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Pillars and load-bearing columns

Free-standing vertical supports — structural (carrying load) or decorative. Sizes, placement.

2 min readUpdated 2026-06-10

A pillar or column is a free-standing vertical support. In residential floor plans, most columns are structural — carrying load from beams or roof above.

Pillar dropped at room center. Move it by dragging; resize and switch between square and round in the Inspector.

In this guide

  1. 1

    Structural columns

    Carry vertical loads from beams, floors, or roof. Common positions: mid-room column supporting a long beam (open-plan houses); porch columns supporting porch roof; basement lally columns supporting first-floor beams. Standard sizes: 4-8 inches diameter (steel lally), 6-12 inches square (wood post), 8-24 inches diameter (decorative round).

  2. 2

    Decorative columns

    Architectural detail with no structural role. Often at room entries, gallery walls, exterior porches. Sized for visual effect — 8-16 inches diameter or square.

  3. 3

    Where columns matter for layout

    Structural columns can't move. They dictate furniture placement and walkway routing. Decorative can be relocated during renovation.

  4. 4

    In Room Sketch 3D

    Build Panel → Pillar tile. Click, then click in the room. Set size and shape (round, square) in Inspector.

Frequently asked questions

How big is a typical residential structural column?

4-8 inches diameter for steel lally; 6-12 inches square for wood post; 8-24 inches for decorative round.

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