Open-plan homes are all the rage now, but sometimes the lack of privacy can get very trying, especially now when a lot of us are working from home offices! If you’re looking to define areas and create private spaces in your home, interior partition material can make all the difference.
Here’s the lowdown on different types of partition materials for your home—understand the pros and cons of each type and make an informed decision!
Brick Wall Partition
More commonly used for exterior walls, brick can be used as interior partition material but with a rider: this partition material is heavy and so there will be a significant load on the floor slab. Always check with your architect when constructing (or removing) interior walls in your home, as there could be an impact on the structural stability. Since this partition material is built using cement mortar and need to be anchored to the floor, they cannot be removed easily and so are used only as a permanent interior partition material.
Those are the negatives. On the plus side, we love the rustic aesthetic, especially of distressed brick walls painted in white! Brick walls are soundproof, can be finished in multiple ways and are easy to keep clean. They are also the sturdiest and most durable of all the partition materials walls.
Glass
Glass as a partition material is lightweight and maintains the feel of openness, even while defining spaces within an open-plan home. Very quick to construct and take apart, they can be built using a framework in wood, metal or aluminium.
The moisture-resistant glass works great as a bathroom partition material. And if you’re looking for privacy, use etched glass or one-way stickers that allow diffused light through, but keep away peeping toms! This is an excellent choice for a 2 BHK design as it offers a separate space and beautifies your space in no-time.
There really are no cons to this material choice; except, of course, that glass is breakable on high impact. It is also not always soundproof unless care is taken to use special glass and make the frame airtight. So if you have small children who like to play ball inside the home, this should probably not be your first choice!
Gypsum Partition
Gypboard, also known as plasterboard, is made of gypsum with additives that make it fire-resistant and sturdy. It is nailed or screwed onto a metal frame and can be plastered and finished just like an exterior wall. This is commonly used as an office partition material to create separate spaces- it is lightweight and does not add any significant load to the slab, making it the perfect partition material for the living room as well. The surface of this room partition material can be painted or wallpapered for greater durability. Gypsum partition material can also be used to separate the living room from the dining room design.
The disadvantages of the gypsum board as a partition material include the fact that it is fragile and cannot hold heavy objects. Also, the gypsum board as a wall partition material is not very resistant to moisture. It is also not soundproof and if you’ve heard people say that the walls are paper-thin, this is probably what they are talking about! However, with some acoustic insulation, one can turn gypboard into a soundproof partition wall material.
Wooden Partition
Wood is one of the best material for partition wall that can be used in myriad ways to create interior partitions. Solid wood is not readily available and is prohibitively expensive, so wood as a partition material is made of only engineered woods. Wooden reapers can also be used to demarcate spaces without completely blocking visibility.
Engineered partition boards material such as plywood or MDF can be fixed on a frame and finished using paint, laminate or veneer. Wood lacks acoustic qualities and is highly flammable, which means that electric wiring that is running through a wooden partition should be well insulated.
Wood or its derivatives can be used in many different and innovative ways. Here, the material used for partition wall includes a wooden framework that supports planter boxes, making a lovely green living wall that you can see right through.
This would be a great addition to your 1 BHK design space. This lovely folding lattice screen is also made of wood and can be moved around as it is lightweight. Note the lovely quality of the light that filters through the lattice, creating a pretty pattern of light!
Between the kitchen and the living space in this open-plan Scandinavian penthouse is a wooden framework that is suspended from the beam above. Light and elegant, wood as a partition material can be used to demarcate the boundary of the kitchen without sacrificing openness or style.
This lightweight partition material doubles up as a TV unit, cleverly dividing the space between the bedroom and dressing unit in this modern bedroom suite. The reapers above and below have a utilitarian role to play; they neatly conceal the cables and electrical wiring!
Rattan
Rattan is a sustainable partition material that is much loved by any designer who likes to think green. This folding screen is very lightweight and durable and can be moved around in a trice. This would be a unique 3 BHK design for those looking for spacious yet functional designs. You can use it as a partition wall material to block out the sunlight, provide privacy, or simply to add interest to the wall behind! Rattan is not moisture-resistant and should not be used in kitchens or bathrooms.
Bamboo
Another partition material that scores high on the sustainability scale, bamboo can be used in creative ways to create both interior and exterior partitions. An advantage of using this bamboo as a material for partition wall is that the tubes trap air within, acting as a layer of insulation that keeps the interior cool.
Bamboo needs to be preserved well before use, as it can otherwise get damaged by insects and could warp or split if not treated correctly.
Shoji Screens
Japanese shoji screens are made of a wood frame that has panels of translucent rice paper or cloth. This partition material can be used as a room divider or even on the exterior wall, provided there is adequate protection from the rain. The quality of light that is filtered through this interior partition wall material is quite captivating.
Bead Curtains
If you’re looking for a partition material that will act as a temporary divider, string curtains made of beads or macramé knotted ropes can be a very pretty design element. They don’t really offer privacy, security or acoustic control, but are a cost-effective and very quick option to suggest delineation of spaces.
Now that you have your partition material options in front of you, have you made your choice as yet? If you need bespoke guidance on what would look good in your home, connect with the HomeLane team.
FAQs
1. Which Material Is Best for Partition?
Partition materials are of different types, and each has its own advantages. You can choose the right material for your home depending on your needs. Some of the best partition materials are listed below:
- Brick walls are soundproof and can be finished in multiple ways.
- Glass partitions are lightweight and quick to construct.
- Gypboard is fire-resistant and durable.
- A wooden partition wall does not entirely block visibility.
- Rattan and bamboo are sustainable and durable options.
2. Which Material Is Mostly Used for Partition Walls?
A brick wall is mainly used for partition walls. These are stronger and more durable than other partition wall materials. With the help of reinforcements like wire mesh strips and iron bars, the material’s durability can be increased.
3. What Can Be Used for Partition?
A partition wall needs to be made up of sturdy materials. Materials like brick, glass, gypsum and bamboo are some of the commonly used partition materials.
4. What Is the Thickness of the Partition Wall?
The partition wall thickness depends on the material used. However, a typical partition wall has a thickness of 6 and 15 centimetres.
4. How Do I Partition My House?
There are multiple ways to partition the house. After you’ve decided on the partition material, you can do the following:
- Use wooden partitions to separate the living room and dining room.
- In an open-concept house, glass partition walls work the best to separate the space.
- Standalone partitions are great for when you want to change the separation. All you have to do is lift it and shift.
5. What Are the Types of Partition Walls?
The various types of partition walls are:
- Brick partition wall
- Glass partition wall
- Concrete partition wall
- Gypsum partition wall
- Bamboo partition wall
