How to install an arch instead of a door?

When opening an ordinary door, attention is often paid to the handle and surface cladding, while arched structures are immediately distinguished by the shape of the vault and decoration. It will be so pleasant to feel as if in a castle and to pass, for example, through a lancet-shaped arch, decorated with colorful iridescent mosaics, which majestically erects a vault to the ceiling.

Arched structures are ancient architectural elements designed to separate premises from each other or zoning the space of an apartment, private house, office into full-fledged functional parts. Installing arches instead of doors is quite popular today. This alternative interior design solution has found its application in the arrangement of both small-sized apartments and spacious rooms.

Owners of small apartments with narrow corridors often face a problem when the door does not open completely, uncomfortably blocking the passage. Spacious apartments need additional decor, which will become a highlight of the interior. In these cases, you just need to choose the right design with the original arched vault.

Arched structures have many advantages. First, they, like doors, serve as a passage to adjacent rooms without isolating them. Secondly, they allow you to separate zones for different purposes, visually expanding the space. The main advantage of indoor arches is the saving of usable space.

Also the following characteristics in the installation of arched structures:

• Simple installation of the structure.
• A variety of decorative designs.
• Arches contribute to the expansion of space.

• The ability to manufacture prefabricated arch kits according to individual design sketches.
• Arched structures are not intended for isolation of premises in an apartment, house, office, but for a competent separation in terms of functionality.
• Arched vaults will add style and originality to the interior.

• Arched vaults installed in passages to a small hallway, to a balcony, to a corridor transform the room, expanding the space.
• In the design of arches, lighting can be provided, which will serve not only as an effective decor, but also as an additional source of light.
• With the help of decorative details, arched structures approach almost any interior style.
• The structures are not difficult to maintain and operate.

There are basically no drawbacks to arched structures. Such a moment as the lack of isolation of the room and luxury, which does not always suit a modest interior, are considered by few to be significant disadvantages.

Comparing the functionality of doors and arched structures, it is worth noting that their installation in rooms is equivalent. Doors are a good option, but not recommended for all spaces. Sometimes it is better to replace them by installing arches. In turn, in small apartments, for some interior styles, the installation of an arched vault is not desirable. Arched structures benefit from the fact that they visually expand the space and are economical. Unlike door designs, arches are universal, while doors need to be more carefully selected to match the interior style.

Arched structures are of two types.

• Active Is a complex shape that gives space to volume when looking at rooms adjacent to each other.
• Passive a view is defined as a boundary dividing the space of a room into functional and independent parts.

Arches can be used to form the entrance to the dwelling, office and interior openings. When choosing interior structures, the provided forms are taken into account first. Structures differ on the upper part of the arched vault. From the existing variety of designs, the most popular model shapes are provided.

• Classic The (Roman) form looks like a semi-arch. The style, which came from the ancient Roman civilization, harmoniously complements any interior. The height of ceilings when installing Roman arches is recommended at least 2.5 meters. Arches of this shape should be constructed of solid wood or stone.
• Original the shape of the arch in the form of a rocker arm can be suitable for different openings. The arch in the form of a rocker, made of mahogany, will perfectly match the furniture of the corresponding color scheme. This vault, even in a minimalist interior, looks refined and tasteful.
• In the design of wide openings, vaults are also popular. "Romance", otherwise called Slavic arches. A vault with rounded corners softens the atmosphere in the room.
• Vault form "Modern" It is presented in the form of a regular ellipse and is an analogue of the classic arched shape, only by its outlines it is more "flattened" towards the bottom. This option is successfully used in the design of balcony and kitchen openings and significantly saves space.

• Vault British uniform elongated arches, also contributes to the visual extension of the height of the room. This trick is indispensable when decorating a room with low ceilings.
• Openings of office interiors are often made out trapezoidal arches.
• A fairly simple form is vault portal... The installation of such an arch does not require preliminary preparation of the arched opening. The arch of the form of the portal is installed in rooms with vertical and horizontal lines. Such rectangular structures are excellent for log home interior decoration.

