Design options for arches in the interior doorway. Arches in an apartment: old ideas in a modern version How to refine an arch in an apartment with your own

No matter what material the arch was built from, it will be a real decoration only after. If you have ordered a general project, the professionals will also suggest how to decorate the arch in the apartment so that it is in harmony with the design concept of the entire space. But you yourself can choose the decor you like, as well as revet this architectural element with it.

Arches decorate not only the door, they will effectively mark a niche in the wall, make our window exclusive. Hence, there are different requirements for finishing: interior arches are under great stress - which means that their decor should be not only beautiful, but also durable.

Finishing materials

The market offers numerous materials for the design of a through opening:

  • classic - wallpaper;
  • decorative rock;
  • facing brick;
  • tile or ceramic;
  • decorative plaster;
  • mirrors;
  • textile;
  • mosaic;
  • plug.

Arch corners

Carefully mark the corners of the vulnerable spots - the arched corners. Let us clarify that only their rigid facing does not need such protection. In a different design, it is the corners that will prevent mechanical damage to the opening and preserve its aesthetic appearance.

Plastic arched corners are available in various widths, but the convenient size is 10 × 20 mm. At the same time, we glue its wide side with liquid nails inside the arch, and the narrow side to the facade.

Advice! It is necessary to press the corner to the base for a long time, so we will fix it for 12 hours with masking tape.

Wall cladding

Arch gluing

  • First, we putty and level the base.
  • Then we will prepare the glue: stir it with a drill nozzle.
  • We glue the strip vertically next to the opening and bend the edge 3 cm onto the arch. Similarly, we glue the second strip next to the first.
  • The next strips are also glued with an allowance.
  • Now we cut out the corners in these allowances with scissors to avoid folds, glue them to the arch, smoothing them out.

At the last stage, we will paste over the vault:

  • first of all, we will cut a strip along the width of the arch, but let the length be larger to align the pattern;
  • glue this strip at the top of the arch and then go down, smoothing from top to bottom, and then to the edge.

The advantages of this decor include a variety of colors and patterns for any interior and taste, as well as the price of finishing. However, the wallpaper is short-lived: it turns yellow, loses its freshness and novelty. And, unfortunately, they deteriorate from moisture.

Cork finish

Today, it is very popular to decorate openings with cork - an environmentally friendly, warm, natural material.

Only the roll view is optimal for this design. We also need acrylic or contact adhesive. It's easy to work with.

How can you decorate an arch in an apartment with a cork? In fact, this is an ordinary wallpaper sticker. To increase the strength, then we will varnish the cork.

Advice! For the arch in the kitchen, we will buy cork rolls covered with wax - it repels moisture.

Decorative plastering

Finishing features

  • Its advantages: easy and simple application, durability.
  • Disadvantages of decorative plaster: the complexity of the restoration, the relief is difficult to wash or clean.

For decoration with decorative plaster, we need embossed rollers or stamps.

Note that the use of ready-made mixtures of slow drying will facilitate the work: we will have time to make a relief on wet plaster.

Work order

  • Spread the mixture over the surface- the instruction will indicate the thickness of the layer (but more than 1.5 cm).
  • Now we create a relief with relief rollers or stamps.... By the way, rollers save us material and time, unlike stamps.
  • Then we prime the dried relief.

After 20 hours we paint according to a special scheme:

  • to emphasize the relief, first apply a dark paint with a roller with a longer nap;
  • the second layer: we will make a light paint with a roller with a shorter nap or rubber - now only the tops of the relief are painted.

Stone decoration

The beautiful decoration of the arch with stone or tiles can be symmetrical in eco or country style, or asymmetric in deconstructivism or modern style.

Laying tiles

  • As usual, first we will plaster, prime the surface and make notches.
  • We will prepare the solution from cement, lime, sand and glue, or (if the instructions allow) we will fix the tile with liquid nails.
  • An overlapping sticker will save us from sealing the outer corners - in the first row we glue it back to back, and in the second - with a shift inward.
  • And so in each odd row we combine the edge of the tile exactly with the border of the opening, but in each even row we attach an overlap.

