How to Build a Short Interior Wall

Locate a wall stud in the area where you want to build the short wall with a stud finder. Attaching the end of the wall to a stud in the intersecting wall will strengthen it.

Remove the molding along the bottom of the wall where you're installing the short wall.

Measure and cut a sill plate that matches the length of the short wall. Use a pressure-treated two-by-four board for the sill plate.

Place the sill plate on the floor with one end against the intersecting wall, and drive screws through the sill plate into the floor every 6 inches.

Measure and cut two untreated two-by-four boards that are the same length as the sill plate to be the top and bottom plates.

Measure the thickness of the top, bottom and sill plates, and add them together. Subtract that number from the height of the wall to determine how long the wall studs need to be. Cut untreated two-by-four boards to fit this length for the wall studs. Determine how many studs you need by dividing the length of the wall in inches by 16 -- the standard spacing for studs.

Nail an end stud on each end of the bottom plate, then nail more studs in between the two end studs. Keep the studs no farther than 16 inches apart from each other.

Nail the top plate to the tops of the studs.

Lift the framing onto the sill plate, and make sure that it's straight. You may want help when doing this. Nail the end stud next to the wall into the stud in the intersecting wall, and nail the bottom plate to the sill plate.

Cut sheets of drywall to fit on the short wall. Measure and mark the cut line for the drywall, then place a straightedge against the cut line and score the cut line with a utility knife. Snap the drywall at the score line.

Hold the drywall against the framing -- again, you may want help with this -- and attach it to the framing with drywall screws every 8 inches.

Staple metal corner beads over the outside edges of the short wall, then cover them with joint compound.

Place joint compound on the seams between the different drywall sheets with a 6-inch putty knife, then place drywall tape over the joint compound and press it into the compound with the putty knife. Allow it to dry overnight.

Sand the joints with fine-grit sandpaper, then remove the dust with tacking cloth. Use a sanding block in the corners where the short wall meets the intersecting wall.

Add two more layers of joint compound and drywall tape to the joints and corners of the short wall, following the same process you used for the first layer.

Apply a coat of primer to the short wall. Cut in along the edges of the wall with a paintbrush, and use a paint roller for the rest of the wall. Allow the primer to dry.

Paint the short wall with two coats of paint. Apply the paint using the same method you used to apply the primer, and allow each coat of paint to dry before moving on with the project.

Cut a ledge to fit on top of the short wall, then stain it or apply a coat of primer and paint it. Nail it to the top of the wall. You can purchase the ledge at your local home improvement store.

Cover the bottom of the short wall by nailing molding or trim to it.