How and what you can have an arched door. Technology for making a plasterboard arch with your own hands. Putty for perfect surface leveling

How to make an arch with your own hands? This question worries many who dare to design the interior opening on their own.

A door arch made with your own hands will make you proud of yourself, thereby allowing you to add something original and unique to the interior of your room or bedroom. Despite the fact that many beginners are tormented by vague doubts, in fact there is nothing terrible in this work, the main thing is desire. If you have it, ours detailed plan help you get the job done!

What is an arch and its varieties

Arch is an ancient architectural element that is increasingly used as an internal decorative element of the entrance or interior door, or rather a doorway. An arch is a universal opening in a wall that can give “volume” to a small room, and at the same time, zone a small apartment.

Taking into account the wishes of the homeowners, thanks to arches, designers can turn different ideas into reality, giving the doorway a different look. Today, modern materials make it possible to give arches different geometric shapes, as well as form intricate vaults. Most often for the manufacture of arches and their cladding they use:

Brick.
Wooden beam.
Plywood.
Tiles.
GKL, etc.

The structure of the arch is a support for partitions and walls. But, since the doorways in high-rise buildings are not load-bearing, the only requirement that is put forward to them is to withstand their own weight (with finishing finishing material). If the wall is load-bearing, the material must be selected according to external loads.

Any version of the arch, which is mounted instead of a door, performs a purely decorative function. The frame of the structure can even be made from a lightweight profile for fiberboard or chipboard; you can also use wooden beams. Only important point– reliable fixation of the partition so that the decor does not fall off or become deformed after a few days.

As we noted, the design of a house can be beautifully complemented with an arch, because there is a huge variety of its forms. They can be made in classic or romantic style. Art Nouveau is also often used. No less popular are the ellipsoidal shape, trapezoid, “portal” and many others.

The first example is made as a regular semi-arch, in the shape of a semicircle. On last photo you can observe a square interior opening called a “portal”. This design method is carried out with strict adherence to rectangular outlines. All other samples are intermediate variations between the two basic forms.

But these are not all options. You can also experiment with side supports, use curved posts, etc. You can finish the form and decorate it in different styles, the main thing is that the passage fits harmoniously into home interior. In some apartments, classics and a round, correctly bent vault look great, in others - portals, it all depends on the taste preferences of the owners. Pay attention to the advice of experienced finishers:

Classic arches are best done in apartments with high ceilings, at least 3 m.
In panel-type high-rise buildings, it is better to frame the doorway in the Art Nouveau style.
It is preferable to decorate wide doorways from the corridor to the hall in a romantic style, for which wide counters are selected.
The finishing of the “portal” opening goes well with the interior of the room, which uses clear lines. “Portal” is ideal for houses made of lining, logs or timber. This combination is very elegant and harmonious.

What materials can be used to form arches?

To make an arched vault, you need to stock up on the following material:

Sheets of drywall.
Plywood.

It is worth noting that it is best to sheathe the frame with sheets of plasterboard, because in the future it can be decorated with different decorative materials. But, if you need to create a more sophisticated shape, choose plywood sheets as they bend better. Preparation arched frame is formed from:

Metal profile.
Wood beams.

But, to build an arch, you can also take concrete, aerated concrete and brick, which are decorated with finishing materials. Despite the fact that such structures are solid, it is prohibited to erect them in high-rise buildings due to their heavy weight. It is also prohibited to make door frames from metal, which, moreover, will cost a pretty penny. And how to make an arch in an apartment with your own hands from metal? After all, this is a very labor-intensive process that requires the use of specialized devices. That is why plasterboard is the most acceptable material for finishing apartments.

How to make an interior arch. Step-by-step instructions (video)

How to make an arch from wood?

Do-it-yourself wooden arch, more precisely wooden frame, is formed without special effort. But, in addition to wood blocks, you will also need sheets of plywood. The first thing to do is measure the width of the passage, subtract the thickness of the materials, after which we get optimal thickness wooden beams. Then an arc is drawn on the plywood, which is cut out with a jigsaw.