• Thai semi-arch has an external resemblance to the shape of the portal and ellipsoidal. With this original form, the interior will express modernity and style.
• Eastern arches go well with the ethnic style of the interior. These structures evoke fantasies about the wide halls of the palaces of the Ottoman khans. An interior with the inclusion of such forms must necessarily be decorated to the smallest detail in the appropriate style.
• Gothic arch differs in the lancet shape of the vault. Premises with high ceilings are recommended for them.
• Custom arches is an original decision of designers in the design of bold interiors. They can be designed for any openings, equipped with additional parts, and made independently functioning. Structures with a built-in table, a bar counter, side shelves and shelves will look original in the interior. Such forms can simultaneously fulfill a functional and decorative role. The arched structure of non-standard shapes will also act as a partition dividing the room into separate independent parts and additionally acting as furniture with useful functional parts.

When installing arched structures, work should begin with measurements of the opening. Arched structures consist of three parts, two of which have lateral parts, symmetrical to each other. Two pieces are attached to both sides of the opening. The main element often appears as a sheet of drywall cut in a semicircle. The width of the sheets will be equal to the width of the opening, and the height will vary, depending on the shape of the arch.

The height of the arch will depend on the height of the archway.An arch selected for a small (up to 2 m) opening will significantly reduce the space. In this case, the upper corners are rounded. Large openings will visually expand the space so that even a narrow corridor may seem like an independent room, more functional and wider in size.

For the competent installation of arched structures, you first need to make measurements of the opening. Arched openings can be created in two ways. The first method starts by drilling a wall. For accurate installation, it is necessary to prepare a drawing. Using the second method, the upper part of the doorway is sealed under the shape of an arched vault. For this method, sheets of chipboard, MDF, drywall are recommended, which are attached to the prepared frame.

When installing arched structures, it is necessary to take into account the dimensions of the opening, the material and color style of the future structure, as well as the features of the interior and the style of neighboring rooms. With the zoning of the dining room from the kitchen, classic arches, as well as designs in the form of "Modern" and the "Romance" vault, will perfectly cope. By installing an arch in the corridor at the entrance to the living room or hall, it is also possible to obtain the effect of visual expansion of the space of the premises.

Today, apartments in the form of studios are popular, where there are no partitions between the living room and the hall, the kitchen and the dining room. Thus, in a stalinka or Khrushchev building, you can create one large room, where arched structures form functional zoning.

It is possible to beautifully equip the exit to the loggia from the kitchen by installing a prefabricated arch. Inline elements separate the two spaces nicely. Installation of a custom arch in the kitchen with a bar counter or with a table will become a highlight of the interior.

After successful installation, the structures are decorated with their own hands or with a designer hand. The options for decorating arches with curtains made of beads and glass beads look original. Decorative finishing, made by the method of overlaying mosaics, painting, artistic painting, is made on the previously prepared surface of the arched structures. Facing with a stone will look like an independent decorative element. A special decorative effect will be caused by the built-in lighting in the arched structure, which will also create additional lighting.

Installing a simple arch is a simple process that you can do yourself. The help of a designer is recommended when installing complex and non-standard structures that require special skills. For independent work, it is better to choose drywall, MDF from materials of manufacture. These materials are cheap. With the help of their properties (flexibility and lightness), arches of various shapes are created. These materials are perfect for kitchen structures, as they are easy to maintain and clean.

When assembling an arch, you should first decide on the installation site. In the case when the exit from the kitchen is adjacent to the bedroom, there is a risk of creating discomfort for the passage and rest. Constant noise and food odors will interfere with rest and sleep. In such cases, it is recommended to install arches only between the corridor and the kitchen or the dining room and the kitchen.

