Wooden arches for interior partitions: types, photos and design solutions

Features of interior design

• Usually, arches are used to decorate interior doorways to the living room, dining room or kitchen.
• An arched enfilade will look picturesque in rooms with an area of more than 50 square meters.
• If privacy is required from time to time, doors with stained glass inserts can be installed in the arched opening.
• Wooden false arches framing a mirror or fresco are often used to decorate walls. If you choose the right location for the mirror or the subject of the painting, you can create the illusion of endless space.
• There is another version of a decorative arch: a niche in the wall is decorated along the contour with architraves or a wooden baguette.
• Wood of varying value is used to make arches. Oak, due to its strength and beautiful texture, is ideal for wooden arches. Ash is inferior in hardness to oak, but it is easier to carve and sands well. Unfortunately, due to the price, not everyone can afford decor made of noble wood species. Budget pine and linden are not as prestigious and durable, but with the help of tinting you can imitate the color and texture of expensive wood.

Types of wooden arches

Any wooden arch consists of a vault, side elements and posts. Due to the curved shape of the vault, arches can withstand a large load. The choice of arch type depends on the interior design, ceiling height, and room zoning.

Classic

Classic wooden arches have a apex in the form of a regular semicircle. That is, the radius of the vault is equal to half the width of the interior opening. This type is suitable for rooms with ceilings higher than 2.5 meters. Often the top of a classic arch is decorated with a figured element.

The photo shows a classic arch. The cool tones of the walls and the severity of the composition combine beautifully with the dark honey color of the wooden floor.

Ellipse

The elliptical arch is the “younger sister” of the classic arch. Ellipse in Greek means “drooping”. The radius of the arch should be greater than half the width of the opening. Such wooden arches are ideal for standard apartments, because they are installed with ceilings lower than 2.5 meters.

Romance

The romantic arch is suitable for low wide openings. It has a straight arch line that is smoothly rounded at the edges. Such arches are installed after dismantling double doors.

The photo shows a romantic arch. The shape of the arch is a modern replica of the Romanesque arches of medieval Europe.

Portal

The portal arch is mounted in standard rectangular doorways. For minimalist interiors, designers choose wooden portals without decorations. A carved wooden portal looks prestigious and will emphasize the respectability of an office or a country house.

The photo shows a portal arch in the interior of the entrance area, made in the colonial style. The dark wood of the portals contrasts with the ivory-colored floor and walls.

Transom

A transom arch is a sash with inserts made of transparent, frosted or stained glass. It is placed above the portal or above the door to create a beautiful arched vault. Since a transom lets in sunlight, it makes sense to install such an arch at the entrance to darkened rooms.

Yoke

A yoke arch is universal for both narrow and wide openings. The arch of the vault smoothly turns into straight lines parallel to the floor. Due to its laconic form, it looks organically in a strict Victorian interior.

Trapezoid

The trapezoid arch, as its name suggests, has a trapezoidal vault. Often installed in country or chalet style interiors.

In the photo, dark-colored trapezoid arches add graphic quality to the interior of a log house and successfully zone the space of the dining area.

Wooden arch design options

Wood is a flexible natural material that can be processed in various ways.

Carved

Carving is the oldest method of artistic woodworking. Wooden arches are decorated with openwork (slotted) or “blind” (applied, relief) carving.

• Openwork carving will visually lighten the arched structure and, as designers say, “add air” to the interior.
• Relief carving will emphasize the beauty of solid wood.
• “Blind” carving is used to decorate arched columns and capitals.

CNC milling machines are used to make wood carvings of any complexity and design. If finances allow, you can order a wooden arch with hand-carved author’s work.

With illumination

Illumination of the arched opening will visually expand the passage, accentuate the skillful carving, beautiful texture of the wood. Directional spotlights are installed on the inner side of the arch. Sconces inside the arch look elegant; this design solution is suitable for a wide passage.

Antique

The “antique” decorative effect is achieved using special methods of processing wooden products. Brushing removes soft wood fibers to imitate the texture of old wood. Other techniques of vintage decor are multi-layer painting, patination and scuffs, and sometimes craquelure is used. This technique is often found in Provence style. Recently, designers have been experimenting with old barn boards; a rectangular or trapezoidal arch made from such boards will remind you of the saloons in the Wild West.

Bent wood

Bending wood is a complex technological process; bent parts made from natural wood are much stronger than prefabricated elements. Using this technology, you can create complex fantasy designs of wooden arches.

The photo shows an arch in the early Art Nouveau style made of natural bent wood.

With stained glass

Stained glass wooden arches are so decorative that they allow you to do without additional design delights. Painted glass and varnishes are used to create stained glass. Nowadays, in addition to traditional techniques, sandblasting of glass, photo printing, color films, fusing (baking) are used.

In the photo, two arches in the Art Nouveau style divide the dining area and the living room. The floral ornament on the stained glass window harmoniously combines with the furniture upholstery and curtains.

Combination of wood and stone

Wood and natural stone are the first building materials that people began to use. After a century of plastic, natural wood in the design of a house or apartment is at the peak of popularity. The combination of wood and stone in an arched structure depends only on the designer’s imagination.

Colors of arches

The color of a wooden arch is selected either to match the main palette of the interior, or to contrast with it.

• A white arch with carved pilasters will decorate an interior in a palace style.
• Brown wooden arches are typical for classic English interiors.
• Beige is “friendly” with most colors and has hundreds of shades. The beige arch will easily fit into both Provence and modern interiors.

Chocolate-brown wenge looks very stylish, the arch made of this dark African wood will look spectacular against the light walls.

Photos in the interior of rooms

The arch can be installed in the passage between rooms, inside the room itself or to highlight the balcony area.

Kitchen

Replacing the door with an arch is often found in small kitchens to save space. In this case, a good hood above the stove is necessary, otherwise kitchen odors will spread throughout all the rooms. For harmony in the interior, the arch should match the style of the kitchen set.

Hallway and hallway

An arch makes a dark hallway brighter, letting in sunlight from other rooms. A long and narrow hallway will become more interesting if you install a row of identical arches like an enfilade.

The photo shows a Mediterranean style hallway. The arch extension continues with a floor plinth.

Hall

A spacious living room can be divided with a wide wooden rocker arch, allocating space for a dining room or library. False arches framing a mirror, fresco, or tapestry look beautiful in the living room.

The photo shows a Scandinavian style living room. The laconic design of the semicircular arch enhances the minimalism of northern interiors.

Balcony

The arch will visually unite the balcony or loggia with the main room. A bar counter is often installed next to the balcony arch in the kitchen. You can put a corner sofa and a table on the balcony itself.

The photo shows a square arch between the kitchen and the balcony.

Room decoration in various styles

Classical interiors are combined with arches of a regular symmetrical shape. If the interior is dominated by straight horizontal and vertical lines, it is better to choose a portal arch; for interiors with smooth geometry, wooden arches with a round and oval vault are suitable. It is difficult to imagine a classical arch without columns, pilasters and carved capitals.

The Art Nouveau style is recognizable by the flowing, intricate lines of the pattern. A wooden arch in the Art Nouveau style is often decorated with forged elements, stained glass, painting with lilies and orchids. Provence is distinguished by modesty and pastel, as if faded colors. For this style, it is better to choose a rocker arch with a simple ornament and an aging effect.

Oriental style is synonymous with luxury and lush decor. Traditionally in the East, wooden arches were decorated with rich carvings, mosaics, and paintings. Wooden arches in the oriental style are characterized by a pointed vault shape.