

Through wall opening | DIY

How to create a rectangular through hole in the wall separating the dining and living areas? A rather unbanal and easy-to-implement idea is to line it with miniature colored tiles. Gypsum-fiber sheets and bright glass mosaic will help make the mini-window one of the main accents in the interior.

Sometimes not even the most important elements in the house become of great importance. This is exactly what happened with a low functional window in the partition between two rooms: a dining room and a living room. Framed with mosaics in orange and red tones, it looks very original and gives the interior a personality.

Function element

An opening in the wall visually connects both rooms, making the living space more open, bright and spacious. The bottom edge of the rectangular opening is located about a meter from the floor, so the upper part of the adjacent living room is clearly visible from the dining area. At the same time, the sofa group is not visible from the table - thus, a certain intimacy is preserved. Since the interior partition has a decent thickness (20 cm), the opening is deep enough, which means it can serve as a shelf for decor items, flower vases or household utensils. True, you should not get carried away: if you completely block the view with "useful little things", the window will lose its main - unifying - function.

Preparatory phase

Partition wall dry-built using support posts and gypsum fiber sheets. The latter (for greater structural strength) were screwed on and additionally glued at the joints. As a result, it was possible to obtain a base with a smooth surface that does not require additional alignment and strengthening and is completely ready for cladding.

As a rule, the dimensions of the mosaic sheets are 30 x 30 cm. It is these blanks that were used in this case. Since the dimensions of each of their glass elements are 2 x 2 cm, five extra rows (bands 10 cm wide) were separated from the mosaic squares. It was not difficult, because only the adhesive film holds the parts together. If desired, instead of glass decor, it is quite possible to use a mosaic of ceramics or natural stone.

Decoration

First, the opening was lined from the inside, around the entire perimeter. Then, in order to give the window brightness and visually make it larger and deeper, it was surrounded by a frame of three rows of the same mosaic from the side of the dining room and living room. To fix the decor, an elastic tile adhesive was used, minimizing the likelihood of cracking the coating in the future. And finally, with the help of a flexible spatula, the tile joints were trimmed with a light silver-gray grout.

If necessary, the elements of the mosaic framing can be easily attached to other substrates (eg plastered concrete or brick walls). Depending on the overall color of the interior and design tasks, the shade of the frame can be chosen either bright, contrasting with the background color of the surface, or matching it.

Design options

In general, the idea of ​​​​creating functional and decorative openings in interior partitions can be played up in different ways: cut through a series of stained-glass windows, equip semicircular niches with built-in benches, lamps or shelves for books. Or you can do without construction work at all and simply imitate an opening in the wall: stick a sheet of photo wallpaper or a fresco and lay out a strip of mosaic around the perimeter.

Work steps

Photo 1. Gypsum fiber boards used for sheathing partitions and internal surfaces of the opening are screwed with a drill.
Photo 2. The joints are additionally smeared with glue, using a construction gun and achieving reliable fixation of all sections of the structure.
Photo 3. When the adhesive ceases to stick to the hands, its excess is carefully cut off with a chisel.
Photo 4. Powdered tile adhesive diluted with water was used to bond the opaque glass mosaic.
Photo 5. Use a notched trowel to spread the adhesive evenly over the substrate. To prevent the composition from drying out, do not cover too large an area at once.
Photo 6. All four planes of the niche are decorated with mosaic sheets, carefully smoothing the elements with your hands or with a flat rubber spatula.
Photo 7. On the front and back sides of the walls, mosaic strips of framing are applied and slightly pressed.
Photo 8. Joints are filled with decorative grout, which will help emphasize the beauty of the tiles.

Quick and easy tip

In order to more evenly and more securely fix the mosaic sheets in the gap of the niche, you can temporarily press them with auxiliary boards, fixed with a spacer bar and a small wedge. In the future, after the tile adhesive has dried, it will be very easy to remove them.

Photo: Living Art

See also