Often the interior passage in an apartment is not closed with a door, but left open. This allows you to elegantly unite the space and make the interior design of the rooms more elegant. To do this, you can purchase a ready-made structure from assembled elements or cut out individual parts with your own hands and then assemble everything into doorway. But how to make an arch yourself so that it looks smooth and beautiful? After all, there are a lot of materials and technologies for installation; you need to choose wisely.
Designer arch
What arches can be installed in an apartment?
Installation of the arched structure on site interior door can be done without the involvement of professional builders. You just need to choose the type of arch and materials for its manufacture. Following the step-by-step instructions below will help you avoid mistakes and make an arch with your own hands.
Arch curves can be the most bizarre
Design features and significant differences
In construction, arched structures are supports for overlying elements of walls and structures. But in apartments, doorways to the corridor and between rooms are not load-bearing. In the first case, construction materials are selected based on serious external loads, and in the second they must support only their own weight along with the finishing.
Arch with bar counter
An apartment door arch, installed instead of a door, is an element of interior design. Its frame can be made from a lightweight profile for gypsum boards or bars with a cross-section of 20–30 mm. This design can easily withstand the weight of finishing materials. You just need to firmly fix it on the walls so that the decor doesn’t warp or fall off after a couple of weeks.
Reference! In private houses and city apartments, an open door arch between rooms serves exclusively decorative functions. In this case, the load-bearing loads are placed on the concrete walls on the side or on the lintel above the opening.
Ready plastic arch
Shapes of arched openings and their capabilities
There are many options for arranging interior arches in shape:
- "Classic".
- "Romance".
- "Modern".
- "Ellipse".
- "Trapezoid".
- "Portal".
The most popular types of interior arches
The first option at the top has the shape of a regular semicircle, and the last one has strict rectangular outlines throughout its entire height. The rest are intermediate versions between them. But other variations are also possible with one side “support” or two curved posts.
The shape of the door arch and its design are chosen to match the design style of the room. This takes into account the height of the ceiling, the size of the opening and the features of the premises on both sides. In some houses, classic shapes with a regular curve in the form of a semicircle will look ideal, while in others - a rectangular portal. This is more a matter of the taste of the home owners and the general style of interior decor. Some people even prefer cone-shaped contours.
- Classic version It is recommended to choose only with high ceilings in the region of 3 meters and above.
- In typical panel high-rise buildings, it is better to design the entrance to the kitchen with a “MODERN” arch.
- For a wide doorway from the hall to the corridor, “ROMANTIC” with large wide racks is more suitable.
- The rectangular “PORTAL” looks best in an interior where clear horizontal and vertical lines predominate in the decoration. This type of doorway design is ideal for houses made of timber or logs. In such a home, its rectangular corners will look elegant and fit the theme as much as possible.
Classic in the interior
What to build a designer doorway from with your own hands
To quickly make an arch in the doorway of an apartment, it is enough to purchase a set of prefabricated elements made of plastic or laminated chipboard lumber. They must be cut to the desired height and then secured in the places specified according to the instructions. But such options are standard and quite expensive. Plus, not every opening can be fitted with a ready-made model with the required dimensions.
Components of an interior arched system
To make panels of arched posts and arches you will need one of the following materials:
- drywall;
- plywood;
Advice! It is better to choose plasterboard sheets for covering the frame. GCR can be further finished with more various materials. However thin plywood much easier to bend.
Finished veneered arch
The frame for an interior arch can be made:
- from a metal profile;
- from wooden blocks 20x20 and 30x30 mm.
Brick decoration is ideal for connecting a balcony
You can also make an arch instead of a door from concrete, brick or aerated concrete blocks, and only then decorate them with one or another finishing material. But these options are more for those who like capitalism and solidity. Plus they weigh a lot, in old apartments apartment buildings It is impossible to build anything from them.
The use of metal is limited not only by its weight, but also by its high cost. Manufacturing metal structures of complex shapes at home is a very difficult project to implement in practice. The easiest way to do it yourself is to work with drywall and its profile.