Subsequent installation is carried out with self-tapping screws (5 cm), which fix the beams to the plywood. Arch in doorway It is also fixed with self-tapping screws, which are screwed in at a distance of 15 cm. Final stage– fixing the 2nd wall of plywood and its subsequent covering with sheets of plasterboard. Please note that you need to fix the drywall sheets with special screws for working on drywall.

Installing a plywood arch

How to make an arch with your own hands from wood without using natural material? Today this is not difficult, because wood can be replaced with plywood. To correctly calculate the amount necessary materials, including fittings, the first thing experienced finishers do is create a sketch.

To work with plywood, you will need the following handy tool:

Jigsaw (or hacksaw).
Drill.
Screwdriver.
Sandpaper.
Finishing equipment.

Since plywood is a rather unique material that allows you to create original and unusual shapes, you need to work with it, following the step-by-step instructions:

Measure the doorway and note what size the arch will be.
Then you need to cut the strip and carefully process it.
The resulting strip is slightly moistened and left for some time.
After these manipulations, the plywood will be pliable and will easily take the desired shape.
The prepared strip is bent in the required way and immediately inserted into the required doorway, carefully fixed and spacers installed in the corners.

Forming an arch from plywood. After the canvas is installed, you need to wait a little until the sheet dries completely and takes its final form. At the next stage, you can act in two scenarios:

Form inserts from wooden blocks and cover the surface with plasterboard.
Take advantage polyurethane foam, filling the voids with it.

Installation of a plasterboard arch

Working with plasterboard, as with plywood, is very similar and does not cause difficulties, but is cheap. If you have the opportunity to build walls and form an arch at the same time, this way you can complete the work as quickly as possible. Before forming an arch, you need to prepare the surface step by step, namely:

Dismantle the old one door panel, decorative overlays, platbands and other accessories.
Repair all damage to the walls to avoid troubles in the future.
Get some tools.
Draw up a detailed work plan and sketch.

You can install a plasterboard arch in different ways; below we will describe each method in more detail. The first option is the most popular:

Take 2 sheets of drywall, one of which is cut in half.
A U-shaped frame is formed in the doors using a metal profile.

One segment is fixed to the frame, having previously been marked into 2 equal parts and marking the center.
A hole is drilled in the rail from the edge and in the center. The distance between them should be equal to the middle of the arc of the formed arch. To do this, determine what distance will be maintained between the edges of the semicircle.
Then a curved line is drawn to connect the hole in the middle of the batten with the center of a piece of drywall sheet that is fixed to the frame. You should immediately check whether the height of such an opening is suitable.
Then the sheet is removed and the excess is cut off, after which it is fixed again on the frame.
The second sheet of drywall is installed on the opposite side. Taking a corner and the first segment (like a stencil), transfer the dimensions of the arc. Next, cutting out the arc and fixing it is repeated according to the same pattern.
After the work has been done, a void is left in which the frame is mounted. To do this, the profile is cut and bent. The resulting structure is fixed to the racks and drywall. It is also worth installing jumpers for the reliability and strength of the structure.

Next, cut out the required strip, bend it, and make deep cuts on the inside. You need to fix it without haste, with careful movements.
That's all, the arch is formed. All that's left to do is to paste the wallpaper or paint it in the desired colors.

The second method is much more complicated. The masonry is formed using the following technology:

Drywall pieces are fixed from the corners on both sides using a mixture of PVA glue and water.
Drywall is cut so that each next fragment is smaller than the previous one.
Work continues until the smallest fragment is installed.
Self-tapping screws or anchors are used as additional fixation.

It's only preparatory process. Further it will be even more difficult. The next stage will require plaster and putty. Large expansions and other defects are sealed with plaster, and a smooth arc is created with putty. This is quite a painstaking work that requires a strong and experienced hand of a master, so it is better for a beginner to immediately purchase template blanks.

