How to finish an arched opening. Arches in the interior - an overview of all the nuances of design (75 photos) How to make an arch edging in an apartment

The arch in the apartment is a beautiful way to zone the space without compromising the area. The shape of the arch and the elements decorating it will emphasize the stylistic direction of the apartment and decorate the interior. In addition, in this way you can ennoble an outdated design.

Design features

The beauty of the arch is that it can be made in accordance with any style of the apartment; it will look harmonious both in a classic interior and in modern trends.

• For a compact room, it is better to use a minimalist arch; in a spacious apartment, the opening can be of an unusual shape.
• White is considered a classic and universal color for an arched opening.
• With the help of an arched opening it is convenient to divide the apartment into zones, only partially isolating the premises.
• The arch in the interior will emphasize the features of the style and will also perform a decorative function.

The photo shows a wide arched opening in a classic style. Geometric shapes are repeated in the kitchen set.

Installation location

Doorway

The most common method of using arches in an apartment is as room dividers. Thus, the rooms are visually separated from each other, but retain a common space. Most often, the interior arch combines the living area with the kitchen area.

The arch over the doorway of the front door is the beginning of the interior of the apartment and the continuation of the front door. Finishing can be imperceptible or, on the contrary, focus on attention, for example, with the help of artificial or natural stone.

Dividing a room into zones

The arch can also divide one room into two different zones. For example, a bedroom has a sleeping area from a dressing room or a relaxation area. The arch above the bar counter will visually separate the kitchen area from the living room. Even a small indent above the ceiling will visually separate the room.

The photo shows a dining area with a transition to the living room. The arch is made of gypsum and repeats the relief of ceiling plinths.

Decorative arches on the wall

A good interior solution to bring individuality to the apartment. Graceful arches will support the interior in any style. A flowing arch can frame a picture, a mirror, photographs or wallpaper with a different background.

The photo shows a stylish compact living room. A mirror framed in an arch visually enlarges the space.

Niche arches

A nice way to play up useful wall space. Several shelves, a TV, a small sofa or a work desk can be installed in a niche. The arch of the desired shape will emphasize the style in the interior of the apartment.

Window

Window openings in the form of semicircular arches will decorate and soften the classic interior of the apartment. It is more appropriate to use such windows in country and private houses.

Types by shape

In the form of an arc

The classic version is suitable for any type of layout, it has a horseshoe shape and makes an even semicircle.

The photo shows the interior of the apartment in the style of a new classic. The walls are finished with gray plaster.

square and rectangular

The arched opening has right angles and is suitable for interior decoration in any style. Width and height depends on the area of ​​the apartment. A high rectangular arch will visually make the room taller.

Elliptical

The ellipse-shaped arch looks very original in the interior of the apartment, it has the shape of an oval, but with obtuse corners in the place of rounding. For an arch with this shape, wide rooms are well suited.

Trapezoidal

It has the shape of a trapezoid, four obtuse angles. Ideal for the interior of the apartment in a modern style.

Semi-arc in the apartment

The semi-arch, also called the Thai arch, combines two types, the portal and the classics. On the one hand, it has a right angle, on the other, a rounded shape of any radius.

unusual shapes

In addition, arches can be of a completely unusual shape, for example, in an oriental style in the form of a dome. This option looks great in any color scheme and will become a real "highlight" of the apartment. The lancet shape will make the room taller, and the horseshoe shape will make it wider.

Arch materials

Drywall

The most common option, at a low price, you can use it to create an arch of any shape. Plasterboard construction is much easier to install, unlike monolithic arches made of brick and stone.

Installation is carried out using a metal frame and drywall sheets. After the structure is assembled, it needs finishing. To do this, it is puttied and polished. After that, they begin to trim in accordance with the interior design.

Tree

Stone and wood are noble materials and not so easy to handle. The wooden arch goes well with different styles, but requires regular maintenance. In order for the material not to crack, you should purchase wood treated with special coatings.

MDF can become an analogue of natural wood. The material is much cheaper, does not require special care and does not rot.

Brick

A brick structure is more suitable for a living room in a country house, since it is quite massive, but if you want to see it in a city apartment, then you can get by with brick veneers.

Gypsum

A gypsum arch allows you to make a real work of art with the smallest details out of an ordinary doorway, while the cost will be very affordable. Gypsum finish can be purchased ready-made or created with your own hands.

The photo shows a living room with an arch of an unusual symmetrical shape. The decoration is made of plaster and complemented with stucco moldings.

Plastic

Styrofoam is the most affordable material of all those listed, it is easy to cut the arch frame out of it, a special mesh is used to increase strength. Polyurethane arches are distinguished by high strength, wear resistance, resistance to moisture and external influences. In addition, the material is simply attached to the adhesive.

Finish options

Decorative rock

Decorative stone is much cheaper than natural stone and easier to work with. In a city apartment, a decorative stone will be the best solution also due to space savings. The material has a wide color palette and a wide variety of shapes. Suitable for finishing the entrance and interior arches.

decorative brick

An ideal material for decorating the interior of an apartment in the loft and Provence style. The material can be piece or in the form of panels. The light color of the brick is suitable for finishing a more delicate interior, as well as for an apartment with a small area. Dark brick allows you to fully reveal the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe interior in the loft style.