Stone arc masonry

  • We lay on a carefully prepared surface.
  • First, we try on the tiles and mark the cut line from the inside out.
  • Along the drawn line, draw several times with a construction knife and break off the unnecessary part with pliers, and then smooth it with a file.
  • We close the seams in a day.

Cladding plastic

The design of doorways in the form of an arch is a popular architectural technique that has its own characteristics. Its shape and size play a big role in creating a well-planned interior space. The choice of material for manufacturing and decoration - arches are one of the important design elements of a house or apartment.

Views

Arches are a way to model the architectural space of a room. Structurally, it is an arc or a straight beam, lying on two supports, designed to distribute the load from overlapping doorways of a special shape.

For the first time, arched structures appear in ancient places of worship. Stonehenge is one example of this design. The third one rests horizontally on top of two granite blocks. This method was used at a later time for the construction of vaults in the temples of Egypt and Greece. Later, architects discovered the property of a curved arch to withstand a greater load than a rectilinear one, and began to use pointed arches in the construction of majestic palazzo in Italy, religious objects in Byzantium. Medieval European architecture creates a Gothic system of arches for the construction of colossal palaces and Catholic churches. In Russia, arches are also widely used in the construction of dome vaults in towers and churches, only their shape is slightly smoother.

Having a centuries-old history of use, arches also occupy one of the central places in modern architecture, their form is constantly being modified and changes depending on the required functionality.

The tradidionic arch is installed in the doorway.

In cottages of a large area, the entrances of several successive ceremonial rooms are trimmed with the same type of arched openings with the same decoration, which creates a suite of rooms, creating an infinity perspective.

The arched structure is especially relevant if the apartment is small. Several small separate rooms in terms of area are combined with the help of arched openings, abandoning interior doors between the hallway, room and kitchen. The square turns into one large one, and the vaults of the openings separate the entrance area from the recreation area and from the food intake area.

In large living rooms, such techniques are used for zoning the interior space. You can separate the dining area from the place for communication between households.

In the bedroom you can separate a bed and a small work space, in the nursery - a bed and a corner for games.

If it is not possible to abandon the doors and the room must be isolated, then an arched doorway is mounted. In this case, a special vault is built, arched doors of the same shape or rectangular are inserted into it, the upper part is made of the same material in the form of an insert above the top of the door frame.

This insert is often decorated with stained glass, made in the style of the interior, which gives sophistication and uniqueness to the house.

Decorative types of arc-shaped window openings are often used. It looks especially impressive if the same vault shape is present in the doorways. To emphasize the style of the interior, they build lancet or semicircular wall niches, repeating the shape of the entrance groups. Backlighting in such a niche creates an atmosphere of depth and mystery. An arched decorative vault over a fireplace or kitchen set highlights the place of the "hearth" in the house.

Location options

Let's take a closer look at how best to position the arch in the interior of an apartment or house. In serial residential multi-apartment construction, replacing part of the doors with this architectural element makes the premises unique.

Design solutions are very diverse, any form of the entrance opening is allowed, corresponding to the style concept. However, the dimensions of the room must be taken into account. So, if the ceilings are low, then it is better to replace the lancet forms of the ceiling with semicircular ones. The width of the room also determines the size of the arched opening - it can be supported by small consoles adjacent to the walls. Then zoning can be fixed with various types of finishes in the floor and walls, or vice versa, the wide arched structure can be replaced by a series of narrow vaults resting on columns located across the room.

It is worth noting that the arched colonnade is not suitable for all rooms. Only owners of large halls can afford it.

In an ordinary one-room apartment, it is better to focus on choosing a modern style solution, while the classic requires a larger area. Modern will be good here. The exotic form of the vault, behind which the intimate sleeping area will be located, looks very romantic. In studio rooms, you can create several entrances and conditionally separate the kitchen, living room, bedroom.

If several arched structures are used in the same room, then they must necessarily duplicate each other in design. Often, in the finishing of the floor along the lines of the entrance groups, various finishing materials are combined.

