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

Role in Design

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

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

Primary requirements

There are several tips for selecting one or another form of the arch, its location, size and decoration.

• Any arch must solve at least one of the above tasks, otherwise it loses its value.
• The arch must necessarily have something in common, it can be a form of windows, furniture, decor or other openings.
• The dimensions of the passage are proportional to the size of the room.
• The arch should not interfere with the illumination of the subsequent room.
• The most advantageous option, when the opening is placed exactly on the center of the wall.
• Not bad looking along one wall are two symmetrical arches.
• The upper point of the arch vault should not rest against the ceiling or go under the baguette itself. Up to the ceiling should remain about 30 cm, at least 10. If the height of the walls does not allow, it is better to abandon the open passages.

Installation locations

Practically in every apartment, and even more so in the house, there is a door that does not carry any functional load, is used rarely and only clutters up space with a canvas. But if you replace it with an arch structure it will be possible to increase the useful area, introduce a sense of spaciousness and novelty to the situation.

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

• Kitchen-dining room;
• Entrance-kitchen;
• Kitchen-corridor;
• Entrance hall-living room;
• Kitchen-living room;
• Hall-dressing room.

Kinds

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

Materials from which arches can be made:

• Drywall. The design for the arch on the basis of a conventional aluminum profile and plasterboard is the most popular, universal and affordable option, which allows you to create both conventional arched ceilings, and implement special design ideas and ideas. It's true that you will only be able to perform such an arch at a certain stage of repair.

• Tree. Many companies offer finished arches from a wooden fileboard or MDF, which can be easily installed with their own hands. The design of finished products is very diverse: elaborate geometric shapes, inserts from colored stained-glass windows, imitation stucco molding and much more. What can we say about the possibility of making an opening on an individual project.
• Brick. Archs made of bricks are quite complex in terms of structures, so they are rare. In addition, they find it difficult to give artistic form. Brick ceilings can be arranged with different boom lift and radius of curvature, but as a rule remain rectangular or rounded. The most appropriate option for loft styles or underground.

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

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Popular and non-standard forms

The arch takes on the role of the highlight of the interior. Even if it is not the main adornment, be sure to attract attention. Its presence adds to the atmosphere of spaciousness and elegance, a special flavor. Arch will be able to beat in almost any style. It can be an inconspicuous passage or dominant element, around which the remaining details of the environment are assembled into a single whole.

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

• A round-sloping arch or segmental arch is a kind of semi-circular arch. The top is a segment of the circle and lies on level slopes, which allows the use of the arch in wide openings.
• Trapezoid - a non-standard form of the top is appropriate in an environment where there are other elements that repeat this figure. Otherwise, it will not look harmonious.

• Ellipsoid - type can be referred to a series of round, but its distinctive feature is the upper arc, representing part of a regular or irregular ellipse.
• The slanting creeping arch is suitable for medium as well as large openings. The slope of one wall remains vertical, and from it a smooth arc leaves to the lower point of the opposite slope.

• Gothic arches are distinguished by a narrow form and a pointed dome, often called lancet arches. Only fit in a certain style.
• Moroccan arches are characterized by low slopes, the arc begins just above the center. The shape of the vault is very diverse, often horseshoe-shaped.
• Arches for eastern or Arabian interiors are usually characterized by an arrow-shaped or bulb-shaped arch.

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• Non-standard and asymmetrical arches are found everywhere. Their appearance, as well as the growth of popularity was the opportunity to create from gypsum cardboard complex and pretentious designs of unexpected shapes and sizes. Non-standard arches are often supplemented by shelves and niches, can smoothly flow into multi-level ceilings or merge into a single whole with a bar counter. The options for their execution and design are limited only by imagination, area and financial capabilities.

Decor

For the decoration of arches in apartments most often use different moldings, finished arches, cornices, individual elements of stucco molding. The choice of decor should be in tune with the chosen style of the interior. Often, arched ceilings have built-in lamps, which not only give additional light, but also allow to allocate a separate zone.

Wide passages can not be allocated. Often they are finished with the same materials as the walls. On one or two sides, the arches are sometimes supplemented with small decorative openings that serve as decoration, an additional source of lighting, just a shelf.

The most common, simple and affordable way to make gypsum cardboard arches is painting or finishing with textured plaster. Other, no less popular materials: decorative stone, brick, tile, mosaic. The choice depends on the style, the purpose of the rooms. If desired, the materials can be combined, for example, an artificial stone with plaster, paint or wallpaper.

The polyurethane stucco has become very popular in the decoration of the room, in particular the interior openings. White lightweight material is presented in construction shops with a lot of decorative elements from which you can create a real work of art. It is important that the cost of finishing will be lower than stucco molding, as well as stone or wooden ornaments.

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

The interior arches have a number of advantages: they allow to expand the space, to make the premises more light, spacious, to give it elegance, to get away from standard solutions of typical construction. However, it is worth remembering about the disadvantages of the solution: the arches are not always appropriate, some options look ridiculous in a budgetary situation, and somewhere more practical will be the installation of the door.