Tree

The color of the wood can change the character of the interior. Light or bleached wood can decorate both classical and modern apartment interiors. Dark shades, such as wenge, will stand out against the light background of the walls and focus on the arch itself.

Wallpaper

The arch can elegantly and not pretentiously fit into the interior, having a common finish with the surface of the walls. You can also interestingly beat a wall with an opening by pasting it with photo wallpapers.

Mosaic

Modern mosaics are made from different materials such as glass, ceramics, stone and others. Finishing can be done only on the inside or go to the wall.

Plaster

With the help of decorative plaster, the arched opening can be given a different texture. The end part can be decorated with spotlights.

The photo shows an apartment in a modern style. An arched opening connects the room with a balcony. The interior is decorated with plaster with a wave-like pattern.

Painting

One of the simplest, but, nevertheless, popular ways of finishing. The arch in the wall may differ in color, thereby focusing attention.

Tile

It can have absolutely any color and texture and can overlap with other details in the interior. A big plus can be considered durability and ease of care.

Mirror design

The mirror is an amazing material. It looks spectacular and helps to visually enlarge the room. In addition, the mirror details shimmer beautifully in the light.

Plastic

Budget finish. Plastic panels can be miniature, only protecting the place of the corner, or in the form of wide strips that imitate, for example, a wooden or stone coating.

Cork

Arched openings with cork trim along the inner line will look interesting, this will become an unusual highlight that can be seen in other interior details.

Glass

Graceful way. Part of the arch may have a glass insert. Glass can be frosted, transparent or stained glass.

Design and decor

with columns

Decorating the arch with columns will look appropriate in the interior of a spacious apartment or a country house. The shape of the columns repeats the general style in the interior and can be supplemented with decorative elements, such as stucco moldings.

with moldings

Nice and easy decoration. A wide variety allows you to choose the option suitable for the interior of the apartment. Moldings are attached with liquid nails, can hide bumps and protect corners.

backlit

The interior arch can be decorated with spotlights or recessed lamps, the lighting is mounted on the inside. The arch in the wall can be decorated with LED strip.

figure design

The arch can have a completely unusual and unique shape that will decorate walls and interior openings. Smooth shapes can match the classic or oriental style. Straight lines or shapes, complemented by metal details, are suitable for a modern interior.

painting

Hand painting will make the interior unique. The style of writing can be completely different, but it should resonate with the general atmosphere in the apartment. Stencils can become an analogue of hand painting.

Stucco moldings correspond to the classic and bohemian interior in the apartment. They can become an elegant detail and only complement the decoration of the arch or almost completely cover the opening area.

with shelves

Shelves can be part of an arched opening. This technique not only looks interesting, but also gives additional useful storage space in the apartment.

Curtains on the arch

Thick textile curtains will help isolate the room from the general space. Filament curtains perform more of a decorative function. Materials may overlap with other textile items in a room or apartment.

Corner decor

A folding corner is a minimalistic and concise way to decorate the arch and protect the corners from damage. The color can be close or identical to the wall decoration or contrast with the general background.

Unusual and original design

The arch can also have an unusual, for example, asymmetrical shape or be decorated with unusual details.

Photo in the interior of the rooms

Hallway and corridor

The arch in the hallway can be located above the front door or separate the hallway from the living room and other rooms of the apartment. At the entrance arch, it is worth protecting the corners from pollution. The interior opening can be rounded at the top without affecting the walls.

The photo shows a classic interior with pastel peach wall decoration. The high arch has a similar relief with other elements.

Kitchen

The arch will be a good idea for interior design of a kitchen combined with a living room. The premises will remain common, but will be visually divided into recreation and cooking areas. The bar counter installed in the arched opening will become a continuation of the kitchen.

Living room

In the hall, arches can decorate the walls, forming small niches. You can install shelves in them, hang pictures, photographs or leave them empty.

Pictured is a classic living room. A wall with an arched opening separates the room from the rest of the space.

Bedroom

The arch can divide the bedroom into two zones. A sleeping and active area, such as a dressing room, dressing table, or seating area.

Children's

The interior arch in the children's room can have an unusual shape and be decorated with additional elements. For example, artificial vegetation, toys and flashlights.

Bathroom

The option of finishing the bathroom with an arch will look appropriate in a spacious room. An arch can separate a bathtub or decorate a countertop with a sink and mirror, creating additional lighting with spotlights.

Balcony and loggia

A large arch visually separates the balcony from the room, preserving the overall space. This method is suitable for rooms with combined loggias and balconies.

Styles

Classic

The classic interior will be decorated with an arch with regular symmetrical shapes. Finishing can be made of plaster, wood or plastic panels. Elegant decorative details, such as stucco molding, will not be superfluous. But there should not be many of them, only in the form of an elegant addition.

In the photo, the interior is in a classic style. Sliding doors form an arch and unite the space.

Modern

In a modern style, such as minimalism or hi-tech, decorative trim may be completely absent. The simple shape of the doorway can be finished with the same material as the walls.

Loft

Brick and its imitation can be considered an ideal material for finishing an apartment in a trendy loft style. The arch in a brick wall looks harmonious with the effect of scuffs and aging. In order to make the interior of the apartment lighter, the brick can be painted in a light shade.

Scandinavian

The interior of the Scandinavian-style apartment is bright, light and not overloaded with unnecessary details. The arch can be made of bleached wood, plaster or painted brick. Finishing in the Scandinavian style is made mainly from natural materials.