Refusal from traditional doors in favor of arched openings in small apartments saves space, increases the usable area, has an aesthetic component, and helps to correct layout flaws.

For example, a long corridor decorated with arches makes the space wider and clearer in function. They resort to the allocation of the entrance zone by the first vault, the second - to the groups of public premises - the hall, the living room, the dining room. The third arch will separate the exits to the corridor of bedrooms, nursery, office. If necessary, designate utility and utility rooms.

The best option is the location of the arches in the hallway, between the dining room and the kitchen, the living room and the dining room. But not only vaulted structures are erected between the rooms, such elements look spectacular in front of a warm balcony or terrace, especially if the unusual shape of the opening contour is used.

Sizes and shapes

There is a huge variety of sizes and shapes of arched structures, which are determined by the layout and architectural features of the house. When installing this element in panel or monolithic houses, the size will be limited by the width and height of the existing doorway. Changing these dimensions will require the architect to calculate the load-bearing capacity of the new structure in order to comply with the safety requirements for the operation of the building. You will also have to carry out construction work on dismantling with the involvement of special equipment, which will entail additional costs.

Reliability of performance is the main condition for the design of openings. The bearing load from the overlap is redistributed to the side parts of the space: consoles, columns, piers.

To ensure the reliability of wide openings in the entire width of the room, a frame made of a metal profile or solid wood, subjected to special processing in order to bend in the necessary places, is used.

Such openings look good for functional zoning of one room. For example, in the living room combined with the kitchen, on one side of the arch, a kitchen set with the necessary equipment is installed, a dining group is placed, and on the other side of the arch are sofas, a coffee table, possibly a fireplace with armchairs.

When decorating interior transitions, sizes close to standard doorways are used - for single-leaf or double-leaf doors.

Modern technologies make it possible to equip almost any opening structure with sliding or swing doors, therefore, if necessary, any room or part of it can be isolated. For example, separate a temporary sleeping space for guests in the hall with a convertible or folding door installed in an arched vault.

The height of the vaulted opening also varies depending on the style of the interior and functionality.

Classic forms are good in spacious rooms with high ceilings, but for standard apartments it is better to choose modified types of openings.

The general design of the room will tell you which shape of the arch to give preference to. For classic interiors or in Provence and Mediterranean styles, semicircular structures are suitable - the so-called Florentine arches. The semicircular element visually increases the height of the room, adds "air". Modern minimalist trends in decoration bring a sense of lightness and fit well into any interior.

If the height of the opening is insufficient, the segmental shape of the structure is used, when the radius of the arch is more than half the width of the doorway. Sometimes the arc can only be slightly rounded, but in this form the space will be visually higher and lighter.

In the dividing zone for the kitchen and dining room or similar premises, wide three-center or pseudo-three-center structures are often used. This is a strongly elongated and slightly rounded (in the second case, only in the corners) vault. This shape is close to the square or rectangular shape of the portal, the rigid lines of which correspond to the ultra-modern energetic and fast-paced design trends.

The parabolic type of construction corresponds to the Moroccan and Arabic styles - it is a semicircle stretching closer to the ceiling.

In interiors made in art deco design, art nouveau, an ellipse structure is a good solution.

In non-standard cases, when it is necessary to maintain the stability of the structure, using a window sill or balustrade zone, arches are installed in the form of an incomplete circle with a rounded not only upper, but also a lower part or in the form of a keyhole.

The Art Nouveau style introduced into the architecture of apartments the smooth lines of arched openings of a floristic orientation in the form of a flower petal or a curved stem, where there are no corners at all.

Decor and decoration

For each shape and purpose of the arched opening, you can choose the appropriate finishing material. The basic structure of the vaulted floor in large-scale construction projects is the construction reinforcement, made to the shape of the span. For apartments and private houses, lightweight structures made of metal profiles or wood are provided.

The traditional material for making arches is drywall on a metal profile frame. Any shape of arch bending can be cut from the sheet according to the design project.

It is a material resistant to temperature and humidity.