Step-by-step instructions for self-installation
The photos and recommendations below will allow even a novice master to cope with the improvement of a doorway. To do this, you first need to create a frame, and then sheathe it and decorate it. You can do everything yourself, you just need to do everything consistently and without mistakes.
Scheme of a plasterboard arch
Preparing the doorway
- First, the leaf and frame of the existing door (if it exists and is in place) are dismantled.
- Then the opening is expanded to the planned dimensions.
- There is no need to plaster the cut walls under the frame; they will still be covered with sheathing. It is enough to straighten them and remove everything that can fall off (plaster, pieces of concrete, falling bricks). The main thing is that the supporting profile can be secured securely and in a strictly vertical position without tilting.
- If you are planning a backlit design, then you need to install the wiring in advance.
- Measurements are always taken at several points in the opening so as not to miscalculate the dimensions.
- If the walls are uneven, then the thickness of the racks (depth of the arch) is selected according to the thickest place.
- To simplify marking and cutting sheet material To cover the arched frame, you need to make a life-size template from cardboard. This will allow you to avoid mistakes and preview how the contours of the structure being formed will look.
Important point! The upper part of the arch takes about 10–15 cm away from the height of the doorway. At least 20 cm should remain from it to the ceiling. When calculating and marking, these numbers must be taken into account.
Fastening the guides
Creating a load-bearing frame
- To make a frame for an arch, you first need to create a main contour from a profile around the perimeter of the opening, fixing it to the walls.
- Then the top curved part will be attached to it frame system. Sometimes only a curved element is made on top, but this is only possible with perfectly smooth slopes.
- Vertical guides in the doorway are attached with an indentation from the plane of the interior wall by the thickness of the plasterboard sheet plus 2 mm for subsequent plaster on top of it.
- After plastering you should get a single Smooth surface.
- On each side and at the top of the arch being created, you will need to secure two such profiles parallel to each other.
Advice! If the walls are made of wood, then self-tapping screws are sufficient to attach the guides, but in the case of concrete or brick, dowel screws will be required. The spacing between fasteners should not exceed 30 cm.
If the columns of the arch are made of small thickness, then two arches can be easily replaced with a wide profile. All cutting and bending manipulations in this case are carried out according to a similar pattern. However, transverse installation will no longer be necessary. When using wooden blocks instead of a profile, the frame for the arch is made using a similar technology. Only the original carrier material changes frame structure.
Two folding methods plasterboard sheet
Rough sheathing of the frame
After completing the assembly of the arch frame, all that remains is to mount the gypsum board or wood board on it. To give plywood or fiberboard the desired shape, they will have to be pre-moistened, fixed on a template and steamed with a hot iron.
Ideally, you need to use special arched plasterboard, reinforced on both sides with non-woven fiberglass. It is enough to stretch it in the longitudinal direction and give it the required form.
There are two ways to bend a regular plasterboard sheet: wet and dry.
- Wet technology involves soaking the back side of the plasterboard with water and gradually bending it onto a template of the required shape and fixing it on it. This process is lengthy; haste can lead to rupture of the cardboard layer of the sheet. And the resulting part can be installed and secured with self-tapping screws on the arch frame only after the plaster has completely dried.
Advice! It is possible to speed up the process of moistening gypsum board to give it elasticity using a needle roller.
- The dry method involves making parallel cuts on one side of the sheet, which affect the plaster and the upper outer layer of cardboard. But the front cardboard layer remains intact. The bend is smooth and of the correct shape.
Installation of the main element of the arch
Cutting sheet material is best done with a jigsaw. When using a hacksaw, the cutting edges will certainly be less even. The sheathing is fastened with self-tapping screws in increments of 5–6 cm. After fixing it, the edges of the plasterboard and plywood sheets. And then a special one is attached to the curved edge to protect it from chipping. plastic corner with perforation.
GKL fastening
Putty for perfect surface leveling
The next stage of finishing a plasterboard arch is primer and putty. After applying the first one, you need to wait until it dries. And fiberglass mesh is used to reinforce the second layer. The corners are also reinforced and leveled using a mesh.