Country and Provence

The two directions are united by provincial comfort. Provence style is lighter and more elegant.

• Arch in country style can be finished with stone, brick or wood, emphasizing the texture of natural material.
• The Provence arch can be made of the same materials, but with light-colored finishes, such as painted brick or bleached wood with an aged effect.

East style

It is difficult to imagine the oriental interior of the apartment without a beautiful rounded arched opening. The arch can be complemented with beautiful inserts and panels. The wall arch does not require additional elements.

Features in a small apartment

In standard small apartments, studios or Khrushchevs, the arch will help save space.

• In a one-room apartment, the arch will separate the sleeping area from the living room;
• Thick curtains isolate one room from another;
• In a studio apartment, an arch will separate the kitchen from the living room;
• In a standard Khrushchev, the arch can become a passage to another room or kitchen;
• In a narrow apartment, using an arch with a curtain, you can save space by giving up the door.

The photo shows a small studio apartment, an arched opening separates the kitchen from the living room.

How to make an arch with your own hands

Before proceeding with the repair, it is necessary to determine the size and material. Strictly marked sizes do not exist, the opening should be comfortable in daily use. The standard dimensions of the doorway are 70-80 cm wide and about 2 meters high. They can be changed by making them wider or narrower.

The most common way to make an arch is from drywall.

• For the construction of the structure, several sheets of drywall of different thicknesses, guides, a rack profile and reinforced arched corners will be required.
• Guides are attached to the walls and ceiling using self-tapping screws with plastic dowels.
• After a semicircle is cut out of drywall, it can be attached to the guides.
• A guide profile is attached to the inside of the drywall, repeating the line of the formed arc.
• A strip equal to the depth of the doorway is cut out of drywall and attached to the rails with self-tapping screws.
• After the work done, the arch is ready for facing.

Photo gallery

The arch will give the interior individuality, help save space, while competently dividing the apartment into zones. There are a lot of options on how to make or decorate an arch, which will help maintain the interior of the apartment in the desired style.

When repairing a new apartment, its final appearance occupies a special place, so everything needs to be calculated to the smallest detail. To give an attractive appearance to the apartment, the walls in it should be beautifully finished. Many different materials are used for this, however, the most popular of them is drywall. With it, you can make both smooth and boring walls and ceilings, as well as various shapes on the ceiling and walls. Inside the apartment, a plasterboard arch is popular, which is often installed above the doorway. A plasterboard arch will perfectly decorate a boring acute-angled apartment in a cozy and cheerful, round box, where you can have a great rest from everything and everyone. After finishing the walls with drywall, you will have to brighten it up with something, to give brightness and aesthetic appearance to the material. So, how to finish the drywall arch in order to achieve just such an effect, we will tell you below.

What is this article about

Finish options

As you know, there are two types of arches: rounded and square. The former are well suited for apartments, and the latter for summer cottages or country houses. But it can be the other way around, it just all depends on the style of the interior. For some strict designs, a square arch is perfect, and for relaxed and cheerful styles, a round arch is the best option.

Decorating the arch with your own hands will take a lot of effort and time, but in the end you will get a house where you want to live forever. It is not so difficult to do this with drywall, because, as you know, drywall is a versatile material that can be finished in any way used for wall decoration. Moreover, the statistics of the popularity of finishing materials for drywall is the same as that of the walls themselves, but we will only touch on the most popular of them. According to our observations, the consumer is inclined to choose: wallpaper, paint, decorative stone and decorative plaster, as a finishing material for a plasterboard arch.

Wallpaper

About how to paste over the arch with wallpaper below. This option for finishing the arch is the most affordable for the consumer. Another advantage is its wide range of prints and patterns, which makes wallpaper perhaps the most creative variation on your archway. In this case, you can choose one wallpaper for the arch and another for the rest of the room to highlight it, but the main thing here is not to overdo it with highlighting the design, i.e. you can’t choose minimalist wallpaper for the room and, for example, photo wallpapers with the image of the sea. This means that one should flow smoothly into another, i.e. the wallpaper can be different, but with the same design style.

Advice when installing wallpaper on the arch. When decorating the outer part of the arch with wallpaper, you should slightly bend the wallpaper inward and, stepping back from the corner, cut off an unnecessary piece literally a millimeter. Having done this on both outer sides, glue the wallpaper on the inside of the arch. If everything is done following this advice, then the joints on the wallpaper will look a little more natural, because there will be no this random white stripe between the sheets of wallpaper.

It is very important to level the surface on which the wallpaper will be pasted in order to achieve an aesthetic appearance of the pattern on the wallpaper. This is done with ordinary putty. To save the solution, you can putty only the joints of drywall plates, since the rest of this material is often perfectly even.

Let's talk about the disadvantages. Yes, we have washable wallpapers, thick wallpapers that supposedly last a long time, but that doesn't change the fact that the lifespan of any wallpaper, no matter how much they are praised by the manufacturer or seller, is still short. Often, it is about 2-4 years with careful use and proper care.

Dye

So, the second most popular option is painting the arch. Here you can show your individuality and draw your own unique ornament, drawing or inscription with paints, the main thing is to have a good imagination and paint brushes, and don’t forget that the artist’s skills are not the last thing in this matter, and if you don’t own this gift, it is better to call a specialist.

