Do-it-yourself arch apartment renovation

In detail: do-it-yourself arch apartment renovation from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

In an apartment and a private house, arches help to zone the space, give originality to the interior. When talking about arches, they start with basic parameters:

ceiling height,
wall thickness,
desired opening width,
finally, the shape of the arch itself.

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Each of the forms of arches has different requirements for installation and decoration technologies, in different ways correlates with the proportions of the room.

If there is an arch in the apartment, how to decorate it in the best way?

Some types of work can actually be done by one person or together with an assistant. For complex designs - for example, natural wood or mosaic decoration - a specialist with great experience and artistic taste is required.

It depends not only on your imagination and finances, but also on the objective characteristics of a particular arch. With the help of modern decorative materials, you will surely be able to make your dream come true.

Paste with wallpaper;
use self-adhesive film;
cover with a roll cork;
decorate with flexible acrylic tiles - imitation stone.

These methods are the least time consuming. Slightly more time-consuming methods are cladding with plastic panels or decorative plastering.

The invited masters will make the design of the arch:

made of solid wood;
using mosaics or mirror elements;
an original arch - a partition of a complex shape, with roundings and through holes;
an arch with a transparent insert in the upper part - a transom.

It is best to purchase aluminum or plastic corners and arched profiles, which will then be hidden under the upper, decorative layer. It is the edges of the arch that are the most vulnerable part that suffers most from time and especially from careless handling. Corners are not required only if the wall itself is thick and strong enough, and you will trim the arch with natural or artificial stone.

Video (click to play).

Decorative stone has its own weight, which negatively affects light drywall arches. The hollow arch deforms and even collapses. Therefore, the decorative stone is installed only on a solid foundation. In other cases, lighter substitutes are used, which can be simply glued onto liquid nails.

Arch finishing is the final stage that will emphasize all the beauty of the structure. It should be noted that this particular work is the most important when it comes to the decorative component. Don't worry - you can do everything completely yourself. The main thing is to show the necessary perseverance and desire. Of course, you cannot do without some experience and the availability of the necessary tools, which are selected depending on the chosen finishing option.

Making an arch in an apartment is a process that is carried out after the main work has been completed. The fact is that such structures are made from various materials, using various technologies. The resulting architectural element serves to decorate the entire interior, giving it some individuality. We must not forget that the cladding can play not only a decorative role, but also a protective function.

Here are some tips to help you achieve the desired effect:

The easiest way to decorate an arch in an apartment with your own hands is to highlight the arched opening with the desired color. Often, shades are selected that will contrast with the walls. Thus, it is possible to obtain a complete design with a minimum of effort. This method can be used for other materials as well.
Decorating material can be matched to existing colors. For example, if interior arches are lined with MDF panels, then it is desirable to combine them with closely spaced door leaves.
You can decorate the structure using various embossing, patterned ribbons that correspond to the general direction of the design.
Nowadays, stucco molding is becoming more and more popular. Indeed, this is a great option that allows you to emphasize the interior, decorated in a classic style.
The mosaic looks quite peculiar. Its use requires experience in installation. But if everything is done flawlessly, then the effect will be amazing.

Decorating the arch with mosaics is an unusual solution that deserves attention

You can go much further by replacing any materials with live plants. For this, special indoor loaches and vines are selected, which create a real masterpiece.

How can you decorate an arch? Currently, there are many materials that do an excellent job with this task. We can highlight the most popular ones that deserve special attention:

Natural and artificial stone. It should be borne in mind that the first type requires more professionalism.
Cork. Completely natural and environmentally friendly product. Price can be a significant disadvantage.
Decorative plaster. This option allows you to finish surfaces in such a way that the impression of a natural stone will be added.
Various types of tiles. They are similar in technology to stone, but give the interior a completely different look.
Textile. This material requires a special approach to exclude banality and simplicity.

Arched opening design options

Of course, there are much more products for decorating arches. With a certain desire, completely unusual options can be used. So, for example, the structure looks quite original, which is lined with fitted saw cuts of logs. Technologically, this solution is very simple. The workpieces are cut to the desired size. On the one hand, a cut is made, which will serve as a groove for the edge of the opening. Such blocks are inserted into place, fixing on self-tapping screws.

Indeed, this is one of the easiest ways to complete the entire process in a short time. The main thing is that the costs will be minimal.

Wallpapering is the easiest and most inexpensive way to decorate an arched opening

The whole process is very simple:

If required, the surface is leveled before the wallpaper is pasted over the arch.

