Model a Split-Level Entry with Half-Walls in ArchiMaster 3D

To draw a split-level floor plan in ArchiMaster 3D, set separate floor elevations for the lower, entry, and upper levels, then use the room divider tool to place the entry landing at the intermediate height. Add a half-wall railing by drawing a railing segment at 36 to 42 inches high along the open edge of the landing. A split foyer, sometimes called a bi-level entry, is a two-level house where the front door opens onto a small landing between an upper main floor and a lower family or basement level, typically with short stair runs of four to seven steps in both directions. This tutorial covers the complete workflow in ArchiMaster 3D home design software, from initial elevations to rendered walkthrough.

• Set each floor to its true elevation before drawing walls. A typical split foyer landing sits 4 to 5 feet above the lower floor and 4 to 5 feet below the upper floor.
• Use the room divider tool for the landing edge, not a full wall, so ArchiMaster 3D treats the space as open to the stairwell.
• A half-wall railing in a split entry should be 36 to 42 inches high, with balusters no more than 4 inches apart to meet residential guard rules.
• Turn off automatic snapping when placing the stair opening or enter dimensions manually; snapping to the wrong floor line is the most common split-level error.
• Model the stair opening and railing before adding furniture, then use a 3D walkthrough to check sightlines from the foyer to the upper and lower levels.

How to Draw a Split-Level Floor Plan in ArchiMaster 3D

Start from the main level that holds the front door. In ArchiMaster 3D, open a new project and set the project units to inches or feet, then go to the floor settings to create three reference heights: lower floor, entry landing, and upper floor. For a standard split foyer, set the lower floor at 0 inches, the entry landing at 54 inches (4 feet 6 inches), and the upper floor at 108 inches (9 feet). These numbers are not fixed; adjust them to match as-built dimensions or your local stair rise. The split-level design guide explains how to calculate floor-to-floor heights from measured stair risers if you are working from an existing home.

Set distinct floor elevations first

Open the level or floor manager and add a new level for each elevation. Draw the lower plan on level 1, the entry landing on level 2, and the upper plan on level 3. When you assign the landing elevation, type the height rather than drag it, because dragging can snap to the nearest wall top or floor line. ArchiMaster 3D stacks these levels in 3D view, but the 2D plan still shows them separately. That separation is what lets you draw a half-level without manually offsetting walls. If you try to fake a split level with a single floor and raised platforms, railings and stairs will not connect cleanly.

Use room dividers, not invisible walls, for open edges

On the entry landing plan, outline the foyer with full walls where it meets closets or exterior walls, but use the room divider tool for the edges that open to the stairwell and the lower or upper rooms. A room divider creates a zero-thickness boundary that defines the room without blocking sightlines, which matters for a split foyer where the landing overlooks the lower family room. Draw the divider across the landing edge, then set its elevation to the landing height. This step keeps the upper and lower spaces visually connected in 3D while allowing separate floor coverings and lighting.

How to Add a Half-Wall Railing in ArchiMaster 3D

After the landing and stairs are in place, select the railing or guard tool from the stair and railing library. Draw the railing segment directly on top of the room divider line, not beside it. For a half-wall railing, choose a wall-style guard or set the railing top rail to a solid half-wall profile. In ArchiMaster 3D, the railing tool can produce an open baluster guard or a solid knee wall with a cap. A half-wall railing is a solid low wall, typically framed to 36 to 42 inches total height, capped with a finished top rail. The open side of a split foyer usually needs a guard wherever the drop to the lower floor exceeds 30 inches, which is nearly always at the landing.

Set half-wall and railing dimensions correctly

Select the railing and edit its properties. Set the overall height to 37 1/2 inches for a comfortable handrail height, or 42 inches if you want the half-wall to act as the guard without a separate handrail. Keep the bottom rail or baseboard at 4 inches above the floor to allow toe space. Set baluster spacing to 4 inches or less for code compliance; this prevents a 4-inch sphere from passing through. For a solid half-wall, choose a panel or drywall finish and set the wall thickness between 3 1/2 and 5 1/2 inches. ArchiMaster 3D will report the railing length and height in the properties panel, so type exact values rather than scaling the object visually.

Avoid snapping mistakes at the stair opening

The most common error when modeling a split foyer is drawing the stair opening with wall snaps enabled. The cursor can jump to the upper floor line, the lower floor line, or a nearby wall corner instead of the true landing edge. To prevent this, turn off object snapping or hold the manual coordinate entry key, then enter the opening width and length as numbers. A split foyer stair opening is typically 3 feet 0 inches to 3 feet 6 inches wide and 9 to 11 feet long, depending on the stair run. After placing the opening, zoom to the landing edge and confirm that the railing sits exactly on the room divider line, not floating 1/2 inch inside the stairwell.

Split Foyer 3D Model Tutorial: From Shell to Render

Switch to 3D view after the landing, stairs, and half-wall are in place. Walk the camera from the front door to the upper hallway, then down to the lower family room. The value of a split foyer model is that you can check the sightline from the entry landing into both levels before construction. A half-wall that looks right in plan can block the view of the front door from the upper hallway or make the lower room feel closed off. Use the 3D walkthrough video tutorial to record a camera path that passes through the foyer and up the stairs; this reveals head-clearance and railing-height issues that 2D plans miss.

“Model the half-wall at the split-level landing twice: once as a guard, once as a sightline.”, ArchiMaster 3D Journal

Check sightlines before you finalize

In a split foyer, the upper hallway often overlooks the entry landing. If you place a 42-inch solid half-wall along the landing edge, an average-height adult standing in the upper hallway cannot see the front door. Lowering that wall to 36 inches or using an open railing instead of a solid half-wall restores the view while maintaining safety. Use the ArchiMaster 3D camera tool to set eye height at 5 feet 6 inches and move along the upper hall. If the front door is not visible, adjust the railing type before you finalize. This single check prevents the most common homeowner complaint about split entries: a closed-in, tunnel-like foyer.

Avoid These Common Split-Level Modeling Errors

• Drawing the entry landing at the same elevation as the upper or lower floor, which flattens the split and breaks stair geometry.
• Using full walls instead of room dividers at the landing edge, which creates an unnecessary partition and blocks the 3D sightline.
• Letting the railing snap to the floor below, which drops the half-wall into the stairwell or leaves a visible gap at the landing.
• Forgetting to set baluster spacing for open guards; a railing with 6-inch baluster gaps can violate residential code.
• Modeling furniture before the stair opening and railing are correct; reworking the landing later shifts adjacent rooms and decor.

Each ArchiMaster 3D edition includes the stair, room divider, and railing tools used in this workflow. The pricing page shows which edition matches your project scale, from single-room remodels to full split-level homes.