But if you, unfortunately, do not have any of the above, then you can simply stock up on paint and tools, and then paint over every room in monotonous and boring paint. To highlight the arch, and this is important, otherwise why did you do it at all, you can make a beautiful painting on the inside and outside of the arch using a stencil and cans of paint. By choosing a suitable color background for this painting, you can easily stun any guest in your home.

Naturally, painting has its drawbacks. Firstly, this is the price, because a can of good paint can cost good money and there will not be enough money to cover the whole house with such paint or it will cost a tidy sum. Secondly, at this price, these paints can be easily spoiled by children or by you if liquids, colored pencils, pens, paints, etc. accidentally get on it.

Decorative plaster

This material can be used in the design of a plasterboard arch, while it is important to take into account the design of the entire room so that the arch stands out, but not too much, otherwise it will feel like the arch was taken from another apartment and simply transferred to yours. When using decorative plaster, many householders sculpt columns from it. Yes, it’s beautiful, but not always, because these columns in the classical style will not fit into the Art Nouveau style in any way, so you need to correctly weigh the pros and cons before deciding on the columns. After all, their list of applications does not end with them, for example, a small or large ornament that does not go out of fashion can serve as an excellent replacement for the same columns, because the classics cannot become outdated.

One of the disadvantages of such a solution can be brittleness and a tendency to cracking. But this can happen when buying low-quality material or with improper installation. Otherwise, this material is very good: it is durable, not too expensive, suitable for almost all interior styles. Although it is aimed at use in the yard or for exterior decoration of the house.

Decorative rock

For a beautiful decoration of the arch, you can also use decorative stone, which is perfectly attached to any surface with building glue. It is not recommended to use heavy natural stone as a working material, because a drywall construction cannot boast such a high load capacity to hold all the power and beauty of natural decorative stone. Therefore, use its substitutes that mimic it well. They can be made from a variety of materials.

One of the disadvantages of this finishing material is its complexity of installation, because its layout takes a lot of time and effort, like all the others, it requires a lot of attention and accurate calculation. Another disadvantage is the price. Decorative stone is truly almost the most expensive of the finishing materials. But the biggest advantage of such a stone is its appearance, because it is not in vain that it costs such money.

Mosaic

Another good option for decorating the arch in the apartment. Practical and unpretentious, also suitable for wet rooms.

What should not be covered with a drywall arch

There are materials that are not recommended for finishing the arch. One of them is decorative plastic panels. They have many shortcomings in relation to the decoration of arches. For example, it is difficult to install from the arch due to the fact that there are a lot of corners in the arch, so you will have to install a huge number of skirting board corners and do not forget about the frame for plastic panels. And besides, plastic always creates a feeling of cheapness, by the way, it is so, because plastic panels are very cheap. But this is not a reason to use them for drywall arches.

Another material that should not be used for decoration is wood paneling. The main reason for the failure is the low flexibility of the wood, because of which it will not be possible to finish the inside of the drywall arch.
Let's talk a little about square arches. From the name it is clear that this type of arch does not have roundness, instead of them there are planks installed at an angle of 45˚. So for this type of arches, you can use both wood and plastic. In addition, all previously used finishing elements (wallpaper, paint, decorative plaster and decorative stone) can be used to decorate a square arch. The only thing we do not recommend is the decoration of the arch with decorative plastic panels.

Arch corners

Such a question is quite natural, since most people, when installing finishing materials, are not used to relying on the master and do everything themselves, they always have to think: “What to do with the corners of the arch?”. But this is not a problem, because you can simply tint the corners in the same color as his surroundings. For example, gray or black color is suitable for decorative stone. For wallpapers, we already gave you advice above in the section about them. When painting the arch, the corners do not need additional processing. And when decorating with plaster, you don’t need to think about corners at all.

Also, there is an option to stick plastic corners on the corners of the arch, after which they can be painted or left white. The corners will protect the arch from damage if you accidentally hit something on it, and there will definitely be such precedents.

Good luck with your repair!

Now many people are striving to create a stylish and unique interior at home. That is why they try to use the most unusual and fashionable stylistic solutions. Such a design as an arch can emphasize the refined taste of the owner and his high social status. To create it, you need to know how you can decorate the arch and what are the features of such a design.

Advantages and disadvantages

Decorative arches in the interior have a huge number of advantages. So, they allow you to remove the boundaries between different rooms and thus visually expand the space. In large rooms, arches can help solve the problem of zoning. The arch is a beautiful architectural element, the shape and decor of which can be very diverse.

If you replace the doors with arches, you can save space in the room and add spaciousness to it. Moreover, in this way it is possible to separate different functional areas, but at the same time visually make them more united. The arch looks very stylish and unusual, it can surprise any guest. It can have a simple, uncomplicated design or a variety of shapes. Moreover, all models can be transformed with the help of an interesting decor.

You can decorate the arch so that this element of the interior stands out against the background of the rest of the space or, on the contrary, so that it harmoniously fits into the stylistic orientation of the interior. Their big advantage is that they make ceilings visually higher. They are great for installation between the walls and the kitchen, because through the arch it will be possible to take out food and other objects with busy hands, and at the same time nothing will interfere with you. Arches bring freedom and style to interior design. And their decor can be a highlight of any interior.

But such designs also have some disadvantages. So, for their installation it is required to completely get rid of the door frame. Before installing such a structure, it will be necessary to carry out a lot of repair work. Also, arches are not suitable if heat or noise insulation is important to you, because all sounds will penetrate into neighboring rooms.