It does not change its characteristics when exposed to ultraviolet rays, it is strong enough to be used as a basis for decoration with stone, tiles, wood. Minimalism in decoration allows simply plastering the structure from drywall and wallpapering, as in the rest of the room. In the span of the arch itself, decoration with stucco decorations is used.

A win-win option is painting in the color of the ceiling, which will visually expand the space.

Arch openings can be trimmed with wood and decorated with carvings. But it must be remembered that wood edging makes the interior heavy. Several types of wood are poorly combined in one room. Framing with wood requires the installation of interior doors and an entrance door with interior decoration of the same wood or veneer, and furniture in rooms adjacent to the arch is made of the same species of wood.

A budgetary replacement for arches made of natural wood or veneer steel structures made of polymer materials with various surface textures, for different types of wood, stone, brick. A pleasant addition to the affordable price is the ease of maintenance and practicality of such a finish.

Vaults made of chipboard and fiberboard can be decorated with many decorative coatings, they are inexpensive and have good performance.

Modern interior design today allows you to embody the most daring and original ideas. Many designers use an arched technique for decorating the passage between rooms. This solution has many advantages: the arch allows you to expand the space, visually enlarge it. The arch in the apartment looks original and unusual. The main thing is to choose the right design. It must necessarily correspond to the style in which the room is decorated. You can decorate the arch in different ways. You can decorate the arch with your own hands.

Various styles and design directions allow you to design the arch so that it is in harmony with the overall look of the room. Each style has something special that allows you to choose an option that meets the taste preferences of the owners of the premises. Each style has its own characteristics and characteristics that must be taken into account in the decorating process.

One of the most popular modern design styles is high-tech. For the realization of all ideas, it is necessary to use the most modern building and finishing materials.

When decorating an interior in a minimalist style, it is important to adhere to clear forms and interior simplicity. Decorating an arch in the style of minimalism does not require a lot of material and time expenditures - this makes them especially popular. The shape of such an arch should resemble a portal. Typically, the top of such an arch has straight lines and the corners are rounded.

Different styles for decoration:

  • Modern. The main feature of the arch in this style is the large opening radius. Visually, you can easily see a clear transition from a rounded to a straight shape. Before carrying out repair work, it is important to determine the size of the arch and, accordingly, the acquisition of the required amount of materials. Usually such an arch is decorated with wood or MDF.
  • Classic. To design an arch in this style, it is important to determine the ratio of the radius to the width of the opening. Usually, the radius indicators are equal to half the width of the opening. Such an arch has a beautiful appearance, regular and graceful shapes. An arch in this style is suitable for interior decoration not only in the classic style, but also in other styles. Common finishes include wood and polyurethane moldings.

Arches can have a wide variety of shapes, smooth or sharp lines and transitions. In order for the arch to fit into the overall interior, it is necessary to determine in advance the style of its decoration, as well as materials for the embodiment of design ideas. They must be of high quality.

How to decorate an arch in an apartment: options and materials

The design of an arch in a house or apartment should be performed not only according to all design rules, but also construction. When deciding to install an arch instead of interior doors, you need to make sure that the wall does not have a supporting function. If the lintel reinforces a wall that has no support, then it cannot be removed.

After installing the arch, repair work is carried out to strengthen it. Decorative finishing can only be done after the frame has been fully reinforced.

Sheathed arched body with plasterboard, fiberboard or plywood. You can decorate the finished arched structure with any building material intended for decoration. The most budgetary decorative fixtures are moldings and plastic corners.

Design options:

  1. Polyurethane. The material is dense and flexible. It is from it that stucco molding, pediments, cornices and arched elements are often made today. Installation of polyurethane elements is easy and simple. It is possible to revet the arch with polyurethane not only inside, but also outside.
  2. Stone. Natural stone should only be used if it is. If the arched structure has a solid foundation. For cladding empty arches, it is better to use decor and artificial stone. The most popular type of stone decoration is travertine, slate, shell rock, marble or granite. The basis of the artificial stone is gypsum or cement.
  3. Acrylic tiles. The material can imitate various materials: stone, brick, etc. The material is relatively inexpensive and easy to use.