The edges must be smooth
Surface putty
Putty joint with wall
Mesh reinforcement
Edge reinforcement with mesh
Next, apply the third finishing layer. The putty, hardened after 10-2 hours, is sanded sandpaper to remove excess and make the surface as smooth as possible. There should be no protruding screw heads or dents left on it.
This is what the arch should look like
Decoration of the structure and design techniques
You can finally decorate the arch in the apartment with your own hands and make it beautiful:
- painting in color with the walls;
- wood paneling or plastic panels;
- wallpapering or veneering;
- finishing with decorative stone on a gypsum base;
- decoration with mosaics and mirrors;
- decorating using stucco or ready-made columns.
Simple finish with backlight
Both natural and artificial materials are used in the finishing of the interior arch. The choice here depends on the overall design idea for the interior design of the apartment. To improve the doorway, you can use polyurethane stucco molding and even textiles. All options are acceptable, the main thing is that they are in harmony with the surrounding decor.
Shelves in the design of an arched passage to the corridor
The frame of columns made of clinker or decorative stone. Manual installation will require time and diligence, but the result will certainly please the master. The uniqueness of the apartment in a similar way decoration guaranteed.
Artificial stone decor
Arch finishing natural wood will bring solidity and grace to the house, and the mosaic pattern invented by the owners will make the decor unique. The main thing is not to overdo it with the design, making the design a tasteless heap of elements. different styles. All interior details should be in harmony with each other and complement each other.
Stucco columns in arched doorway with wide walls
Often conventionally painted white or Brown color It’s quite enough to complete the design, making the arch with your own hands beautiful and elegant. However, some require built-in lighting and additional decorative elements in accordance with the style chosen for the apartment. It will take more time to finish the arched opening, but it will be worth it.
Decor with corner and wallpaper
It’s not difficult to install and decorate an interior arch instead of a door yourself. For work, it is enough to have metal scissors, a screwdriver and a hacksaw in the house. But if you have no experience in handling these tools, it is better to trust professional installers.
Modern renovation requires large investments both to pay for materials and to directly complete the tasks. It’s no wonder that many people try to save money by performing various processes on their own; they only benefit from this. For example, an arch in an apartment with your own hands will cost much less, and the knowledge that all this was done by you will warm your soul.
By creating various architectural and design solutions, you not only create unique elements design, but also work with the ergonomics of the room itself. It is known that rounded corners are better perceived and add a visual element of comfort to any room. That is why this method was used in various ancient buildings. Rectangular plots today are simply an attempt to implement more economical solutions, since mass construction does not favor individual solutions.
What types of arches are there?
Before installing an arch in an apartment, it is worth understanding what such a solution actually is. As a rule, an arch is called any opening that does not have a door. This, of course, goes against the opinion of many users, for whom such a solution contains only a semicircular termination. In fact, there are quite a few types of arches:
If you decide to create a really cozy and high-quality design in your apartment, then you will most likely have to make an arch. The price for such work ranges from 2000 to 4000 rubles. It cannot be called too high, since various modern materials allow you to do such processes very quickly and. However, you can save money by doing everything yourself, of course, if you have the knowledge and ability to do such work.
How to make an arch in your apartment?
How to make an arch? First you need to decide on the type of construction so that it exactly matches the chosen design of the entire apartment. After this, you should start choosing materials.
One of the best components to create such a structure there will be a plasterboard sheet. It is very easy to process and to create a curved section you will not need any special devices. You can limit yourself to a hacksaw, or better yet, a jigsaw. Of course, there are other materials, but working with them requires a special approach and takes longer and is more difficult.
In order for all the work to be done correctly, you first need to mark out all the areas. Determine the radius of the rounding, the beginning of the curved section and the points where it will pass.
Then, along the predicted contour, a profile is attached for mounting the plasterboard sheet. Please note that when taking measurements, you need to take into account not only the shape, but also the thickness of the material being mounted, so that later you do not end up with areas protruding from the wall.
When the installation of the profile is completed, and, therefore, the frame on both sides of the opening is ready, it is necessary to cut out the necessary sections from the plasterboard sheet, which will create an arched transition. Finished pieces of material are fixed to the frame, and general form the structure will already be approximately visible.
