Building a partition wall can change the character of your home and create new spaces that you are more happy with. They’re often built in unfinished spaces such as attics and basements, but they can be built pretty much anywhere where space permits. First, check your local codes to make sure that building a wall is okay, and then follow these steps to create your partition wall.


Step 1: Mark the ceiling where the new wall will be. Make lines for the edges of the wall’s top plate, which will be the width of a 2×4.

Step 2: Make your top and bottom plates by cutting two 2x4s to match the length of the wall you’re building. Make marks for studs every 16 inches (measured from the center of one stud to the center of the next stud).

Step 3: After making sure that the lines you drew are parallel to the outside wall, nail your top plate into place with 16d nails. Because nailing the wood to the ceiling can be difficult, you might want to get the nails started before you hold the board up to the ceiling.

Step 4: Determine the position of the floor plate and nail it to the grown. If the floor is made of concrete, you’ll need to use a stud driver.

Step 5: Nail the first stud into place against the wall with 16d nails. Then, repeat the process with the rest of the studs, placing them every 16 inches. You can drive nails diagonally or use a metal connector to attach the studs to the ceiling and floor plates.

Step 6: Once you have all the studs in place, it’s time to finish the partition wall with drywall. You probably won’t need to include any insulation, as it’s an internal wall, and of course there are some alternatives to drywall for partition walls. For example, you can use glass or paneling. Or, you could simply finish the studs and get creative with a lighter material such as those that are used in moveable partition walls—such as bamboo, plastic, or a fabric tapestry.