Step by step instructions

If you decide to install an arch in the hallway, kitchen or balcony, follow the recommendations below:

Remove the old door and trim.
Widen the doorway to the desired size.
Level the walls and repair any defects.
If the structure will be backlit, carry out the wiring.
Take all measurements in different places to minimize errors.
At uneven walls choose the depth of the arch at the thickest point.
Don’t be too lazy to make a life-size sketch (this will allow you not only to install the arch as accurately as possible, but also to pre-assess what the arch will look like).
You need to begin work on installing the supporting frame in the following sequence:
Create a main contour from the profile around the perimeter of the doorway and fix it on the wall.
Secure the frame system.

Install the vertical guides with an indentation from the plane of the interior surface to the thickness of the drywall and add 2 mm to the data (make a reserve for plaster).
The surface must be rolled out with plaster until it is as even as possible.
To create a semicircle from the profile, cuts are made on it in increments of 5-7 cm.
When an ideal curve is formed from the profile, it is installed in right place and fixed to the frame.
For greater strength, the arc must be fixed with several hangers to the horizontal upper guide.
Then the crossbars are installed in increments of 40-60cm.
The result should be a structure made of metal profiles in the shape of an arch for further cladding.

Finishing

When the arched frame is ready and sheathed, you can begin finishing work. To do this, you need to cover the edges and joints of the materials with specialized paper tape or fiberglass mesh. You will also need to apply putty in at least 3 layers and sand the structure. Once you are convinced of the reliability of the formed structure, you can proceed by following some of the recommendations given below.

To do everything finishing work, you need to purchase acrylic putty, which is intended for interior work. But, please note, it is better to use a special mass for drywall. Before use, the putty mass is thoroughly stirred until smooth.

When starting work, put on gloves and other equipment. personal protection! The putty is applied in linear movements with a rectangular spatula. In addition to filling all the unevenness and joints of materials with putty, it must also be applied to the heads of the screws so that their edging does not show through. Similar actions are carried out until the surface becomes ideal.

After puttying, you can begin gluing the joint and edges to remove all sorts of irregularities and give the material strength. To do this, you can take a fiberglass mesh or paper tape, it all depends on your preferences (both options are good). Cut a piece of mesh and place it at the joint (in the very center), pressing it with your fingers into the putty that has not yet dried. Check that the tape is securely fastened and that there are no wrinkles.

After all the joints have been treated with mesh, you can cover the curved parts of the arch with it. The work needs to be done according to a similar scheme. When the mesh forms folds during the processing of arcuate sections, they can be smoothed out by cutting the fabric with a sharp knife.

After drying, the putty will become snow-white. This will be a signal that you need to take sandpaper and go smooth the surfaces. But, work carefully, do not remove too much putty, so as not to expose the mesh. For this work, use a respirator, because during surface grinding there will be a lot of dust, which is very harmful to human lungs.

When all 3 layers of putty have been applied and the surface has been cleaned, you need to wait about 12 hours for the structure to dry completely. Sand again with fine-grit sandpaper to achieve a perfect surface. That's all, you can decorate the surface.

Decorating the arch

It doesn’t matter at all what material you used to install the arch, because even a do-it-yourself brick arch needs final decoration. To decorate a door arch, you can use the following techniques:

Painting to match the walls.
Sheathing with wood blocks (as an option, laminate, siding, etc. are often used for this).
Wallpapering.
Use artificial stone based on gypsum.
Decorate the structure with mirrors or mosaics (for mosaics you can use small pebbles, corks, glass, etc.).
Use foam molding or surface painting.

Important! Try not to overdo it, so as not to clutter the aisle and mix incompatible items. It is worth noting that sometimes a simple paint job is enough to add elegance.

As you can see, there are a lot of options for finishing decoration, for which you can use not only natural materials. It all depends on the designer’s idea and the wishes of the owners, as well as the general style of the room. The classic additional interior can be complemented with stucco molding and fabrics so that everything fits harmoniously together. The finishing of the columns looks no less laconic if clinker is glued to them.