The final phase of the rough assembly will be the fastening of the arc-shaped section between the arched transitions. The material will be the same drywall. By the way, if the bend is very sharp and there is a possibility that the sheet will crack, soak it in water, then its flexibility will increase.
Having secured this area, all work can be considered almost completed. All that remains is to secure the forming corners and seal all the seams, and then carry out finishing those materials that are best suited for the design of your room.
All such work is possible, or you can invite specialists for these purposes - this decision needs to be made by you personally, because there is no particular difficulty in such work, but it cannot be called very simple either.
Video on how to make an arch in an apartment with your own hands
In addition, even small deviations from the required dimensions can cause various distortions, so if this is your first time making an arch in an apartment yourself, be prepared for the fact that the process may have to be repeated until a quality result is achieved.
If this method is difficult for you, you can make an arch from brick, aerated concrete blocks, and even use polyvinyl chloride film as in suspended ceilings. Use any technology that is more convenient for you or available in order to create the most attractive design in your apartment.
And why not leave an open doorway instead?
The fact is that rectangular structures hanging over your head create severe psychological discomfort. It is much more pleasant for us to see towering arches above us, which resemble the bending crowns of trees in a park or sea waves. There are no rectangles in nature; all lines are natural, lively and streamlined. Therefore, since ancient times, architects have sought to repeat natural lines so that a person in any building would feel calm and protected.
Types of arches
There are arches of various types. The classic arch is distinguished separately. It has not changed its shape for centuries. A classic arch has a radius equal to half the width of the opening and characteristic decorative elements. The perimeter of the opening has a casing made of stucco or similar materials. In the center of the vault, the arch forms a kind of decorative element - a keystone. The side parts of such an arch are often made in the form of columns, on which the base and capitals are clearly visible. A classic arch is always appropriate in appropriate interiors.
In non-classical styles, the most popular types of arches are:
- Gothic - formed by two arcs that intersect under acute angle and look like an arrow.
- Moroccan - strongly elongated in the center. This type of arch is common in Spanish and Moorish architecture.
- Oriental or Arabic style arches are characterized by an opening shaped like an onion or the keel of an inverted boat. This type finds its application in the architecture of India and Muslim countries of the Near and Middle East. Echoes of the style can be seen in ancient Russian religious buildings.
- Modern is different unusual shapes, among which asymmetry is popular.
Modern democratic style allows for the most unexpected forms and design finds. Asymmetry, mixing styles and materials for decoration are widely used.
New construction and Decoration Materials- drywall, which is attached to a frame made of wood or metal profile. These materials do not require the involvement of specialists with professional tools.
All work on constructing a plasterboard arch is easy to do yourself.
Arch as a way of zoning
Creating an interior arch is a convenient and practical way of zoning space. With its help, you can either select separate zones in one room or studio apartment, or combine small rooms into one.
Most often, arches are installed in hallways, removing the door that darkens the room. A small hallway in this case visually merges with the next room, especially if the same finishing materials were used. For example, the same tiles are placed on the floor in the hallway and in the kitchen, and the room is separated by laminate or parquet. If a separate room is allocated for the dining room in an apartment or house, interior arch between her and the kitchen will be much more appropriate, since the housewife will often have to walk between them with dishes in her hands.
When combining a balcony or loggia with a room, design the doorway in the form of an arch.
By building regulations demolish the carrier external wall is prohibited, and the installation of an arch will allow you not to break the rules and add zest to the interior. Below we will describe how to make an arch in a doorway.
If the arch will stand in a room with high humidity, you should purchase the appropriate drywall - its sheets are green. Regular material in conditions of high humidity it will lose its shape after a few years.
We build an arch with our own hands
An arch like this can be easily created in any room - in the kitchen, hallway or living room. If you have very little experience in finishing works, we invite you to make an arch with your own hands using step-by-step instructions and photos.
Prepare your tools in advance:
- scissors for metal work;
- knife;
- roulette;
- putty knife;
- grater or grout;
- carpenter's square;
- pencil.
Materials:
- drywall or wooden blocks
- metallic profile;
- plywood sheet;
- self-tapping screws for drywall;
- putty and plaster;
- paper tape.