The choice of material is influenced by the personal preferences of the owners of the premises, the general style in the interior and the cost of materials. In order to save money, you can make some finishing materials yourself. For example, artificial stone trim.

Beautiful drywall arches

Drywall is a material that can appear tough and rough. But in fact, this material has a special plasticity and flexibility, which makes it possible to make a beautiful arched structure out of it. A decorative plasterboard arch can be of the simplest or the most bizarre shape.

When decorating a drywall arch, it is important to pay attention to the fact that the wider the opening of the arched structure, the more important it is to choose a decor that will be in harmony with the overall style.

Drywall is a light material, it is easy to work with it, so the manufacture and installation of such an arch in a room can be done independently. Drywall is a material that is safe for health, therefore it is suitable for installation in a nursery. Arches can be of different types.

Types of arched structures in the shape of the vault:

  • Roman. The vault is a symmetrical semicircle. The diameter of the arch is equal to the width of the opening.
  • Slavic. Such arches have a simple design. The most common shapes are square and rectangular.
  • Eastern. The arches are characterized by a pointed dome.
  • Thai. They have an original shape: one side remains rectangular, and the other is beveled.
  • Trapezium. It is characterized by beveled corners. Such an arch is suitable for an interior made in a classic English style.

A correctly chosen arch will help to refine the room. It is important to correctly frame the arch so that it looks harmonious. For modern interiors, a bold design of arches with the most unexpected shapes is suitable.

Arch trim with polyurethane molding

You can decorate arches beautifully with polyurethane moldings. They are made of sturdy material for a long service life. Thanks to the flexible structure, a wide variety of arch designs can be made.

The arch moldings look stylish and sophisticated. With their help, you can recreate the interior in a classic style.

Moldings can be made of different materials - you should pay attention to this, as some materials are not very suitable for finishing the arch. You can decorate the arch with a self-adhesive molding. Most often it is made from plastic or rubber.

Types of moldings:

  • Wooden,
  • Polyurethane;
  • Marble;
  • Gypsum;
  • Metallic.

It is better to glue the arches with polyurethane moldings. It's a pleasure to work with them. Also, the arch takes on a finished and stylish look.

Beautiful arch in the apartment (video)

You can glue the arch with different types of materials. Before deciding on a choice, you should pay attention to the shape of the arch, the material from which it is made, as well as the style in the interior. Today, inter-door spaces are often decorated with moldings or stucco moldings. It is important that the decor of the arch is in harmony with the overall look of the room. You can beautifully decorate the door arch yourself, having previously studied the advice of professionals.

Among the most popular finishing elements of openings, an arched corner should be noted. The protective element, which at the same time performs the function of decoration, is made in two types: metal and plastic.

Installation is not difficult, but it has features that a person doing the work with his own hands should know. So, let's look at how the arch is trimmed with a plastic corner.

An important function of arched corners

The finishing corner has been used for many years to simplify renovation work. It allows you to form corners as well as protect the doorway. The main advantage of arched corners is the ability to extend the service life of the finish, since with them the wallpaper will not break off at the corners, and the paint will not be erased.

And if in the process of installing the interior arch you need to plaster the corner from chipboard or drywall, then the aluminum corner will allow you to withdraw 90 degrees. Any corner of the house is exposed to external influences, especially for arched openings - rearranging furniture or ordinary Saturday cleaning can damage it. There is a solution - to glue the decorative corner.

Important! A perforated corner brings out a straight edge for a curved structure. At the same time, the consumption of putties is reduced.

Thanks to the perforation with the corner, you can frame not only clear lines, it can be folded and displayed in various shapes. The soft curved element makes it possible to design not only square or rounded arches in the classic style, but also to display semi-arches, as well as openings with non-standard bends. Arch corners have the following advantages:

  • Affordable price.
  • Practical - can be used in most interior solutions.
  • Finishing - produced in a wide range of colors.
  • Installing decorative elements is not difficult.