On a note! Before finishing the drywall arch, a layer of putty is applied to its surface. This is necessary so that in case of a desire to update the finish, the wallpaper does not have to be removed along with the cardboard.

After waiting for the applied composition to dry, the glue is prepared. It is kneaded according to the manufacturer's instructions.

The wallpaper is cut into strips of the desired length. The sticker carries out strictly vertically, capturing part of the opening. You should get a bend equal to 3-4 cm.

To bend the allowance, but avoid creases, cut the edge into corners.

Now the most painstaking part of the work - you need to cut a strip that will be glued to the arcuate surface. This must be done so that the existing drawing matches. This area is smoothed from top to bottom. That is, gluing is performed at the highest point, after which the fragment goes down to the bottom.

The process of pasting the arch with wallpaper

Although there are some negative factors to consider:

It is necessary to decorate, taking into account the fact that such material is very short-lived. After some time, the surface may acquire a yellowish tint. The feeling of novelty will disappear.
The use of wallpaper is limited by the location of the opening. They are not recommended for use on structures located in the kitchen area.Even washable types won't save the day.
Lack of protective functions. Such a coating is very easy to damage, moreover, from minimal mechanical stress.

Of course, this cannot be said that this method allows you to decorate the arch. But, undoubtedly, it is suitable for many situations that require the work to be done most simply and inexpensively.

To get a spectacular arch that attracts the eye, use polyurethane stucco molding. This is a modern version of the product, which was previously made exclusively from plaster. It is actively used to frame various designs.

Decorating the arch with polyurethane stucco molding - an affordable solution with a stunning effect

This option has its own characteristics. The fact is that the finishing material is more suitable for classic interiors. If you use a polyurethane arch in a modern style, then such details may seem completely inappropriate.

Installation is carried out using the following technology:

The surfaces are leveled. All areas are well cleaned.
All dust is erased. If you leave such flaws, then the gluing will be unreliable.
The treated surface should dry well. This period is used to carry out the pegging. You may need to trim parts.

On a note! For trimming at an angle of 45 degrees, a miter box is used. It is important to correctly position the elements to avoid the appearance of docking gaps.

Now you can start gluing. For this, a special composition is used, which is marked: "suitable for gluing polyurethane products." This substance is applied to the wrong side of the part, which is pressed against the surface and held. If joining is performed, then the glue is spread on one side. It is important to remove the excess immediately. Seams are treated with putty and sanded.

Polyurethane molding sticker

When finishing the arch with polyurethane, it must be borne in mind that all work must be done with special care. Any defects will be very difficult to fix.

Arched openings can also be decorated with decorative plaster. This method has its positive aspects. This is one of the few options that allows you to get an extremely personalized surface that will be distinguished by its durability.

Some disadvantages cannot be ruled out. Thus, the coating is very difficult to restore if damaged. If the result of the work is a relief surface, then it must be constantly looked after.

Decorating the arch with decorative plaster allows you to get the effect of natural stone

On a note! It is very easy to arrange an arch in an apartment with your own hands if you use special decorative mixtures. They have a long setting time, which allows you to form the necessary texture so as to achieve the desired result.

Decorating arches begins with preparing the right amount of mixture. Further, it is transferred to a prepared, well-primed surface. It is important to consider that each layer must have a certain thickness. Their number depends on the chosen decorative type.
To form the relief much faster, special rollers are used.
The resulting relief is left to dry. Then they are covered with a primer.

The finished area can now be painted. To obtain an interesting effect, two shades of paint are applied to the surface. One is filling in the depressions, the other - the ledges.

A stone is a great solution that will help you create your own flavor in the interior. It is important to consider that it is better to give preference to artificial options. They are much easier to process and do not require professional knowledge. A material that follows the curves of the structure looks best. In this case, an arc. Image - DIY apartment renovation arch

Decorating an arched opening with decorative stone is a stylish solution for modern interiors

Actions are performed in the following order:

Decorating the arch with your own hands begins with the preparation of the coating. It is important to exclude any drops and defects.
A laying diagram is drawn up. Marking is performed on the surface. Nearby, on the floor, material is laid out. This technology will allow you to immediately adjust some elements, distribute them more correctly, and avoid mistakes.
The stone is laid on glue or a special mixture. The technology allows you to create wide joints or do everything without seams.
If trimming is performed, the trimmed edges must be processed.