Also, do not forget about personal protective equipment - glasses and a respirator.
When everything for the work has been prepared and a place for the future arch has been chosen, the doorway should be measured. Considering the size of the opening, draw the desired arch shape on a sheet of drywall. This stage is the most critical, so you should approach it seriously. A curve of the desired radius can be drawn by screwing a self-tapping screw with a rope tied to it into the drywall. The length of the rope should be equal to the length of the radius. When the contours of the arch are drawn on a sheet of drywall, do not forget the old rule:
Seven times measure cut once.
Cut out the future arch along the contours using a jigsaw or a special hacksaw for drywall. Before cutting, carefully secure the sheet so that it does not move. Once the drywall is cut, it can be set aside. It's time to make the frame. As we remember, it is made from a metal profile or wooden beam. A profile frame is more suitable for brick walls, and bars for wooden ones.
Installation of a metal frame
In order to make an arch from plasterboard, first install its frame. Guides are cut from the profile required length and fixed on the wall as shown in the photo.
If the profile is attached to a concrete wall, you need to drill holes in it and hammer in dowels, into which screws are then screwed. For attaching the profile to wooden wall use self-tapping screws with a length of at least 4–5 cm. The optimal distance between them is 10–12 cm.
After securing the guides, measure a section of the profile for the lower edge of the arch. Since the arch has a curved shape, the profile section will also have to be bent. To do this, its sides are cut with metal scissors and carefully bent, each time trying it on the cut out part of the plasterboard arch. This process looks like this: 
Next, the bent part is attached to the guides either directly or using direct hangers, as in the drawing below. 
Hangers are needed to rigidly fasten the lower part of the arch. Next, the side parts of the arch, cut from plasterboard, are screwed to the frame. The most convenient way to do this is with a screwdriver. 
Then, at several points, jumpers should be installed connecting both side walls arches.
Installation of a wooden frame
If you decide to make an interior arch from wood, then you first need to determine the thickness of the wooden blocks. Measure the width of the opening and subtract the thickness of the plywood and drywall from it, the resulting figure will be the thickness of the block. Using a jigsaw, cut out the sides of the arch from plywood.
Secure the entire structure with self-tapping screws. It should look something like this.
Installation of the lower part of the arch
After installing the side parts of the arch, it was time to sew up the opening from below. Using a tape measure, measure the length and width of the bottom and draw it on the drywall. Since the lower part has a curved shape, the material will have to be bent. To do this, draw parallel lines across the strip with a pencil. The distance between them should be about 10 cm.
Cut the layer of paper along the lines with a knife. Attach the drywall to the bottom of the arch with the cuts facing up and, using smooth, slow movements, gradually shape it into the desired shape.
When bending drywall, do not apply too much force to avoid breaking the material.
Next, align the edges and secure the bottom with self-tapping screws. 
After securing the bottom, use a knife to smooth out any uneven areas on the drywall.
Finishing the arch
To ensure that the joints and places where the screws are attached do not show through, they are glued over paper tape or masking tape. They are leveled with putty in several layers and each layer is sanded with an abrasive of the required grain size. For puttying use acrylic putty for interior work or special for drywall. Apply putty with a spatula and level with grout.
If in the process of breaking the doorway from concrete wall large pieces break off, use plaster. Unlike putty, it can be applied in a thick layer. After the plaster has dried, the surface is leveled with a thin layer of putty.
To prevent cracking, a mounting mesh is reinforced over the putty.
Lastly, a finishing layer of putty is applied to cover the mesh. After drying, the surface should be thoroughly cleaned. If the mesh is still visible after drying, apply another layer of material. The result should be a perfectly flat white surface. 
Now the interior arch, made from plasterboard with your own hands, is ready for decorative finishing.
Examples of using arches in design
Check out the most successful and beautiful examples plasterboard arches in interior design. 
A complex arch with shelves connects the room with a balcony.
Lamps are mounted in this arch between the room and the hallway. The result was a spacious and bright room.
In the next photo, the arch leads to the kitchen instead of a door. 
In the hallway, all doors have been replaced with arches. 