Required tool


The plastic corner for the interior arch must be properly secured. For this, a list of such tools is prepared in advance:

  1. Plastic element for the style of the room.
  2. Assembly adhesive.
  3. Liquid nails will help to attach the element.
  4. Rubber mallet.

Important! Sticking decor using liquid nails is simple but risky. Firstly, the plastic can be damaged, and secondly, a large amount of used material leaves greasy marks on the finish.

It is best to attach a bent corner using mounting glue or liquid nails, since mounting with metal nails or self-tapping screws looks ridiculous, and also increases the chances of cracks and chips.

Drywall is one of the most common materials for creating interior portals. It is lightweight, attaches to the frame and makes it possible to output the inner and outer radius corner. Since the material requires subsequent cladding, corners are used for ease of design. Styling glue - putty.

Arch finishing with a plastic corner (video)

Installation of decorative corners

Any apartment will look much more spectacular if the edging of existing arches in it is framed with plastic corners. Therefore, let's look at how to glue a plastic corner on an interior arch and make the frame durable and reliable.

There are two needs to use a pvc part: to glue and bring out a right angle, or to glue over an arc. Condition for the design of right angles:

  • Surface treatment with a penetrating primer solution.
  • Using a square, mark up, mark and cut off the desired size with a grinder.
  • Apply the adhesive mixture to the two inner planes of the element.
  • Attach the strip by pressing gently along its entire length.

A flexible corner for an arched arch is fixed in a slightly different way. Photos and videos will help beginners understand the differences and features of editing. Self-styling of such an element will not be harder than the previous option, but pay attention to the following nuances:

  1. The width of the sides of the corner when finishing the arc is different. The wide side is laid on the end corner of the arch, and the narrow side is pressed against the wall.
  2. A silicone sealant or adhesive solution is applied to the element, as in the first case.
  3. You need to fix it with a few nails - a necessary measure, since the hot solution must completely set.
  4. Instead of nails, it is allowed to use masking tape - it fixes the edge of the plastic corner.

Important! It is forbidden to use a home or construction hair dryer to speed up drying, especially if photo wallpaper or paint is used for the walls.

It is easy to glue corners for interior arches on wallpaper. The finishing material quickly sets with the glue and allows you to test yourself for strength the next day. But if you want to paste over the arch with a corner of MDF, then use these tips:

  • This variety does not require additional fixation, but after applying glue to the corner and pressing it to the surface, hold it for a couple of seconds, and then peel off the element again.
  • After waiting for the glue to thicken, you can safely return it to its place. Usually 1-2 minutes are enough.

A wooden corner is best used for arched openings from the same material. It is difficult to bend it, so you can glue it on straight planes. Ideal use is rectangular portals where there is no round element.


Interesting! Among the abundance of finishing elements, you can choose a cork, rubberized, rubber corner. A roll-up and flexible rubber corner is a must in places where water gets on the surface and makes it slippery. These can be glued to tiles and concrete, if necessary.

It is also allowed to sheathe the arch using ordinary plastic corners, but in this case the elastic threshold will be much smaller. In order to bend it to the desired size without damaging the product, you should heat the material with a building hair dryer.

For the decorative design of arches and walls, polyurethane and polyurethane foam are used - in this case, all surfaces must be flat. If there are small differences, then you need to glue the elements by gently pressing and increasing the amount of glue in these places.

Photo gallery of finished works

One of the options for creating an original and practical interior at the same time is the design of the doorway in the form of a beautiful arch. Now it has become fashionable to combine the kitchen and dining room, living room and bedroom into a single space. In this case, the arched opening unites the rooms, but leaves some isolation behind each functional space. In rooms with high traffic, corridors, kitchens, dining rooms, they get rid of doors altogether, because households are tired of constantly opening and closing them, with a constantly open door, its presence becomes meaningless.