Ready-made arch kits

If you are not sure about own strength, and the educational video lessons from the Internet are not entirely clear to you, you can make your life significantly easier by purchasing ready set to form an arch. Such kits can be made from different materials, have different design, color, design and texture, which will allow each person to find the most suitable option. The most suitable option is a set made of fiberboard or MDF. Such materials are very similar to wood, but are less complex to process and install. The ready-made standard interior arch kit includes.

You have decided to make a European-quality renovation, maximizing the living space, but demolish load-bearing partitions it is forbidden. The installation of arches is one of the solutions to this problem. Using a material such as drywall, you can successfully complete the job yourself in a short time.

Types and features of door arches

Before you start making an arch, you need to choose which configuration best matches the decoration, furniture and purpose of your room.

Arch configurations

There are seven main types of arches, differing in the upper outlines and the shape of the corners of the junction with the side vertical wall:

“Classic” - used for high openings in any interior and is an arc with a radius of half the width of the opening.
Classic arches are most often installed in long corridors or at the entrance to the kitchen
“Modern” - used for wide open openings and is characterized by a gentle bend of the arc, while the line of transition to the vertical is sharp and broken.
Arches of the “Modern” type are used in rooms with classical decoration; they are installed after dismantling the window and balcony block or as an entrance to the office
“Romance” - the top is horizontal, the corners are rounded, the opening is wide and low.
Arches of the “Romantic” type are made in wide and low openings
“Elliptical” - characterized by a slight gentle bend at the top.
An elliptical arch unites rooms where there are no height restrictions and looks softer than “Romantic”
"Trapezoid" - by trapezoidal shape the angles where the top meets the side slopes.
The "Trapezoid" configuration fits well with classic finishes
“Portal” is an outline in the shape of an elongated rectangle.
The “Portal” configuration looks like a long rectangle connecting rooms of low height, usually with wooden paneling
“Half-arch” - one side is completely vertical, the second is made in the form of a semicircle. Often used by designers in modern interiors: minimalism, hi-tech, art deco.
The “Half-Arch” configuration is a variant of the classic arch for low rooms

We select a suitable configuration and evaluate it visually by cutting out and securing the paper outline of the arch in the opening. After that, remove it and save it for cutting.

Choosing from a variety beautiful pictures, try to evaluate whether you can make such an arch yourself and whether your choice matches your available finances.

Preparing to make an arch

Before performing work, it is necessary to select the right materials and tools depending on the size of the opening, the type of wall or partition and its thickness.

Selection of materials

To make an arch you may need:

Plasterboard sheathing. Along the mounted frame, the arch is sheathed with 9.5 mm thick plasterboard, which provides strength and the ability to easily bend and cut out the desired shapes. For work, use sheets measuring 1200x2500 or 1200x3000 mm with the following markings:
Frame. It is most often made from galvanized ceiling, load-bearing (PN 60x27 mm) and corner (PU 27 mm) profiles with a length of 2400 or 2800 mm. There is a special arched profile that easily accepts any bend. Profiles are used for installation in all walls, excluding wooden or thin partitions, where it is preferable to use wooden bars or strips. For small openings, plywood can be used.
For the manufacture of the frame, profiles for various purposes are used
Fastening elements:
Materials for preparing for finishing after installing drywall. Reinforcement of joints, which prevents cracking and imparts strength, is carried out with special lining paper, fiberglass mesh or perforated corner. The final finishing, elimination of seams and cracks is done with acrylic or gypsum putty, cleaning is done with fine, medium and coarse sandpaper.
To reinforce corners and large recesses at joints, use fiberglass mesh and perforated corners

Tools required for work

The following tools are prepared according to the work being carried out:

Preparing the opening

We carry out the following preparatory work:

Video: preparing the opening

DIY arch installation

Let's look at the installation technology using the example of a classic type arch. First, let's cut the drywall:

Using a knife or jigsaw, carefully cut out the front part of the casing along the drawn line. Then we mark it and cut out the second part.