Arches are only suitable for finishing the walk-through rooms in the house, because the more secluded, intimate rooms are kept closed. The disadvantage of arches is also that they allow smells to pass through. By installing the arched structure in the kitchen, while cooking, upholstered furniture located in other rooms will be saturated with smells.

But many people like arches because being in one room you can observe what is happening in another. This way you can keep an eye on small children. That is why arches are very comfortable and functional structures. With a beautiful design and decoration, they look very advantageous.

Kinds

All arched openings can be divided into two large groups:

• Active. They are distinguished by a complex shape, unusual symmetrical solutions. They are installed in the widest doorways and perform an exclusively decorative function.
• Passive. Models that are simple in form and design. Most often they are used only to mark the boundaries in the premises.

All decorative arches in the interior may differ in appearance, or rather in shape:

• Trapeze is a very stylish and non-standard option, which is most often used to decorate the interior space in houses with high ceilings. Their characteristic feature is beveled corners. Such decorative arches are perfect for rooms decorated in the style of English classics.
• Ellipsoid - beautiful and regular in shape products, which are an arc in the shape of an ellipse. Such models look very luxurious and are most often made of wood.
• Rectangular - these are the simplest arches in shape, which take up the least space in the opening. This is an option that is perfect for a one-room apartment. A rectangular arch takes up a minimal amount of space, but can have a very stylish and unusual decor. Typically, such models are installed in rooms decorated in high-tech or minimalist style.

• Oriental - models of arches, the decor of which is characterized by the presence of a dome with a sharp end on top. These are very elegant models, which are most often made out in bright colors.
• Roman - these are models that are made in the form of a symmetrical regular semicircle. In this case, the width of the doorway is equal in size to the diameter of such an arch.
• Thai. In another way they are called semi-arches. The design of such structures is distinguished by the fact that one side is semicircular, classical, and on the other side there is a straight line, that is, the structure is outwardly beveled. These asymmetric models look very beautiful. Their decor is also distinguished by symmetry and unusual solutions.

Dimensions

The size of the arch usually depends on the width of the passage. Also, their size depends on the height of the ceilings. Arches can be narrow. Such designs replace single-leaf swing doors. There are also wider models that replace double or accordion doors.

Narrow models are used more often for installation in rooms, the exit from which leads to the corridor, and wide ones - in the aisles leading to the hall or dining room, as well as for zoning spacious rooms. The arch must be selected according to the size in height. So, if the ceiling is 2.5 meters high, then the arch should be slightly lower, about 2.2 m.

But if the ceiling is 3.2 m, then the arch should be 2.6 m. These are ideal parameters that allow the structure to harmoniously fit into the interior of the room.

The radius of the arch should be determined by the width of the doorway. Before the purchase be sure to measure the height, width of the opening. It is also important to use a depth indicator that reflects the thickness of the walls. Moreover, the depth should not be more than the thickness of the arched structure.

decorative elements

To create decorative elements on the arches, stucco molding, paint, natural and artificial stone, decorative panels, marble, and tiles are used. Very often in this case resort to a combination of several materials. So, the stone can be combined with wallpaper and paint. Moreover, the decor in this case can be done by placing the stones in a different order. They can be folded into patterns, where each pebble complements the other, or, on the contrary, you can make a more chaotic arrangement of these

You can also use a plastic decorative bending corner for decoration. It will emphasize the shape of the arch and make it more durable. Also in this case, decorative overlays are used. To finish the arch, a decorative element is also used, connecting the top of the structure with the horizontal ledge of the cornice. Most often, this element is decorated with carvings or stones.

Bamboo or fabric curtains can also act as decorative elements. You can also hang beautiful colored silk threads, wooden curtains or even beads in the opening of such an arch.

Vine is also used for decoration. Some even decorate them with shells or beautiful stones such as granite.

Design options

The framing of the interior doorway can be the most diverse. Most often, the design of the passages of a square arch is done using decorative plaster. This way of decor will allow you to create the most diverse and unusual forms. And you can make an interesting texture and relief.

The arch can be pasted over with bright contrasting wallpaper, thereby highlighting it in the interior. You can also use wallpaper with a pattern for decoration, the color of which will repeat the color of the wall coverings of neighboring rooms. For the hallway, you can use mosaic or mirror lining. Such a design at the entrance will attract the attention of guests and add extra space to narrow corridors.

The arch in the living room can be ennobled with a pattern. It can be either geometric or abstract images, or whole works of art in the form of paintings. The edging of the arched door can have three-dimensional figures.

For a classic style, you can use images of people, angels and whole voluminous statues.

Balconies with an arch overlooking the living room can be decorated with large interesting columns. This is a pompous and luxurious option that is perfect for decorating a room in a classic style. A very inexpensive finishing option is painting. In this case, the arch must first be plastered and then covered with several layers of paint. And it is better if the color of the paint is combined with the color scheme of the rooms connected by the passage.

Frosted glass or glass with a bumpy structure looks very beautiful in the design of the arch. This is a great solution for dark rooms. You can also make a transparent glass arch with LEDs located inside. This design looks very stylish and modern. Moreover, in the arched structure itself, shelves can be provided and decorated with beautiful vases or other accessories.

