Decorative arches in the interior

Arches in the interior have become very popular, and sometimes just an indispensable element. Thanks to modern materials and decor, their design varies from simple to non-standard and even extravagant. It is not surprising that those who wish to build an arch can not immediately decide on the version of its execution.

In the interior of the apartment and house

The arches became especially popular in living quarters when open plan and studio apartments came into vogue. The free passage allows you to divide the space into functional zones, but at the same time leave a connection between them. Materials for the manufacture of arches of different shapes and sizes, as well as ways to decorate them, there are many, perhaps some of you and did not guess.

Role in design

This type of opening in design is resorted for various reasons, in particular, they are used in solving some problems:

An arch made of certain materials of a properly chosen shape can become the main style-forming detail that will complement a certain style;
Connect or disconnect two functional areas;
Emphasize the monumentality of the situation;
In some cases, it is necessary to focus on the architecture of the building. If there are arched windows and vaults on the ceiling, the arches will look very harmonious;
Arches can soften the situation, if for some reason it is full of straight lines and corners.

Primary requirements

There are several tips for selecting a particular form of the arch, its location, size and decoration.

Any arch must solve at least one of the above tasks, otherwise it loses its value.
The arch must necessarily overlap with something, it can be the shape of windows, furniture, decor or other openings.
The size of the passage is proportional to the size of the room.
The arch should not interfere with the illumination of the next room.
The most winning option when the opening is placed exactly in the center of the wall.
Two symmetrical arches look good along one wall.
The upper point of the arched vault should not rest on the ceiling or fit the baguette itself. To the ceiling should remain about 30 cm, minimum 10. If the height of the walls does not allow, it is better to refuse open aisles.

Installation sites

Practically in every apartment, and even more so in the house, there is a door that does not bear any functional load, are rarely used and only clutters the space with a canvas. But if you replace it with an arched structure, you will be able to increase the usable area, bring a sense of spaciousness and novelty to the environment.

It is unlikely that anyone would risk leaving intimate areas such as a bath or a bedroom without doors. And in the rooms of "public use" it is quite possible to leave free access. Most often the arches are constructed between the following rooms:

Kitchen-dining room;
Hallway-kitchen;
Kitchen-corridor;
Entrance hall;
Kitchen-living room;
Hall wardrobe.

Kinds

In order for the arch to look appropriate and fit into the interior, it is necessary to choose the right material for its construction. It matters the design of the arch, size, shape, style of the room. It is important to understand that a certain option provides its capabilities, but it may not fit your style.

Materials from which arches can be made:

Drywall The design for the arch based on the usual aluminum profile and drywall, is the most popular, versatile and affordable option that allows you to create a conventional arched ceiling, and implement special design ideas and ideas. True to perform such an arch will turn out only at a certain stage of repair.

Tree. Many companies offer ready-made arches from a wooden array or MDF, which is not difficult to install with your own hands. The design of finished products is very diverse: fancy geometric shapes, inserts from colored stained glass, imitation of stucco and much more. What can we say about the possibility to make an opening on an individual project.
Brick. Brick arches are rather complicated in terms of construction, therefore they are rarely found. In addition, it is difficult for them to give artistic form. Brick floors can be arranged with a different lifting boom and radius of curvature, but usually remain rectangular or rounded. The most appropriate option for styles loft or underground.

A rock. Natural stone trim can be called a classic, but it is not suitable for all styles. From natural materials the leading positions are occupied by slate, shell rock, travertine. As a cheap and easy alternative, artificial materials imitating stone are used, for example, acrylic tiles. Depending on the style, the framing can be emphasized rough, uncut or polished.
Glass. Stained glass or glass arches are usually settled at the entrance from the hallway to the kitchen. For the construction of the structure, an opening of any size and shape is necessary, which is complemented with glass in the necessary places. Often glass or plastic is combined with other materials, any of the above, as well as with forging.

Popular and custom forms

The arch assumes the role of the interior highlight. Even if it is not the main decoration, be sure to attract attention. Its presence adds space and elegance to the atmosphere, a special flavor. It will be possible to beat the arch in almost any style. It can be an imperceptible passage or a dominant element, around which other details of the situation are assembled into a single whole.

The rectangular arch looks like a familiar doorway, which usually is. Because of the shape of the design is also called the portal. The upper part is flat with lateral forms a right angle. If the portal is high enough, there may be a decorative partition in its upper part: glass, forged or wooden, depending on the design.
Romance - a common version of the portal, in which the horizontal arch in the places of transition to the walls has a rounding at the corners. The most harmoniously looks form with a width of 1.5 meters.
Round arches, which are also called classic, have the shape of a regular semicircle. Suitable for any decision in the decor, but the most spectacular look in classic interiors.

Round-flat arch or segmental - a kind of improved semicircular arch. The top is a segment of a circle and falls on even slopes, which allows the arch to be used in wide apertures.
A trapezoid - a non-standard form of the top is appropriate in an environment where there are other elements that repeat this figure. Otherwise, it will not look harmonious.

Ellipsoidal - type can be attributed to a series of round, but its distinctive feature - the upper arc, representing part of the correct or incorrect ellipse.
The slanting creeping arch is suitable for medium as well as large openings. The slope of one wall remains vertical, and a smooth arc extends from it to the lowest point of the opposite slope.

Gothic arches are characterized by a narrow shape and a pointed dome, often referred to as lancet. They fit only in a certain style.
Moroccan arches have low slopes, the arc starts just above the center. The shape of the vault is the most diverse, often horseshoe-shaped.
Arches for Oriental or Arabian interiors are usually characterized by an arrow-shaped or bulbous arch.

Non-standard and asymmetrical arches are found everywhere. Their appearance, as well as the growth of popularity, was the opportunity to create from plasterboard complex and elaborate designs of unexpected shapes and of any sizes. Non-standard arches are often complemented by shelves and niches, they can smoothly flow into multi-level ceilings or merge into a single unit with the bar counter. The variants of their execution and design are limited only by fantasy, space and financial capabilities.

Decor

For decoration of arches in apartments most often use various moldings, ready-made arches, cornices, and individual elements of stucco molding. The choice of decor should be consonant with the chosen style of the interior. Often, arched ceilings have built-in lights that not only provide additional light, but also allow you to select a separate area.

Wide passages can not highlight. Often they are trimmed with the same materials as the walls. On one side or on both sides, the arches are sometimes supplemented with small decorative openings that serve as decoration, as an additional source of illumination, simply as a shelf.

The most common, simple and affordable way to design plasterboard arches - painting or finishing textured plaster. Other, not less popular materials: decorative stone, brick, tile, mosaic. The choice depends on the style and purpose of the rooms. If desired, materials can be combined, for example, artificial stone with plaster, paint or wallpaper.

Polyurethane stucco became very popular in the decor of the room, in particular, interroom openings. White lightweight material is presented in hardware stores with a variety of decorative elements from which you can create a true work of art. It is important that the cost of finishing will be lower than stucco plaster, as well as stone or wooden decorations.

The use of decorative linings, panels, patterns is ideal for creating classic interiors, but at the same time can be used to complement the modern, if you do not pick up jewelry with an abundance of patterns and bas-reliefs.

Interior arches have a number of advantages: they allow you to expand the space, make the room lighter, spacious, give it elegance, allow you to get away from standard solutions of typical construction. At the same time, it is worth remembering about the cons of the solution: the arches are not always appropriate, some options look ridiculous in a budget setting, and somewhere more practical is the installation of a door.