21 Ways To Creatively Deal With Load-Bearing Columns
Turn that structural necessity into a design asset by adding storage, creating zones and much more
Mariana Pickering
9 July 2019
Houzz Contributor; Owner/CEO of Emu Building Science; LEED AP BD+C. After spending many years as an architectural designer in the high-efficiency residential Italian market, I now run a company that specializes in advanced construction science and Passive House design. We are located in Denver, Colorado, and Northern Italy, and we work internationally with builders, designers, and manufacturers of high-performance projects and products.
Houzz Contributor; Owner/CEO of Emu Building Science; LEED AP BD+C. After spending... More
Columns are often unavoidable in open floor plans. I’ve been working on a renovation of a space with two such unavoidable columns conspicuously placed right in the centre of my open floor plan. So for inspiration, I looked at some of the ways Houzzers have dealt with columns in their homes. Here are some of the great suggestions I’ve stumbled across.
Make a central column tactile
If it’s going to be in the centre of activity, then you might as well make it pleasant to touch. Rope was wrapped around this wooden column to accommodate the belief held by certain feline occupants of the home that a large scratching post had been placed in the middle of the room for them. However, the combination of the wood with the rope makes it equally tactile for humans to run their fingers across as they pass by.
Find an architect near you to advise you on your load-bearing columns
If it’s going to be in the centre of activity, then you might as well make it pleasant to touch. Rope was wrapped around this wooden column to accommodate the belief held by certain feline occupants of the home that a large scratching post had been placed in the middle of the room for them. However, the combination of the wood with the rope makes it equally tactile for humans to run their fingers across as they pass by.
Find an architect near you to advise you on your load-bearing columns
Use a column to anchor an island
Consider using your column as a pivot point to which your built-in furniture, like your kitchen island, can gravitate. Notice how the floor remains consistent, but the column, in combination with the similarly sized beams, marks the kitchen space.
Check out these 4 ways in which columns can enhance a space
Consider using your column as a pivot point to which your built-in furniture, like your kitchen island, can gravitate. Notice how the floor remains consistent, but the column, in combination with the similarly sized beams, marks the kitchen space.
Check out these 4 ways in which columns can enhance a space
Use a row of columns to signal a level change
A row of columns is a perfect place to put one or two steps up to an elevated section of the floor plan. Plus, the row of vertical structures acts as a visual cue to watch your toes.
A row of columns is a perfect place to put one or two steps up to an elevated section of the floor plan. Plus, the row of vertical structures acts as a visual cue to watch your toes.
Light it up
Integrate downlighting, uplighting or a lit display box, like the one shown here, to showcase a sculpture or another piece of art.
Take a look at lights on Houzz
Integrate downlighting, uplighting or a lit display box, like the one shown here, to showcase a sculpture or another piece of art.
Take a look at lights on Houzz
Decorate your columns
Treat the column itself as a work of art and showcase an ornate pattern or carving.
See more courtyard images
Treat the column itself as a work of art and showcase an ornate pattern or carving.
See more courtyard images
Clad a large column in stone
The imposing presence of the masonry column here reminds you of its purpose, while at the same time introducing a tactile material that contrasts with the rest of the soft interior. This could be a good idea for bringing some of the material from the home’s exterior inside.
The imposing presence of the masonry column here reminds you of its purpose, while at the same time introducing a tactile material that contrasts with the rest of the soft interior. This could be a good idea for bringing some of the material from the home’s exterior inside.
Turn it into a media centre
Not sure where to place your TV in your big, beautiful open floor plan? Why not turn your structural column into a media centre? Even if you don’t place the TV there right away, it could be smart planning to allow for electrical outlets near the column.
Not sure where to place your TV in your big, beautiful open floor plan? Why not turn your structural column into a media centre? Even if you don’t place the TV there right away, it could be smart planning to allow for electrical outlets near the column.
Make two columns into a bookcase
Use two columns that are close together to create shelving and lighting for display or storage space. You could even clad them to match other built-in furniture in the room, and no one would even know they’re structural.