Some use such a design move as an arched corridor when finishing. In this case, several decorative arches are made in a long corridor, each of which complements the other. So you can carry out competent zoning of the corridor and make it more elegant.

You can decorate the arch not only with the help of unusual finishing materials, but also in another way. Lamps are often used. By correctly placing light accents, you can transform the interior space and expand the room. In this case, spotlights with LEDs are very often installed.

It is important to consider that the design of the arch initially assumes the possibility of installing spotlights. Otherwise, you will need to completely dismantle the structure in order to run wires there for installing fixtures.

Also, arches are very often decorated with beautiful curtains or tulle. Moreover, in this case, both thick sliding curtains and lighter translucent curtains are used.

The arches are also decorated with mirrors. If the mirror is directed to the window, it will fill the room with light and make the passage more spacious. Glass is often used to decorate arches. And usually these are blocks installed in the entire height of the doorway and small glasses of different widths installed along the arch.

Arched structures are often decorated with colored glass or mosaics. It is customary to decorate them with the help of a stained-glass window. This design will look very bright and aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, a mosaic or a stained-glass window can decorate both the entire arch and its individual elements.

Arches in the style of romanticism or classics can be decorated with stucco. So you can even decorate a room in the Baroque style. Stucco can be made in the form of columns, beautiful figures. Such an arched structure may differ in bale-reliefs.

Finishing materials

A wide variety of materials are used to decorate arches. It could be:

• Polyurethane. It is a very smooth and flexible material in its texture. From it perform such decor as stucco molding or pediment. Moreover, polyurethane is used both for facing the arch from the outside, and for creating the frame of this structure.

• A rock. This finishing material is used only if the arched structure is reliable. If you have an empty arch, in this case it is better to give preference to a lighter artificial analogue. To create it, gypsum is used, which is very light, but not very durable.

When finishing with natural stone, preference is given to slate, marble, granite, travertine, shell rock.

• Acrylic tiles. This is a very interesting and versatile design material. It is able to imitate other materials such as stone, brick, marble. It is stylish and easy to operate, it does not require a special move. Such material has a low price.

• Drywall. Plasterboard arches are distinguished by their graceful forms and interesting design. Thus, you can show your imagination and create products of the most unusual shape with your own hands. Drywall is a very light material, you can work with it yourself.

• Polyurethane molding on such structures looks very luxurious. It allows you to create an analogue of the classical design with columns. Polyurethane moldings are quite strong and dense, so they can serve for a very long time.

They are not only polyurethane, but also wooden, marble, metal. But the most practical and lightest is polyurethane.

• Laminate. When decorating arches in rooms decorated in Eco, country or classic style, laminate is often used. Such designs recreate the natural wooden pattern and fill the room with comfort.

• Brick. Brick arches are quite unusual, because they look both simple and stylish at the same time. Such a finish can be made in the form of wall panels or individual bricks. Moreover, the masonry can be very diverse.

• Tree. Wooden trim is usually done in rooms decorated in a classic style. This arch is distinguished by its simplicity of decoration. Very often, such models are decorated with openwork carvings or carved with images of animals, birds or geometric patterns.

At the moment, indoor arches are being built in almost every design. They can be located both in doorways and in the design of the wall surface. Regardless of where exactly the arch is located, the decorative decoration of the arches is performed.

What arched structures can be built from

At the moment, arch manufacturing systems are quite diverse.

The arch can be:

• From drywall.
• Brick.
• Concrete and other similar material.

Note. The arch can be not only semicircular, but also have various non-standard shapes.

Work on the construction of an arch from any material is easy to do with your own hands. You just need to prepare first.

Preparatory work:

• A construction project is immediately drawn up.
• Then, based on it, the required amount of material is calculated.
• After that, the decorative decoration of the arch in the apartment or in the house is selected.

It is necessary to think over the stylistic direction of the design of the entire room, since the arch is its integral part.

Functions of the arched structure

The main function of the arch in the room is its decoration.

In addition to the decorative function:

• Arches help to divide the space into different functional areas.
• You can make decorative lighting for the arch.
• For this, small-sized lighting devices are used, which are mounted in the structure.

Note. Initially, electrical wiring should be carried out in the arch body.

The easiest and fastest way to build an arch is to use drywall.

Consider the application with this material in more detail:

• The drywall arch is hollow and mounted on a frame made of special profiles.
• The surface of the material itself is smooth and does not require additional leveling work.
• No less popular is the arch made of brick or concrete.

Their surface already requires alignment for a normal fine finish of the structure.

What is decorative arch trim

Many people think that the decorative finish of the interior arch is a simple decoration of its surface.

This is mainly used for:

• Wallpaper.
• Paint.
• Plaster.

Note. This opinion is erroneous, since the decoration of the surface of the arch is a finish that is carried out with unusual and original materials.

You can perform not only the finishing of the entire surface. Decoration is carried out both at the corners of the arch and at its individual planes (see How to decorate the arch, design options).

Advice. Making an arch using the above materials is considered a simple finish. For decorative design, it is worth using other types.

Arch decoration materials

Since the decorative finish is characterized by an unusual design design and the use of original materials, the following are most often used in the works:

• Decorative or natural stone.
• Bamboo wallpaper.
• Cork materials.

• Decorative plastic and wooden corners.
• Wood panels with carvings and other surface decoration.

All of them have their own individual appearance and easy installation on the surface.

