The arch of a doorway is an original architectural solution that allows you to separate adjacent rooms and add individuality to a typical apartment. Every year, this type of interior design is becoming increasingly popular, which is explained by its versatility and attractive appearance. Making an arch in a doorway is not difficult, so every homeowner can handle this type of work.
Advantages of the arch
The best solution is a plasterboard arch, since this building material is very popular, you can find it in any store and even choose the one that will be more suitable in your case based on its basic characteristics. In addition, it is easy to process, bends and does not require special tools for cutting.
To make an arch, you will need drywall of different thicknesses - the one that will be on top may be slightly thinner than the one that will be placed below. In addition to the facing material, you will need two types of metal profile - guide and rack.
The profile frame will make your arch more durable and reliable, which is important when it comes to a frequently used room. You will also need self-tapping screws designed for working with wood and large dowels.
Finally - more about the tree
Look again at Fig. with types of arches. They seem to be varied, but it is still noticeable that they are typical. Why? Because they are assembled from standard modules. But even such arches, and the most homemade plasterboard ones, can be given uniqueness if they are decorated with wooden carved elements. Eka bent? Not at all. Artistic wood carving is accessible to anyone with at least basic taste. See, for example, a couple of lessons for beginners below.
Where is the best place to make an arch?
An arched opening is relevant in the hallway or kitchen - places where you don’t need to close the doors often. However, these rooms are some of the most frequently used rooms, and therefore you need to ensure that your arch lasts as long as possible.
You should also take into account that the cladding will take up some space and the opening will decrease in size, so if the doorways in your apartment are not very high, big problems may arise with the work.
After the material has been purchased, you can begin the work process itself. To make it easier for you to make an arch with your own hands and to avoid mismatches, you need to carefully measure the opening.
The width, height and wall thickness of the original property are key factors. After this, you can start cutting drywall. The most difficult thing is to cut out a semicircle for the upper edge of the arch.
Decorative finishing
The most interesting stage is the decorative finishing of the arch. A wide variety of materials can be used for this purpose. The most popular ways to make decor with your own hands are:
- wallpapering;
- painting;
- textured or colored plaster;
- MDF panels;
- tiling or mosaic.
Options for decorative finishing of arched structures
The easiest option is painting. In the house, it is best to use water-based mixtures; instead of paint, you can also use wallpaper; for the hallway and balconies, the ideal option is plaster. You can use a colored smooth or textured mixture, it all depends on your wishes. In addition to this finish, you can use artificial stone. An opening completely lined with mosaic also looks good: the material creates colored highlights and shimmers.
The classic color for the inside of the arch is white, but you can choose a contrasting shade or tone to match the walls.
The MDF finish looks expensive and neat. Essentially these are the same overlays, but they are already installed on the finished arch, so no additional finishing or masking of the joints is required.
You decide what exactly to do with your own hands, but do not forget to adhere to general tips and recommendations
Step-by-step instruction
To do this, you can use the old proven tool - a lace and a pencil. Take the width of your doorway and add about 20 centimeters to it, then cut a strip of drywall to that size. Once the layout is ready, mark a point in the center of the base, moving just a few centimeters from the bottom edge.
The end of the lace is secured at this point. Most often, for reliability, it is secured with a bolt or nail. A pencil is tied to the other end. The distance between the first end of the rope and the pencil is half the width of your doorway.
Using this simple device, we draw the correct arc of the required dimensions and cut out an arched opening along the resulting line. There should be two such templates, since the arch needs to be designed in both directions. The second template is much easier to cut out, using the first one instead of a template.
Next, speaking about how to make an arch in an apartment, you need to take care of the correct installation and fastening of the profile. The guide profile should be placed at the top, making sure that it exactly follows the contour of your arch.
The obtained result must be strengthened using a more rigid rack profile. Dowels should be used to secure the profile.
Working with drywall
It should also be taken into account that when fixing drywall, the surface of the product will rise slightly, and if you want your arch to merge with the wall, it is better to install the profile a little deeper, stepping back from the outer edge of the opening a few millimeters inward.
Next, the cut out templates are fixed to the profile. The work is done using self-tapping screws, and the heads of each screw should be slightly pressed into the surface so that there are no problems during the final finishing. To fill the space between the templates, you need to use a strip of drywall that has been pre-treated with moisture.
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This will give the material sufficient flexibility and in places where there is a semicircle it can be leaned against the profile without any problems. You can apply moisture with a good rag, or use a roller.
After this, you need to wait several hours until the drywall dries and is in the right condition for fastening. The width of the strip should be the same as the width of the original opening.
The final touch when making an arch yourself is to putty the seams and finish the finished arched opening. For these purposes, there is a special putty for drywall, which is more delicate to handle. It lays down in a thin layer and hides all the external imperfections of the “raw” product.
An arch can give the room a more elegant look, enliven the atmosphere and distinguish your apartment from a number of other standard buildings. If you do all the work yourself, you will be able to take into account all the subtleties, and the result will be as accurate and functional as possible in your conditions.
Choosing an arched opening
The absence of a door is not appropriate in every opening. An open pantry or bathroom will look strange. The kitchen, bedroom and office are also considered to be privacy zones, but in these cases there are exceptions. To create a feeling of intimacy, curtains, sliding screens and other solutions are added to the arch. There is no other alternative. It turns out to be a good compromise, creating the illusion of separation of rooms, but at the same time without creating dead zones.
Removing doors not only helps to visually expand the space. More air flows through the open passage, which adds freshness to even small living spaces.