A high-quality and even cut is obtained when using a jigsaw. Other tools can damage the edges. To prevent damage to the edges, before cutting, place wide paper tape on the cutting line.

Installation of a profile frame

The opening most often has a geometric irregular shape. We draw a level line on the walls of the opening, and from it we mark the bottom of the frame elements and the front linings to ensure the alignment of the upper cladding of the arch.

The method of performing work is determined by the prepared profile:

We install the ceiling profile, framing the top of the opening on both sides, retreating from the plane of the walls inward by the thickness of the drywall. We measure the length of the side profiles using the cut out front plasterboard lining.
We mount the profile on the top of the opening
According to the length of the arc of the front stitching, we cut off two pieces of the profile corner.
We take one of them and use metal scissors to make parallel cuts to the corner of the shelf, 3–5 cm apart.
We make cuts on one shelf of the corner, which will allow you to easily bend the profile
Carefully bending, with the notched side we screw a section of the corner with a pitch of 120 mm with self-tapping screws to the arched edge of the plasterboard front part.
Carefully bend the profile and screw it to the cut out plasterboard arch
We just bend the second piece of the corner along it.
We sew on the front part with a screwed corner, fastening it with self-tapping screws to the perimeter frame in increments of 120 mm.
The front part is attached to the frame with self-tapping screws
We cut lintels from the ceiling profile with a length equal to the thickness of the opening minus 15 millimeters, and install them every 200–250 mm.
At the ends of the jumpers, use metal scissors to cut off 20 mm from the rack part of the profile, leaving the lower flat part. We attach the jumpers to the screwed corner, retreating 5 mm from the edge attached to the drywall.
Jumpers from the profile are prepared for installation by cutting off the side rack part
We attach the remaining curved corner to the second end of the jumper with a whole shelf and install the second front lining.
We mount the jumpers, attach the second corner to them and screw the second front part

Video: flexible profile for gypsum boards

Arched profile frame

According to its characteristics, the arched profile is more plastic and stronger than the corner. It is used for fastening curved elements:

Installation of a frame made of wooden blocks

Constant changes occur with a wooden frame - unlike a metal frame, it reacts to seasonal deformations of the building, changes in humidity and temperature. If you sew drywall onto a wooden frame directly, over time cracks will appear at the joints caused by deformations at the fastening points. To overcome this drawback, plywood is used as an intermediate material, which gives the structure additional rigidity, and plasterboard is already mounted on it. The frame is attached directly to the front of the plywood arch. The work is performed in the following order:

We calculate the dimensions of the sheathing using the formula 2 thickness of gypsum board + 2 thickness of plywood.
We subtract the resulting figure from the thickness of the opening to obtain the width of the frame bar. If it turns out to be more than 120 mm, which corresponds to the average width of the board, we make a frame from a double 40x40 bar with insertion of bosses. To do this, we connect the cut bars with two bosses every 150 mm.
Using the cut out front surfaces of plasterboard, we make the same figures from plywood 3–4 mm thick.
We screw them with self-tapping screws to the bars - first to those framing the rectangular parts, and then to the stiffening ribs parallel to the sides - vertically, every 120 mm.
We attach wooden blocks to the front lining of the plywood arch
We install plywood lining with a wooden frame at the top of the opening, deeper than the plane of the wall to the thickness of the plasterboard.
We install a frame with bosses sewn onto plywood into the opening
We cover the opposite side with a second plywood sheathing.
We check the ratio of the curved sides with a level, a construction square, and trim or clean it with sandpaper.
We screw the second front plywood lining onto the frame

Laying communications

If the design project involves the installation of lamps, we lay the cable along the mounted structures to the installation location of each light source and secure it so that the end of the cable hangs over the lower plane.

The cable is attached to the structures, the ends extend beyond the plane of the filing

After striping the strip and finishing it, the holes are cut out with a crown and the lamps are installed.

Holes of the required diameter are cut out in the lower strip of the arch, into which lamps will subsequently be installed.