At the next stage, tools and materials are purchased:

• Metal profiles and drywall sheets.
• Self-tapping screws, dowels.
• Measuring devices: level and tape measure.
• Tools: stationery knife, sandpaper, hacksaw, screwdriver, metal scissors, pencil.

Having measured the opening, it is necessary to start making the frame, where the sheets of drywall or MDF will be attached. In order to save money, you can purchase a ready-made frame.

To trim and decorate the arch, no special skills are required. You can simply plaster and paint the surface of the arched structure to match the color scheme of the room. To highlight the arched opening, it can be decorated in a different color, and the end parts can be decorated with polyurethane molding. When decorating arched structures, a color is selected that is combined in the tone of the wallpaper, or in a completely contrasting tone.

In apartments in the form of studios, due to the combination of two or three rooms, all furniture should be endowed with functionality. Correctly installed arched structures with a built-in mezzanine, bar counter, table, side shelves play the role of additional furniture.

The arch can look harmoniously in various interiors, from Provencal classics to “street” techno. The main thing is the correct design of the vaults with the selection of original decor and high-quality material. If there is no alternative for decor, it is enough to paint the structure. This is the simplest, most economical and affordable way to decorate. You can save money by purchasing white paint and various dyes. It is not at all necessary to match the paint to the color of the walls. Due to the fact that the arched structures are magnificent in their own way, there is no need to mask it in the same colors. The vault is painted with a bright color that will contrast against a calm background.

The extravagance of the arched vaults will be given by the surface decoration with mosaic decor. The interior with such decor will become luxurious, communicating the special taste of the owner of the apartment. You can create an individual, exclusive decor for the arches. Depending on the room in which the vault is located, materials for decoration should also be selected. In the case when the arch is located at the entrance to the kitchen, the surface of the structure is decorated by gluing fragments from broken dishes. This type of finish will add originality to the kitchen room. An arch lined with decorative stone looks spectacular.

It is easier and cheaper to make an arched structure from drywall, MDF. It is recommended to sheathe structures with wood, and decorate with mosaics, decorative plaster, and artificial stone. The design of the arches is also invented independently. Installation and decoration can be entrusted to professionals, as a result of their work, chic arched structures will be obtained according to individual sketches.

For information on how to beautifully decorate arches in the interior, see the next video.

There is a wide variety of ideas for interior decoration with arched vaults in the world of modern design. It is preferable to start their implementation with the choice of the material of manufacture. The arch, assembled from stone, looks bulky, gives the interior of the room power and status. Depending on the tone and texture, the designs will be appropriate in a variety of interior styles.

• In interiors of country style and rustic Provence, the installation of stone arches would be an excellent solution. Trying to achieve unity with nature, showing suburban colors, when creating an interior, you can beat many openings with the help of arches. A wild stone in gray and white shades, played on the arched vaults, will recreate the atmosphere of medieval castles.

• The usual method for decorating arched vaults is wood cladding. Wood, especially natural wood, always looks noble and is very popular when creating various interiors. Elegance and comfort are guaranteed by the introduction of a wooden arch into the design of the room, regardless of the nature of the room, be it a corridor or a living room. Expensive beech and oak are immediately noticeable for their richness, the arches in their performance look dignified and self-sufficient without additional decor.The classical form of the vault in the design of the baroque style, classic, empire style will convey the spirit of wealthy palace interiors. The highlight of the room will be the vaults, the details of which are executed in the style of Roman antiquity: white columns with a spectacular patina, artificial stones, plaster moldings, noble marble. The design is also characterized by the presence of floristic motifs, symmetrically painted on the surface of the arched structure.

• You can achieve the effect of decorating arches from solid wood with the help of tinting, as well as painting. Trending colors are white and beige, a shade of pale pink, peach, ivory. Gold patina, silver or classic white color will give the interior a special grace, richness and chic of the royal halls. Color, material and finishing play a decorative role in the design of arched vaults. The types of vaults also emphasize the chosen style of the room.