See these ingenious ways in which book racks can divide a space
Use two columns that are close together to create shelving and lighting for display or storage space. You could even clad them to match other built-in furniture in the room, and no one would even know they’re structural.
See these ingenious ways in which book racks can divide a space
Make a wine rack
Encase the column and add some cubbies, and you have a perfect spot to store wines. You could do something similar for shoes, CDs or anything else that could fit into cubbies.
Encase the column and add some cubbies, and you have a perfect spot to store wines. You could do something similar for shoes, CDs or anything else that could fit into cubbies.
Create a spot for a minibar
Forget the wine rack! Use the column as an opportunity to create a minibar or an ice station.
Forget the wine rack! Use the column as an opportunity to create a minibar or an ice station.
Let your column tell a story
Consider using a reclaimed structural element as your feature column (after clearing it with your structural engineer, of course).
Consider using a reclaimed structural element as your feature column (after clearing it with your structural engineer, of course).
Make it a room divider
For a row of columns between two spaces with different functions, consider adding some low storage that can also act as a room divider.
For a row of columns between two spaces with different functions, consider adding some low storage that can also act as a room divider.
Here’s another example of storage between columns that are acting as a room divider. The open, floating shelf system here has a very different feel from the previous example but achieves a similar result.
Create custom furniture
This bar stretches between two columns to nicely frame the kitchen while providing vertical and horizontal storage space.
This bar stretches between two columns to nicely frame the kitchen while providing vertical and horizontal storage space.
Use a column to signal private space
This column almost acts more like a screen. The front side is a display case with built-in shelves, but the structure marks the separation between a more public and a more private part of the house.
This column almost acts more like a screen. The front side is a display case with built-in shelves, but the structure marks the separation between a more public and a more private part of the house.
Display art on your columns
These large white columns are acting as blank canvases for floating typographic artwork. The down lights cast shadows on the columns, making the artwork even more noticeable.
These large white columns are acting as blank canvases for floating typographic artwork. The down lights cast shadows on the columns, making the artwork even more noticeable.
Use a row of columns to provide rhythm
The eye takes comfort in patterns. Use columns, and even beams, to create a sense of rhythm in an otherwise muted space.
The eye takes comfort in patterns. Use columns, and even beams, to create a sense of rhythm in an otherwise muted space.
Use the column material to bring nature in
Depending on where in the world you’re located, you may be able to find tree trunks that meet your structural requirements.
Depending on where in the world you’re located, you may be able to find tree trunks that meet your structural requirements.
Create seating around the column base
Or even stretch a bench between two columns for an extra spot where people can take shoes off.
Or even stretch a bench between two columns for an extra spot where people can take shoes off.
Create contrast between materials
Use the columns like you would a feature wall. Colour them or clad them with a contrasting texture to add a splash in a room with minimalist decor.
Use the columns like you would a feature wall. Colour them or clad them with a contrasting texture to add a splash in a room with minimalist decor.
Create contrast between styles
Like with a classical column in a contemporary setting, as shown here.
Like with a classical column in a contemporary setting, as shown here.
Get whimsical
Show your playful side, like with these Disney-inspired columns that resemble something from a cartoon.
Instead of trying to make structural columns disappear in your open floor plan, try to celebrate them. Because at the end of the day, the column stands alone!
Read more:
How to Design Around Load-Bearing Columns
Tell us:
How have you creatively used the load-bearing columns in your home? Tell us in the Comments below.
Show your playful side, like with these Disney-inspired columns that resemble something from a cartoon.
Instead of trying to make structural columns disappear in your open floor plan, try to celebrate them. Because at the end of the day, the column stands alone!
Read more:
How to Design Around Load-Bearing Columns
Tell us:
How have you creatively used the load-bearing columns in your home? Tell us in the Comments below.
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I've got this problem but its spanning across the structure rather than standing up. Not sure what to do, if to put a swing on it for kids...
When I was a kid we lived in a house with rafters in the ceiling, and my dad attached trapeze rings to the two beams over my bed. Many a time my mom found me swinging upside-down when I should have been getting dressed, making my bed or doing other things :). But the rings never came detached and I never received any head injuries (although maybe a bruised bottom!).
why don't you just put a closet there