The same technology is used when the question arises of how to decorate an arch in an apartment with tiles. But it should be borne in mind that this material requires adherence to a certain sequence. If the stone can be laid "randomly", then the tile is distinct.

Plastic is pretty easy to work with. It is important to understand that not all panels can be bent to the desired angle. Many, especially cheap ones, break down quickly. It is much easier to revet an arched opening with plastic panels when it has an angular vault.The following manipulations are performed:

Careful surface preparation can be excluded. It is important to understand that often, panels are used to form an entire opening. That is, they act as the main and decorative elements of the structure.

A wooden crate is created. It will act as the foundation around which everything else is built. The slats are laid perpendicular to the panels.

An arched dome is formed by dividing it into sectors. Often, the division occurs into three parts: top, two extreme fragments.

The panels are fixed on staples, which are hammered with a stapler along the edges. All joints and transitions hide decorative corners.

Self-plating of the arch with plastic will not cause any particular difficulties

How to decorate such a surface additionally? To do this, you can use various decorative elements that will be in harmony with the plastic.

On a note! It is not difficult to revet the arch with your own hands with plastic. The main thing is to choose not the cheapest materials.

This is a fairly popular destination, which is limited only by the fact that this option can be very expensive. This state of affairs is explained by the fact that cork is a completely natural material.

Cork finishing will create warmth and comfort and will not harm your health

For work, it is advisable to use roll options. They are great for doing all the work yourself. It is important to bear in mind that before you decorate the arch, located next to the kitchen, with cork material, it must be waxed. This will prevent damage to the coating.

Of course, finishing the arches in an apartment with a cork is an excellent solution, but you need to remember that the overall interior design must be adhered to.

It must be borne in mind that all finishing work must be carried out in strict observance of the existing rules. Then such an architectural element will become a real decoration.

Finishing options for arched openings (20 photos)

Any owner of a residential building with an arched passage, one way or another, thought about how to design an arch so that it would take on a stylish, beautiful look. In addition, it is necessary to observe the complete harmony of the general style of the room.

As a rule, the arch is used in order to delimit the space in the kitchen, living room, balcony, corridor and hallway. The design can take any shape, configuration and size, accept different decor options.

The photo of the arch in the interior shows the most popular way of decorating the structure - this is the initial plastering, then painting. This method is equally suitable for classic luxurious as well as trendy modern style.

Please note that for a start it is important to correctly select the base for the paint (the plaster itself), which is divided into several types:

to create a relief effect;
traditional putty;
textured version of the composition;
apply a special pigmented solution.

Experts, based on their experience, recommend using smooth plaster for living quarters, but it is better to treat the hallway or loggia with a textured mixture.

Previously, before starting work, it is necessary to align the contours of the arch in the apartment as much as possible. For these purposes, plasterboard sheets, corners and putty are used. The joints and possible cracks should be filled with a serpyanka. To obtain the most even and clear contours of the structure, it is necessary to fix the corners with a profile.

Then you should ideally clean the work area evenly by applying paint with a roller. If you intend to further decorate the element with embossed accessories, it is reasonable to immediately apply a pigmented solution. After the end of the main work, overlays or decorative curtains can be introduced into the opening.

An equally important way to beautifully design an arch is to decorate it with facing materials, which include: tiles, natural or artificial stone, imitation of bricks. Less often, the opening is decorated with tiles or mosaics.

An important advantage of this method is the introduction of arch decor in absolutely any style. The combination of stone can be completely different: with paper, textile fabrics (wallpaper), plaster, paint.

When finishing the opening with this method, gypsum materials are usually used, but clinker and porcelain stoneware raw materials are not excluded. Due to their high strength and durability, they are usually located at the entrance to the house, or on the balcony area.

In order to decorate the arch with a stone, that is, its initial cladding was of high quality and reliably served its households, it is required to make the surface perfectly flat, and then select a good desired glue composition.

The cladding can be made with an individual non-standard pattern, therefore it is recommended to first apply the markings for further precise orientation of the masonry.

You can also revet the opening with natural durable stone, but this will be a very expensive repair. Moreover, it is worth considering that the arch needs to be in the opening of only the load-bearing wall, or a solid partition.

A popular way to decorate a door arch is to frame it with special decorative panels and overlays. The most relevant and relatively inexpensive material is MDF, which is in perfect harmony with the classic style of the room.

The surface is treated with artificial veneer or foil. Please note that imitation with natural wood is always at the height of fashion.