The photo clearly shows how the creation of an interior arch ennobles the room and emphasizes the beauty of the interior
Installing a prefabricated arch in a simple way - video
You can make an arch in a doorway in various ways. Each of them is selected based on a specific situation. It is necessary to take into account the construction skills possessed House master, as well as financial opportunities.
It is worth noting that it is possible to qualitatively install an arch in a doorway with your own hands only when all the features of this design are taken into account. The fact is that this finishing option has its pros and cons.
The advantages include the following aspects:
- Visual increase in space. In this case, two factors are combined at once. The first is that an opening without a door unites two rooms, this erases some existing border. The second is based on the shape of the structure.
- An excellent option for zoning. Indeed, an arch can be an excellent solution to the problem of dividing a single area.
- Nice decorative look. This design can decorate any interior. It should be taken into account that overall design must be harmoniously thought out.
We must not forget about the existing shortcomings. They lie in the fact that the peculiarity of this product is openness, since there is no door leaf. Therefore, there is a complete lack of sound insulation and the penetration of foreign odors, if we are talking about the border with the kitchen area.
When designing an arch, you should think about the fact that the feeling of security will disappear
Existing options
What is special about installing an arch in a doorway? The point is that there are different kinds of these designs:
- Ellipse. This configuration is considered to be classic. It is made round. All transitions are very smooth.
- Round. This option allows you to expand the opening. This method is suitable for cases where zoning is required.
- Trapezoid. Assumes the absence of rounded areas.
Arch - various types of structures On a note! You can often hear that an arch and a portal are two different architectural elements. In fact, the portal is the most simple solution arched design. It is made in the form of a rectangle, sometimes supplemented with rounded corners.
Features of the construction of arches
You can make an arch in several ways, but you need to take into account the height of the openings.
For low openings
This method of creating an arch involves pre-marking the surface. The marked area is cut out (hollowed).
The general technology is as follows:
- The opening is being dismantled. Deleted old box. Part of the crumbling plaster is removed.
- The height of the future structure is determined. Lines are drawn along two vertical sides. They must be equal and made exactly at the specified height.
- To obtain the radius of the arch, the existing width is measured. This value is divided in half.
- Between vertical posts a horizontal line is drawn. It should be located at a level that will correspond to the beginning of the rounding.
On a note! It is important to consider that the distance to the ceiling should not be less than 30 cm.
- The center is marked on the drawn line. The self-tapping screw is screwed in. A cord is attached to the screw, which must be equal to a given radius. A pencil is attached to the end of the rope. This tool marks the bend.
- Trimming is done according to the existing markings. If the wall is strong enough, then chiselling is performed. To make the work easier, pre-drilling is done.
It is necessary to comply with the requirements for the construction of the arch Thus, the required shape is obtained. Next, you should process it carefully. This is done by grinding. The resulting structure is treated with putty or plaster. They can serve as final finishing material.
For high openings
The door arch can also be made in another way. It lies in the fact that plasterboard and a metal profile are used as the main material. The technology assumes that everything will be done along an existing opening. The following actions are performed:
On a note! The created sheathing should be recessed to the thickness of the gypsum plaster boards used. Minor errors may occur. They can be easily corrected with plaster.
On a note! If you need to install an arch very quickly, the best solution would be to use a ready-made structure. These products are made from various materials and have standard configurations.
After all the procedures, an almost finished design is obtained. All you need to do is install a fragment of a gypsum plasterboard that will close the open arc-shaped space. The procedure is performed as follows:
- The bending section is measured.
- The resulting size is transferred to the drywall.
- The required fragment is cut out.
- This part needs to be bent. To do this, it is cut into wrong side into strips.
- Carefully place into place and secure.
Finished plasterboard arch The completed design requires additional decorative finishing. It should be noted that drywall makes it quite easy to create an arch with your own hands. If you use wood as a material, you must have sufficient experience to correctly process and install such a product.
Fiberboards and plywood are used as substitutes for gypsum boards.
Plywood is often used to create arched openings instead of drywall. There are some tips that will help you get a beautiful arched opening:
- The general appearance of the arch should correspond to the interior design.
