Decorating Ideas for Knee Walls Separating the Living Room and the Kitchen

Keep It Simple

• Your knee wall, of course, does not have to serve a particular purpose. You can leave it unadorned, or decorate it with an architectural feature or simple art objects. Columns, carvings, glass block or stained glass can dress up the space above the wall and help make the transitional space special, or you can leave the upper portion open. The upper surfaces of half-wall sections can serve as narrow shelves, holding vases of flowers, decorative items or a small trays of drinks and snacks. Open space makes it easier to see between the rooms, so if you want to chat with guests in the living room while cooking or have a favorite show playing on the television, you have an unobstructed view.

Breakfast Bar

• Convert the knee wall into a breakfast bar or pass-through. The wall can serve as a base for additional counter space or an area for dining, drinks and serving snacks to guests. Add chairs on the living room side to allow family and guests to chat with a busy cook, or add seating on the kitchen side so you can watch television in the living room as you dine.

Storage

• Use your knee wall for storage. The walls offer three storage areas: the space above the walls, the space along the walls and the interiors of the walls. Cabinets above the walls are a good place to store and display dishes or collectables. Cabinets along the knee wall can expand upon storage on the kitchen side or the living room side. In some cases, drawers or cabinets can be set into the walls themselves, transforming what might otherwise be wasted space. Even narrow knee walls can hold small drawers to tuck away clutter. With a nearby outlet, your knee wall can become a charging station and home to your cell phones and other mobile devices, keeping them easily accessible from either room.

Kitchen Workspace

• Design your knee wall to disguise venting and hide appliances when you have a small kitchen or one with little usable wall space. The website "Remodeling" featured an interpretation of this idea, converting what might be an open and dead space in many kitchens into a functional room divider that allows the installation of a line of additional appliances and workspace, separating the kitchen from other common spaces in an open floor plan.