How To Hide A Pillar In The Kitchen (5+ Ways)

Kitchen pillars can create frustrating obstructions and limit space and accessibility. However, with some creative solutions, you can disguise or diminish pillars to open up your kitchen design. This comprehensive guide will provide useful tips and tricks for hiding kitchen pillars.

Properly addressing pillars in your kitchen is crucial for creating a spacious and enjoyable cooking environment. With smart solutions, you can camouflage pillars or incorporate them seamlessly into your design scheme. We will explore various options from cosmetic changes to structural renovations.

Assess Your Kitchen Pillar

Before deciding on a solution, carefully assess your kitchen pillar in terms of size, location, and construction. Pay attention to what purpose it serves in your home.

Location and Size

Consider where the pillar is situated in your kitchen and how much floorspace it occupies. A large load-bearing pillar in the center of the room will require more extensive remodeling than a narrow pillar along the wall.

You’ll also need to account for appliances, cabinets, and work triangles when planning. If the pillar obstructs important work zones, you’ll want to prioritize resizing or moving it to improve kitchen functionality.

Structural Purpose

Determine what structural purpose your kitchen pillar serves. It may be load-bearing, meaning it supports the home’s structure, or non-load-bearing. Non-load-bearing pillars typically act as room dividers or infill between cabinets.

If your pillar is non-load-bearing, hiding it will be much simpler than a weight-bearing pillar, which likely cannot be moved without major structural changes. Inspect your home’s framework carefully before proceeding.

Design and Construction

Finally, look at what your pillar is made of – wood framing, masonry, brick, etc. This will impact available hiding solutions. For example, a drywall-enclosed wood pillar is easier to modify than a brick pillar.

Understanding your pillar’s specifics will inform the best approach to diminishing its presence in your kitchen’s layout.

Cosmetic Solutions for Hiding Kitchen Pillars

For simple, affordable approaches to camouflaging kitchen pillars, consider these cosmetic makeover ideas first:

Strategic Storage Solutions

One of the easiest ways to obscure a kitchen pillar is by installing floor-to-ceiling cabinetry or shelving directly in front of it. The pillar then becomes hidden behind closed cabinet doors. Where open shelving is used, placing similar-colored items in front of the pillar helps it visually blend into the display.

Use storage that best suits your needs – extra pantry items, dishware, appliance garages, spice racks, etc. Get creative with shape too – angled units can diverge from the pillar at an attractive, asymmetrical angle.

Painting and Paneling

A coat of paint is a budget-friendly way to make a pillar less conspicuous. Paint your pillar the same color as surrounding walls and cabinets to seamlessly incorporate it. Contrasting colors tend to accentuate pillars instead of diminishing them.

For a more decorative approach, install recessed paneling on the pillar. Shaker, beadboard and other panel styles help the pillar match existing cabinetry. Paneling also breaks up the solid surface, making the pillar less visually prominent.

Faux Finishes and Wallpaper

Consider applying faux finishes or wallpaper to your pillar to help it fade into the background. Sponging, ragging, stippling and other techniques create depth and visual texture. Match this to wall paint elsewhere in the kitchen.

Likewise, wallpaper or contact paper with patterns mimicking nearby materials like tile, stone, or wood help the pillar feel integrated rather than standalone.

Structural Solutions for Removing Kitchen Pillars

Where cosmetic solutions fall short, structural changes allow you to physically alter or eliminate the pillar. While more invasive, these options deliver the biggest visual impact.

Resize Weight-Bearing Pillars

If your kitchen pillar is load-bearing but oversized, you may be able to trim it down without compromising structural integrity. Consult an engineer, architect or experienced contractor to determine what smaller size would safely support the home.

With wood framing, this may involve sistering new, narrower vertical studs alongside the existing pillar. The original framing can then be removed, taking the pillar’s thickness down along with it.

Install an I-Beam

For more substantial load-bearing pillars that can’t be trimmed, installing a steel I-beam allows for complete pillar removal. An I-beam horizontally transfers the load to different points along exterior walls or an alternative interior pillar.

With the pillar load rerouted through the beam, the original pillar can be taken out. This opens the space while still preserving underlying support.

Relocate to Another Wall

If your kitchen layout allows, consider moving the pillar from its current position to a less obtrusive wall. This gets it out of high-traffic zones without losing its structural purpose.

Carefully determine if the pillar could be moved to the kitchen periphery while still adequately bracing the home. An engineer can assess viability and create framing plans for the pillar in its new position.

Design Solutions for Incorporating Pillars

Rather than hiding pillars, an alternative approach is embracing them as intentional kitchen accents. With the right design choices, pillars can become decorative focal points.

Add Architectural Interest

Transform an existing pillar into a compelling architectural feature by adding moldings, corbels, side panels and other embellishments. Mix materials like beadboard, wainscoting and decorative metal for contrast.

Molding profiles, turned posts and plinth blocks are all options for imbuing plain pillars with style. Treat your pillar like a canvas for demonstrating your design personality.

Build Out Surrounding Cabinetry

Help your pillar look purposefully placed by constructing cabinetry, banquettes, hutches and bookshelves around it. Building out the pillar with customized storage makes it feel like an integral part of the design rather than a roadblock.

Mix closed and open display areas to prevent a cluttered look. Continue lines from the pillar onto surrounding cabinetry by aligning doors and drawers for a cohesive aesthetic.

Incorporate Lighting

Strategically employing lighting is another pillar design option. Use the pillar as a mount for hanging pendant lights or sconces. Lighting draws attention upwards and highlights the pillar as an intentional feature.

You can also recess lighting into an alcove created around the pillar or install strips beneath upper cabinets. Illumination makes the pillar and its surroundings more of a focal point.

FAQ About Hiding Kitchen Pillars

Still have questions about working around kitchen pillars? This FAQ covers common queries:

Can I completely remove a load-bearing pillar?

Removing a load-bearing pillar risks destabilizing your home’s structural integrity and should never be attempted without an engineer’s guidance. In some cases, alternate support from an I-beam allows for safe removal.

How much does it cost to move or alter a pillar?

Any resizing or relocating of a pillar will require building permits and professional work, so expect to invest a few thousand dollars. Exact pricing depends on labor, the installation of beams/additional supports, and how extensively the pillar needs to be moved or rebuilt.

Should I box in my pillar with drywall?

Enclosing a pillar in drywall alone doesn’t address the underlying obstruction and also forfeits space in your layout. Drywall boxing should only be used in conjunction with resizing a pillar or other structural changes.

Can I hide a pillar with trim or molding alone?

While decorative trims help pillars blend in better, they don’t adequately disguise depth and bulk on their own. Trim should supplement other camouflaging solutions like strategic storage, paint or faux finishes.

What are the risks of altering a load-bearing pillar?

Attempting pillar alterations without an engineer’s approval and licensed contractor risks destabilizing your home, impacting roof lines, cracking drywall and allowing structural damage or collapse. Always consult building professionals first.