- To get more original design– it is designed individually from different sides.
- Existing communications should be laid in advance.
Summarizing the above, it can be noted that there are various ways to do door arch. You just need to be patient and adhere to certain rules and recommendations. Then everything will definitely work out.
Anyone can decorate this interior element with their own hands. The shape of an arched opening is practically not limited by anything except imagination, but quite often apartment owners, when renovating, limit themselves only to painting the plasterboard elements of the arch. Such designs look rather boring, creating a feeling of incompleteness. If the main style of the room is not minimalism, then the arch can be turned into a unique decorative element that emphasizes the integrity of the interior.
Possibilities of decorative arches
Using arches you can make small room more spacious, and in a large one to create effective zoning. This architectural element in the apartment performs several functions at once:
- Saving space and increasing it visually.
- Simultaneous functional separation of adjacent rooms and their visual unification.
- Creating a certain atmosphere in the house, emphasizing its style.
Types of decorative arches
Most often, arches are made of plasterboard. Flexible and plastic plasterboard allows you to quickly create a structure of almost any shape with your own hands. Finished item has high aesthetic characteristics. A plasterboard arch can subsequently be lined with almost any material, including wood, stone (most successful examples can be seen in the photo).
Arched openings can be divided into two types:
- Active - have a complex shape that provides maximum visibility into neighboring rooms; they themselves can decorate the interior.
- Passive - simple in form, often serve as a border.
Advice! It is advisable to determine the shape of the arch before the repair, as well as its subsequent design.
Simple passive arches include:
- Classic - with the correct arc radius. Optimal for any interior.
- Ellipsoidal - the arc can have the shape of a regular or irregular oval.
- Modern - an arc with a pronounced rise.
- Romance - the arc is cut off at the top, but rounded on the sides.
- A portal is a rectangular opening.
Complex active ones include:
- Eastern.
- Lancet.
- Horseshoe-shaped.
- Trapezoidal, etc.
Such arches can have uneven or figured edges, be located on several levels, and twist from one room to another.
Arch decor
An arch is, first of all, a part of the wall; therefore, when designing it, you should start from the finishing of the latter. An architectural element must fit harmoniously into the interior and be part of it. If there are several arches in the apartment, then they must correspond to the design of the room, be of the same shape or made of the same materials.
Advice! The wider the arched opening, the more attention should be paid to its design, color and stylistic matching of adjacent rooms.
Finishing materials
Depending on the style of the room and the arch itself, you should select the material for its design.
Paint, wallpaper, decorative plaster – simplest option do-it-yourself arched doorway design. An element decorated with such materials practically does not stand out in the interior. The color of the coating on the walls and the inside of the arch may differ if this does not contradict the style of the room.
Tree – noble, durable material. Most appropriate for interior decoration in classic style. Looks ideal on designs of simple shapes.
Polyurethane stucco – with its help you can decorate an arch of any shape and style with your own hands: from minimalism to baroque. The opening can be decorated with polyurethane columns, figured or flat moldings, all kinds of rosettes, bas-reliefs - the material has practically no restrictions on shape. Initially white elements can be painted in any color with acrylic paint.
Stone – natural or artificial. Thanks to the variety of textures and colors, it can be used to decorate arches of different styles and shapes.
Ceramics – tiles or mosaics can cover both the entire arch and its individual parts.
Glass – these can be blocks installed at the full height of the opening, at different widths, or in a ladder. This design of arches in high-tech style looks impressive. Often there is a design of arched openings using stained glass and colored glass, such elements are ideal for the Art Nouveau style.
Decorating an arch with artificial stone
Widely used when decorating arches fake diamond. This material is durable and aesthetic, it can imitate any natural analogue, which can be seen in numerous photos in magazines and the Internet. Natural stone, of course, can also be used for cladding, but the arch must be located in the opening load-bearing wall or monolithic partition. Drywall simply cannot withstand such a load, so it is better to use lightweight ones. artificial materials. Besides a natural stone It's quite expensive.
Advice! To cover plasterboard arches with your own hands, it is better to use light and flexible acrylic tiles. Its surface can imitate the texture of any stone and other materials.