Varieties of arches

The variety of designs of this element makes it possible to find a suitable option for a room of any style. Depending on the design idea, the vault of the building takes on different forms. Taking into account the appearance of the arch, the following types are distinguished:

  • Classic. The most common, laconic and harmonious in a large number of interiors. They have a semicircular vault without protrusions, suitable for spacious, high rooms.
  • Romantic. Their vaults are rectangular, and the corners are somewhat rounded. They are usually used in wide openings.
  • Portal. It has a laconic square, rectangular shape, which eliminates unnecessary labor costs, but it is not applicable everywhere.
  • Modern or British. An intermediate form reminiscent of classics and a portal. The circle is smoothed, but not rectangular. Looks good in the openings of those rooms with low ceilings.
  • Trapezium. The vault is trapezoidal.
  • Ellipse. A popular universal type of construction where the corners are rounded. The most popular type of construction for low, spacious rooms. Combines with other types of columns.
  • Semi-arca or Thai. The vault is asymmetric, the left and right sides are made differently, combining the corner and roundings of non-identical radius in one design.
  • Turkish. It originates in the palaces and harems of the Ottomans. It will require harmony with the entire interior, the presence of Mediterranean motives in decoration and furnishings.
  • Gothic. Has a spectacular sharp vault, capable of being the center of the interior.
  • Arch-transom. Its upper part is decorated with an insert made of plastic and glass. Used stained-glass windows, embossed details.

About decorative stone

Of the popular materials that are used in the design of arched openings, it is worth highlighting drywall, wood, brick and stone trim. Each of the materials is complemented by a variety of decorative elements. Decorating the arch emphasizes the style of the room, helps to change the dimensions of the opening, to mask some defects. The decoration with stucco, forging and carving is good in its own way, but the arch made of decorative stone is the most effective. There is no such design idea that cannot be embodied with the help of a stone.

When using artificial stone inside a house or apartment, there are significantly fewer requirements for its protective functions. But here, too, it resists mechanical damage better than other materials, does not corrode, and is not subject to decay. The word "decorative" should not scare away lovers of the natural: the material contains cement, pumice, expanded clay, environmentally friendly fillers of volcanic origin, derived from clay and shale. There are practically no shortcomings in raw materials.

The advantages of a stone arch

Listing the positive aspects of decorating arches in an apartment with decorative stone, it should be noted its aesthetic and practical properties:

  1. Ease of maintenance. No special detergents are required, any one where there are no abrasives in the composition will do.
  2. The imitation has no external differences from the original. The manufacturers have achieved complete similarity. At the same time, the price and weight of the artificial stone is much more attractive. With its help, the walls of wooden houses are trimmed; they would not withstand the mass of natural granite and marble.
  3. No special training is required to make repairs with your own hands. You can do the facing of the arch yourself after the appropriate instructions, watching a video on the topic.
  4. The material has many style options, antique, modern.
  5. A wide range of colors, there will be no problem to choose for your interior.

How to choose a decorative stone for arch decoration

To begin with, they assess the purpose of the premises being repaired, in which it will be used as decoration. Then the required amount is calculated. For arched openings, narrow plates are more suitable, which are easier to attach to curved vaults. It is better to buy stones with water-repellent properties, or then cover them with a water-repellent compound several times.

To calculate the required amount of material, add 5-10% to the cladding area. The material is saved by using stone cuttings in the corners and for additional fragments. Primers are taken from the calculation of double wall processing. The amount of glue is approximately 3 kg per 1 m2.

Before laying on the surface of the package with a stone, open it, mix the contents. First, individual fragments of the future decor are laid out on the floor, matching them in shades and size. Short ones are combined with long ones, their position next to each other should look natural. Inspect the tile from the back side; it should not have a foamy layer that impairs adhesion. If there is one, clean it off with a metal brush.

Choosing a stone by color

Several factors influence the perception of the color of the cladding. When choosing a material, its color is assessed at different times of the day, under natural and artificial lighting. At the south and north windows, on a cloudy and sunny day, the samples will look different.

Pay attention to what the selected facing material will coexist with: wallpaper, glass, decorative plaster. The texture and color of products is selected in accordance, but not in one boring color.