Decorative and natural stone for the arch

These materials for arched structures are presented in the form of slabs.

Let's take a closer look:

• Plates of this type can have various parameters.
• The thickness of the tiles starts from 0.3 cm and reaches 0.8 cm.

Note. To finish the arch, you should not use stone tiles with a greater thickness.

Both that and that stone have similar properties, materials:

• Practical and waterproof. These properties lie in the fact that the surface of both natural and artificial stone is not able to absorb moisture and dirt.
• Durable and wear-resistant, as they practically do not have a certain period of operation and do not lose their external design throughout the entire period of use.
• Stones are not afraid of fire and temperature changes.

The stones have two differences:

• Natural stone has a greater mass than decorative stone.

Advice. For this reason, it is best used on stone arched structures.

• The price of natural stone tiles is higher than that of decorative material.
• The installation method is slightly different in that in order to mount natural tiles on a drywall surface, it is necessary to strengthen it. The stone decoration of the arch looks very original.

To install the design of the arch you will need:

• Concrete mortar or special glue.
• Building level and tape measure.
• Spatula and container for adhesive.

• Wet rag to wipe the surface from glue.
• Tile cutter for cutting stone tiles.

Note. The installation process is quite simple.

Let's take a closer look

• The surface is coated with glue.
• Similar work is done on the back side of the material.

• Next, the tiles are attached to the surface.
• After drying, the finish is cleaned of the adhesive that has come out.

bamboo wallpaper

Interior arches with decorative finishes made of bamboo wallpaper look quite original.

More about design:

• Wallpaper is a fairly dense and hard material.
• They are produced in rolls.
• All elements of bamboo are fastened in them with strong fishing lines.

• There are different shades of this material.
• Bamboo is moisture resistant and durable, has the same properties as wood.

To install wallpaper you will need:

• Special glue.
• Stationery knife, as the wallpaper is easily cut with it.
• Dry rag.

• Roulette and pencil.
• If necessary - building level.

Cork materials for arched structures

There is nothing more original than decorating a decorative interior arch with a cork.

Material characteristics:

• Cork can be in the form of wallpaper or tiles.
• The cork itself is soft and attaching it to the surface is not difficult.
• It is waterproof and quite practical.

• It is not affected by different temperature regimes.
• The cork surface is not capable of absorbing liquid contaminants.

Advice. The arch is not completely finished with a cork, but only some part of it.

For the installation of cork and products from it, there is a certain instruction and this is due to:

• The elasticity of the material.
• Cork in any form is easily torn.

For work you will need:

• Special glue.
• Dry rag.

Note. The building level can not be used, since the cork does not have a specific pattern on the surface.

• When pasting the surface of the arch with cork materials, do not stretch them.
• They will absorb moisture, and there will be no smooth finish on the surface.

• It is best not to keep the glue on the cork for a long time.
• The material will simply begin to deform.

Whatever type of decorative finish is present on the surface of the arch, the most important thing is to choose the right material for this and carry out its installation with high quality. Watch the video on how to decorate the arch in an original way.

Decorative stone is one of the most suitable materials for finishing surfaces both indoors and outdoors. Due to its functional and aesthetic advantages, it is increasingly being used to decorate a variety of arches.

Peculiarities

An arch is that architectural element with which a small area can be visually enlarged, and a spacious area can be effectively zoned. A well-decorated passage saves and visually expands the room, functionally separates adjacent rooms and at the same time forms a single interior, creating the desired atmosphere in an apartment or house. Most often, the arches are made of drywall, and then lined with the selected material.

There are many options for processing openings in an apartment: using gypsum, wood, forged elements and, of course, stones: sandstone, shell rock, granite or marble. However, durable natural stone has a high cost, so today its artificial substitutes are increasingly being chosen.

This happens for many reasons:

• Finishing the arch with decorative stone will cost you much less.
• Using this material, you can imitate the pattern of any rock.
• The weight of such a decor will be much less, which can also be a plus - by no means any wall is able to withstand the weight of a real stone.

The decorated entrance to the hallway has both an aesthetic and a practical function. It is here that the owners, guests, and their pets most often move, which means that the passage is heavily polluted. Decorative trim gets dirty less and is easy to clean, and dirt is not noticeable on its surface. Of course, she also immediately attracts the eye.

Since the decoration with decorative stone is able to repeat the pattern of any natural rock, you are able to design interior doors in a similar way - it is easy to choose a variation that suits a particular interior. In most cases, the choice is made in favor of imitation brick, small pebbles, marble or granite.

Design options

The process of laying decorative stone is quite simple, so you can decorate any arch with your own hands.

Traditionally, laid out stones form a side strip around the arch, but in some cases it is decided to decorate the entire wall as well. Such decoration with decorative rocks is used not only for doorways, but also for lining windows, niches and built-in furniture. If you have a free niche in a city apartment, then turn it into an arched fake fireplace and put a few burning candles there.

A composition of several arches located in the same space will look very stylish.

Arched openings decorated with artificial stone can, on the one hand, in harmony with the color of the walls, not focus on themselves and act as a backdrop for bright furniture, and, on the other hand, become a center of attraction and a bright design solution. In the event that the arch connects two rooms in dissimilar styles, decorate it on one side only.