For the correct fixing of the panels in the aisle, it is worth using special studs without hats and an adhesive solution. There are situations when you have to remove the level, you should use a spacer and foam for installation. This process is practically no different from installing a door frame.

As with other methods, you first need to level the surface and eliminate all possible cracks and joints. Markets and specialty stores for building materials offer ready-made overlay options that can be fixed with a simple click.

An interesting way to decorate an arch in an apartment is stucco molding, which is not at all difficult to do on your own using glue or liquid nails. Most often, polyurethane is used, which gives the interior a special grace, chic and luxurious rich look.

You can make relatively simple shapes, or make the most complex bulky cast parts. The main disadvantage of stucco molding is rapid mechanical damage and failure.

The arched opening has been decorated with ordinary curtains for a long time, but even now this design option is, at least less often, but acceptable. The entrance is masked with light tulle, a curtain or a thick curtain, which will serve as a kind of door itself.

Usually, the doorway is masked with bamboo curtains, beautiful threads, decorative beads. This method is very simple to do with your own hands, using the cornice above the opening for fastening the curtains. There are curved cornices that match the very shape of the opening.

It is no secret that the arch serves as a continuation of the wall, which is why, when making it out, it is necessary to take into account the decoration of the walls.

As you know, wood is the noblest and most durable raw material, which is successfully used to decorate classical household items. It is better if the design is simpler, but very refined in shape. It is also possible to hang a wooden arch with an elegant curtain with gilding, which will successfully set off the classics.

The beautiful design of the arch is complemented by built-in lighting fixtures, which can be point, side or contour types. The easiest way is to integrate the lamps into a drywall element in the end part.

A decorative opening is equipped with recesses, where bulbs are subsequently installed. To hide the backlight a little, you need to mask the recesses with glass. It is relevant to use colored or translucent glass, which in itself will serve as an additional detail of the interior and the structure itself.

The arch looks very beautiful, dividing the space of the kitchen and living rooms, and its lower part smoothly turns into a bar counter.

The interior with an arch looks very stylish and originalIt is not necessary to contact designers to decorate a decorative arch in an apartment - everyone can decorate this interior element with their own hands. The shape of the arched opening is practically not limited by anything other than imagination, but quite often the owners of apartments during repairs are limited only to painting the plasterboard elements of the arch. Such designs look rather boring, a feeling of incompleteness is created. If the main style of the room is not minimalism, then the arch can be turned into a unique decorative element that emphasizes the integrity of the interior.Beautiful oriental arch in the wallThe interior door can be replaced with such an unusual opening.Round arch with classic plasterboard finishLuxurious home library in wood with huge archesWith the help of arches, you can make a small room more spacious, and make an effective zoning in a large one. This architectural element in the apartment performs several functions at once:

Space saving and visual increase.

Simultaneous functional separation of adjacent rooms and their visual unification.

Creation of a certain atmosphere in the house, emphasizing its style.

The dining room visually seems larger with an arch instead of a doorDivision into zones in the bedroomThe dining room and kitchen seem to be one, at the same time they are separated by a wide arch.The spacious living room has a large arched windowA niche for resting in a rounded shapeMost often, arches are made of drywall. Flexible and plastic drywall allows you to quickly create a structure of almost any shape with your own hands. The finished element has high aesthetic characteristics. A drywall arch can be subsequently faced with almost any material, including wood, stone (the most successful examples can be seen in the photo).Classic plasterboard finish without adding other materialsAdd some decorative stone to the drywallFraming the arch with wood with moldingsArched openings can be conditionally divided into two types:

Active - have a complex shape that provides maximum visibility to neighboring rooms, by themselves they can decorate the interior.

Passive - simple in form, often act as a border.

Good view from the living room, thanks to the wide arch

The boundary between the rooms in the apartment is made of a partition with arches

Advice! It is advisable to determine the shape of the arch even before the repair, as well as its subsequent design.

Simple passive arches include:

Classic - with the correct arc radius.Optimal for any interior.
Ellipsoidal - the arc can be in the form of a regular or irregular oval.
Modern - an arc with a pronounced rise.
Romance - the arc is cut at the top, but rounded at the sides.
Portal - rectangular shape of the opening.

Classic round arch

Beautiful entrance hall with a rectangular arch glazed at the top

Complex active ones include:

Eastern.
Lancet.
Horseshoe.
Trapezoidal, etc.

