Stone arches: finishing styles, types, design, shades and interior photos

Stone Arch Finishing Options

The ancient Greeks, the forefathers of architecture, began to design passages not in the form of a rough square or rectangle, but in a smooth arc. They persistently built triumphal arches decorated with stucco, framed with marble and mosaics, and dedicated these architectural objects to the victors.

Today, arched structures have become an integral part of everyday life as a popular element of interior and exterior design. Wallpapered or finished with plastic or plasterboard, it looks great in both work and home spaces, and allows you to diversify the look of boring interior passages. The arch is used to separate zones and decorate walls.

But one of the most popular options for its cladding is decorating with stone. Thanks to the rich variety of modern materials and laying techniques, the process takes less and less time and effort. But the result becomes a real reward for the customer – an aesthetic pleasure for the eyes and a practical household solution for many years.

Decorative stone

One of the popular ways of decorating portals is finishing with decorative gypsum stone. Firstly, its many variations allow you to imitate almost any natural surface. Secondly, it is cheaper than its analogues, for example, natural stone. And, thirdly, it is a light decor, so it is suitable even for processing thin structures.

The photo shows an arch with rough stone finishing, separating the living room and dining area. The decor in subdued sandy-brown shades organically combines the natural relief of the stone and the perfectly smooth floor and wall coverings.

Natural

Natural (wild) stone is rarely used for interior surfaces due to its high cost, significant weight and complexity of processing (hewn facing slate or travertine is required). However, for external street work, it is the best choice. An arch lined with stone looks great, and the material itself is extremely strong and durable – when using high-quality mortar, it can last for many decades.

Decorative brick

If the goal when decorating an arch is not the texture of the stone, but the imitation of brick, then the choice is quite wide. Flat decor is sold in every hardware store, is inexpensive and weighs little (the thickness of the bricks is 5-20 mm). Laying by level is so simple that even a non-professional can handle it. As a result, the opening will be transformed, and a piece of ultra-fashionable loft style will appear in the room.

The photo shows a modern interior with imitation brickwork, which decorates not only the arch, but also parts of the walls of the room.

Imitation stone

But even if the simplest laying of decorative stone/brick seems too long and painful a process, there is a simple interior solution – finishing the arch with ceramic tiles and such “flexible” coatings as liquid wallpaper and decorative plaster. The process will take less time and effort, but if done professionally will give a pleasant result.

Types of arches

There are several main groups of arches depending on the form of execution:

Round

If there is a large wall area, such an arch will allow you to expand the boundaries of the room, making it lighter and “airier”.

The photo shows an arched staircase opening. The rough surface contrasts with the white wallpaper on the walls.

Semi-circular

A traditional type of arch with stone, which is used to decorate and strengthen doorways and other types of passages.

The photo shows a stone arched passage to the dining room. Natural finishing decorates not only the opening, but also part of the wall around it.

Rectangular

Usually this arch differs from the standard opening in its large size, allows you to zone the space and looks organic in almost any setting, especially in the spirit of classicism.

The photo shows a rectangular arched opening and part of the wall with brick finishing. The design combines warm shades of brick, door leaf and walls.

Narrow

The optimal solution for a small area: it allows you to comfortably decorate the passage and strengthen it for a long service life.

Trapezoid, angular, figured

• A trapezoid-shaped arch can become one of the key art objects in a geometric interior – with an emphasis on clear lines and angular elements.
• The angular one looks advantageous in a single design concept along with other elements with clear geometric shapes.
• The figured design option depends only on the imagination of the artist and is able to transform even the most boring traditional furnishings.

Ideas for decorating and designing stone arches

If you want something new in a familiar setting or are planning a renovation, but don’t have a clear vision of the picture yet, you should think about decorating the arch. Perhaps it’s not enough to look at your home environment from a different angle.

The style, color, and shape of the structure can set the overall tone for the design project:

• Torn. Chaos is, oddly enough, one of the most popular techniques in interior design. An arch, like a rough surface of wooden furniture or fireplace stones, does not have to be perfect. By giving it a “torn”, deliberately sloppy shape and complementing it with the same “irregular” texture of the outer material, you can get an excellent result.
• Carved. There are no boundaries for decorating an arch in this case, or rather, they are determined by imagination. Asymmetrical images, flowers – any shape is acceptable.
• With backlighting. It can take on the role of one of the central accents of interior lighting.
• With columns. The Roman style design with neat stone vaults will organically complement the clear and elegant classic interior.

This The main types of arches that you shouldn’t limit yourself to. The selected option may not be similar to them, which means it will become a unique idea for decorating a room: hallway, kitchen, etc.

Photos of stone arches in the interior of rooms

To “revive” your imagination, you can first familiarize yourself with the completed projects of arches, which will be appropriate in the hallway, living room, kitchen, living room, bedroom, balcony, loggia and even in the bathroom.

Arches are diverse not only in shape and color, they can also be transformed, thanks to the image and lifestyle of the owners of the house. They can be decorated with favorite trinkets or photos to enjoy the informality of the interior.

The photo shows an arch in a Scandinavian-style apartment. The design combines the abrasive surface of the brick and varnished wooden flooring.

Recommendations for choosing a color

When decorating an arch, it is important to approach the choice of its color, as well as the shade of the finishing material around it, with special attention. A light palette can be considered ideal, which will transform the element into a lighter, “not oppressive” structure in the overall environment.

This is an important nuance, since the arch is an overhanging object. A dark shade will visually cramp and reduce the space of the room.

Examples of cladding around an arch

The type of cladding material around the arched structure should continue the style of the interior design – the most modern or “antique”.