The choice of color is influenced by the history and style of the house. Some color may not match the style, ruin it. Sometimes chocolate is better than black, and beige stones look better than gray ones. If there are colored specks, contrasts, overflows of shades, this will create a more beautiful surface.

What styles are suitable for decorative stone arches

Styles sometimes coexist with each other, sometimes one is born from another. This is influenced by wars, fashion, crises. The use of decorative stone differs depending on the style of the room.

Classic

Severity and proportionality, high-quality wood, silk are combined with a refined finish. It should be not rough, in small quantities. The most suitable monochromatic decorative stone.

Gothic

It practically does not occur in its pure form, but one has to deal with the elements. Stained glass windows, forged elements are in harmony with decorative stone. Door portals in a rough stone frame create a "castle" effect. A part of the arch with "losses", where brick or masonry of different sizes is visible, makes an impression.

Empire style

The expressive texture of the stone will play an important role in the rich ceremonial decor with bronze, crystal, and bas-reliefs. Arches are laid out with relief fragments, framed with frames, friezes.

Country

In a well-to-do country house, there is always a tree and decorative textured stone. Stone-faced arches harmoniously coexist with plastered walls.

African style

The arches are lined with stones of warm and hot colors: spice-colored, brown, copper. Masks and wooden dishes, skins go well with mahogany, rosewood, ocher-colored relief stone.

Scandinavian style

The laconic northern interior is emphasized by light natural tones in the decoration. The relief of the stone will look much more advantageous with multi-level lighting.

Vintage

"Grandmother's" antique furniture and the exit from the room through an arch made of smoked bricks will be to the liking of lovers of romance.

Techno

Here, concrete, exposed beams, metal and glass will be in harmony with the rough texture of the stone-lined arch, whitewash and peeling paint. An uneven corner of a brick wall with visible fittings will be quite appropriate.

Backlighting and other ways to decorate the arch

The visual expansion of the space is important to correctly design in order to have an interesting object as a result. The decorative stone alone creates a feeling of incompleteness. If the arch leading to the hallway or the nursery is stylized as an entrance to a cave, a tunnel or the mouth of an exotic lizard, then light and plants act as an additional way of decorating. Without vegetation, it is difficult to create an arch that will serve as a tunnel into the underwater world.

The lamps built into the arched opening do not spread light to the room itself, which is convenient at night. Backlighting will add mystery to the arched opening. You can't do without light here if the arch is the head of a dragon.

The color nuances and play of the stone require good lighting. For such purposes, they hang stylish sconces, install LED backlighting, depending on the specifics. The material goes well with living climbing plants and vines. A wide, uncomfortable opening is balanced with shelves and shelves on the sides.

Decorating the arch with your own hands

To create a stone structure in a house, you will need step-by-step instructions, a list of materials, the availability of which is taken care of in advance.

Tools and materials

  1. Construction mixer for thorough mixing of glue. For lack of, adjust the drill.
  2. Level, tape measure, mallet.
  3. Cutting machine is desirable.
  4. Container for glue.
  5. Painting brushes.
  6. Pencil, sandpaper.
  7. Metal brush.
  8. Grouting syringe, grouting.
  9. Spatula or spatula, sponge.
  10. Wedges made of wood or plastic.
  11. Water repellent. Unlike waterproofing, it will allow the stone to "breathe".
  12. Primer, glue, stone itself.

Cooking the surface

This stage takes place traditionally: remove the remnants of the previous coating, smooth out irregularities using sandpaper, then putty them using a primer. The primer is chosen in accordance with the material of the walls.

If the walls are concrete, monolith, a special adhesive primer is used. When working in a hot or too humid environment, the back of the tiles is wetted. Moisture-resistant gypsum plasterboard after priming is well dried.

Preparing stone for laying

The styling material is reviewed again. In accordance with the markings, the finishing stone is cut correctly. When developing a sketch, take into account the method of laying: end-to-end or with the formation of a seam. Trimming is carried out using a machine, giving the products an arched appearance. If necessary, clean the back side with a wire brush.

Be careful when using a hand saw. Excessive cutting effort causes the stone to break in unexpected lines.