Arches made of artificial stone come in different geometric configurations:

• classic - straight sides and arched top. Usually, they are used for completely dissimilar styles, since the design fits organically into any interior;
• ellipsoid - with an arc in the form of a regular or irregular oval;

• rectangular or portal - the side and upper parts form a right angle;
• round - look curious in combination with bright, colorful walls. They are usually preferred by owners of futuristic interiors;
• curly - the sides form smooth lines and thereby violate the perpendicularity with respect to the floor.

The shape of the arch depends on the size of the opening and the height of the ceiling, the function of the room and its design.

The pattern of the cladding is symmetrical and not symmetrical. Finished using the “torn stone” technology, the arched openings do not have symmetry, but they look non-standard and complement the rooms with the original layout. A symmetrically lined arch with stones to match the wall looks better in classic, calm interiors. Combine a variety of shades of the same color and alternate vertical and horizontal tiles.

Openings are divided into passive and active. The former serve as a simple border, while the latter, which are distinguished by an unusual shape, are themselves an interior decoration. Simple passive types include such types as classical, modern (with a pronounced rise), romance (the arc is rounded on the sides, but cut off at the top) and others. Complex active ones are oriental, horseshoe-shaped, trapezoidal, lancet and others. They have jagged edges and are sometimes located at several levels.

There are also two ways of laying artificial stone: seamless and with the preservation of seams. In residential areas, the seams are usually preserved, as this gives the arch a special zest. They are made wide enough, and then filled with grout of the desired shade.

Often the design of the arched opening is complemented by the creation of proper lighting and decoration with plant elements. The choice of fixtures depends on the style of the arch: there are built-in and inconspicuous models, artsy sconces, or bright LED lights.

With the help of light, the expected mood is given: mystical, solemn and upbeat, calm and relaxed, or neutral.

Material selection

Decorative stone is created from natural components: expanded clay, cement and pumice with the addition of a special mineral pigment to give color. Such material is considered environmentally friendly and safe - it is not afraid of corrosion, decay and fungal diseases. Upon completion of the drying and firing processes, it receives a durability that is in no way inferior to the original.

Decorative stone is resistant to very high and low temperatures, so it is often used for lining fireplaces and exterior walls of a house. It is also used in rooms with high humidity: swimming pools, bathrooms and others. It is worth adding that an arch made of such material is easy to clean and dry with conventional means.

Currently, it is possible to choose a decorative stone that imitates any natural stone, not only in color, but also in texture. Therefore, the choice of materials should depend solely on the design of the room.

Tiles are sold in flat plates of different thicknesses and sizes. There is also an angular option that helps to decorate the upper part of the arch without any problems. But it should be selected very carefully, completing all the calculations.

The most popular are imitations of shell rock, granite, slate, marble and travertine. The surface is smooth, or resembles a rough and untreated stone. The basis of the decor is made of acrylic, quartzite, or with a base of gypsum, alabaster or a mixture of cement and sand.

If the arch itself is made of drywall, then choose a flexible, lightweight acrylic material, or plaster tiles. A brick arch can be decorated with stones on a sand-cement mortar. In addition, try to choose a narrow tile - it is easier to mount it on the semicircular part of the opening. The cost of such material depends on the country of manufacture, firm, quality, weight and even patterns on the stone.

The installation process is quick and hassle-free. You do not have to purchase additional mounts and involve craftsmen. But, in any case, before starting finishing work, it is necessary to check all the stones.

First you need to prepare the material:

• Open the packages and mix the parts.
• See how they will look the most advantageous. Combine them, according to shades, and long with short ones - the arch should look natural.
• Flip the pieces over to the back to check for a foamy layer that will make the tile less likely to stick. If it is, clean it with a metal brush.

What else do you need?

To finish the arch, you will need at least the following tools: what you will cut stone with (hand saw or grinder), construction knife, level, hammer, sandpaper, chisel, glue.

The step-by-step process of facing looks like this:

• Cut the decorative stone into several pieces or thin tiles. Prepare the surface of the arch in advance by cleaning it of dust and dirt, old wallpaper, paint and whitewash. Make a few notches, which will allow the glue to stick better. You can also apply a primer, after which it is important to dry the structure.
• Having prepared "liquid nails", cement mortar or some other adhesive composition, start gluing the tiles from the bottom of the arch, from its junction with the floor. Pay attention to the weight of the stone - some brands are not able to bear heavy samples. Apply glue to the wall with a spatula and press the stones more tightly, but do not overdo it, otherwise cracks will occur. Leave a gap of 5 millimeters between them. Keep in mind that adhesion will be higher if the tile contains the same ingredient as the surface on which it is glued.

• Work through the row on both sides of the arch, and then move on to the next. Line each one up using a level and use plastic crosses. If there are corner stones, then use them to decorate the corners. If there are none, then overlap the flat ones - this way you will give the structure stability.
• After that, start rounding. At this stage, you need to cut the stone yourself to give it the desired shape, using a grinder, a construction knife or wire cutters. Use sandpaper and a file to smooth out irregularities. Partially lay the stone on the nearby wall surface.
• After a couple of days, when everything dries and sets, start filling the tile joints with cement mortar or grout. You can choose a grout of any color, depending on the design of the room. Avoid getting liquid on the surface of the stone, remove excess immediately with a soft cloth. After the arch is completely dry, cover it with acrylic varnish or even paint it. Minor errors are hidden with an airbrush.

You will learn even more information on how to make a stone arch in the interior from the following video.