Dome-shaped arch in oriental style

High window in the form of an arrow arch

Shelves located in a horseshoe-shaped partition between rooms

Such arches can have uneven or curly edges, be located on several levels, and twist from one room to another.

Arches of different shapes, but in the same style, they also look great

An arch is, first of all, a part of the wall, respectively, when decorating it, one should start from the finishing of the latter. An architectural element must harmoniously fit into the interior, be a part of it. If there are several arches in the apartment, then they must correspond to the design of the room, be of a single shape or from the same materials.

Advice! The wider the arched opening, the more attention should be paid to its design, color and stylistic correspondence of adjacent rooms.

Unusual solution of an arch in the form of a keyhole

Carved wood with imitation of columns

Depending on the style of the room and the arch itself, you should select the material for its design.

Paint, wallpaper, decorative plaster - the simplest version of the design of an arched opening with your own hands. An element decorated with such materials practically does not stand out in the interior. The color of the coating on the walls and the interior of the arch may differ, if this does not contradict the style of the room.

Convenient and simple solution to leave walls and arch in the same color

Tree - noble, durable material. Most appropriate when decorating interiors in a classic style. Looks perfect on designs of simple shapes.

Wood finish looks noble and tasteful

Polyurethane stucco molding - with its help, you can do it yourself with your own hands to decorate an arch of any shape and style: from minimalism to baroque. The opening can be decorated with polyurethane columns, curly or flat moldings, all kinds of sockets, bas-reliefs - the material has practically no shape restrictions. Initially white elements can be painted in any color with acrylic paint.

This arch decoration incredibly decorates the room.

A rock - natural or artificial. Due to the variety of textures and colors, it can be used to decorate arches of different styles and shapes.

Ceramics - tiles or mosaics can cover both the entire arch and its individual parts.

Glass - these can be blocks installed in the entire height of the opening, at different widths, a ladder. This design of high-tech arches looks impressive. Often there is a design of arched openings using stained-glass windows and colored glass, such elements are ideal for the modern style.

Artificial and natural stone in the decoration of the living room

Artificial stone is widely used in the decoration of arches. This material is durable and aesthetic, it can imitate any natural analogue, which can be seen in numerous photos in magazines and on the Internet. Natural stone, of course, can also be used for cladding, but the arch should be located in the opening of the load-bearing wall or monolithic partition. Drywall simply cannot withstand such a load, so it is better to use lightweight artificial materials for it. Besides, natural stone is quite expensive.

Veranda in front of the house made of natural stone

Advice! For cladding drywall arches with your own hands, it is better to use light and flexible acrylic tiles. Its surface can imitate the texture of any stone and other materials.

The most common types of stone, both artificial and natural, when decorating openings are:

marble and granite;
slate and shell rock;
quartzite;
brick.

An interesting solution for the design of a panoramic window in an arch with shell rock trim

Brick arch window trim

The design of arches using stone implies the presence of the same material on the walls; the transition to another surface can be either abrupt or smooth, stepped. The stone can have a smooth, polished surface or, conversely, an emphasized rough. Due to this, the material is suitable for almost all interior styles.

Light shades and rough texture will suit loft, high-tech, Scandinavian styles. The arch in this case should be rectangular or slightly rounded.

Living room with a loft-style arch

Scandinavian style apartment with classic arches

For classic interiors, it is best to decorate the arch with polished marble. The shape of the opening in this case must be correct and smooth.

Arch bathroom with polished marble finish

The arches between the kitchen and the living room look spectacular, the lower part of which goes into the bar counter. In this case, the stone can only be faced with the base of the rack.

You can often see arched openings decorated with textiles. These can be curtains, for which there is a cornice on the front side of the opening. In fact, the curtains act as a door.

Instead of a door, you can use a bright, beautiful curtain

The decorative opening looks original, in the upper end part of which beads or ribbons are fixed. This kind of decor is good in small apartments where door installation is inappropriate.

A huge mirror in a beautiful arch aimed at the window will add light to a small living room

Plasterboard arches are also convenient because lamps can be built into them without any problems. Moreover, the light can be point, contour, side. Typically, lamps are installed on the end of the arch, but with a complex shape of the structure, they can be placed anywhere. This is especially true for LEDs.

Stylish modern bedroom with lighting in huge arches

The decorative opening can be provided with recesses in which the lamps will be installed. If necessary, the backlight can be hidden, in which case the recesses are covered with translucent glass, often colored, which is an independent element of the design of the structure.

Video (click to play).