Drywall installation

We cover the finished frames with plasterboard:

made from an arched profile - on both sides along the finished frame;
from wooden blocks - on top of plywood. If there is no cut arc in the prepared rectangles, we do it locally, focusing on the lower edge of the plywood;
on metal frame facial coverings are installed during its assembly.

Then we check that the curved cuts correspond to each other with a level or a construction angle, and level them by running a float with attached medium-grain sandpaper several times simultaneously along the bottom of both sides.

After sewing up the front sides, we sew drywall onto the bottom of the arc:

We make accurate measurements of the length of the curved part of the front surface.
We cut out a strip of plasterboard 100 mm longer than the measured distance and a width corresponding to the distance between the front surfaces.
We apply marks on the prepared strip at the locations of the jumpers and lamps.
We drill holes for the lamps.

We sheathe the arched bottom with this strip, doing the work in one of two ways:

“Dry” - we make parallel cuts every 50 mm for half the thickness of the sheet and fasten it to the frame from the center of the arc with self-tapping screws with a pitch of 100 mm.
We make cuts on one side of the stitching, bend the strip and secure it
"Wet":
- Using a special roller with needles, we pass the side without markings several times. If there is no roller, randomly use a knife to make shallow cuts 20–30 mm long, every 15 mm, across the entire surface;
  We use a special roller to make punctures in the plasterboard strip
- if possible, we make a U-shaped box from boards according to the size of the opening;
- moisten the treated side with a sponge and water;
  To obtain an accurate and even bend, the strip must be laid on a pre-assembled box
- after 40 minutes, screw the finally curved strip from the center of the arc onto self-tapping screws;
- trim off excess length.

If there is no box, you can lean the strip against the wall with the wet side down, and after starting to bend, re-wet it.

The wet bending method is more difficult, but it gives a more even surface on which you only need to putty the screws.

Video: methods of bending the bottom strip of sewing

Making vaults by gluing

Work can be performed on a partition of medium thickness:

Pre-finishing

A perforated corner is installed on drywall joints for reinforcement

Mix the putty in small portions - acrylic or gypsum based.

Using a spatula, apply it to the joint between the drywall and the main walls and smooth it, comparing the surfaces. If the unevenness is significant, apply the putty 2-3 times, waiting for the applied layer to dry.

If the unevenness is deep, the putty is applied in several layers.

We putty the screw heads, joints, glued paper, perforated corner.

Having sealed the existing seams, potholes and strengthened the reinforcing materials, we leave the coating to dry.

After drying, carefully clean all irregularities with medium-grain sandpaper, being careful not to damage the reinforcing layer.

We wash the surface with a damp sponge.

Apply a thin layer finishing putty, we eliminate irregularities.

After drying, smooth again with medium-grain sandpaper and wipe with a sponge.

After each layer of putty has dried, the surface is sanded with medium-grain sandpaper.

Apply the last, third thin continuous layer, trying not to scratch the surface with a spatula.

Leave to dry for 12 hours.

We polish the surface.

If there is no reinforcing corner and paper, after applying the first layer of putty, unwind a roll of fiberglass mesh of the required width, cut off the required length, press it with a spatula, fix it at the corner, cut the wrinkles of the mesh on the arched surface and place its ends on top of each other.

Glue the mesh to the corner on a layer of putty

If the bending was done using a dry method, the bends from the cuts will most likely be slightly visible.. In this case, for leveling, we additionally apply another continuous layer of acrylic putty. After drying, sand and apply finishing putty.

We also independently replaced the door with an arch in our apartment old layout. The first difficulty was that the entrance to the hall with a double door 1600x3000 mm was located on the corner, close to the entrance door. A large open doorway into a small room, where people enter in street shoes and clothes, was not suitable. After lengthy debate, we decided that we would make a semi-arch in a semicircle towards entrance doors to build up a blank wall into the corridor. Height - 2500 mm, arch radius - 1500 mm. We sew up the opening above the 2500 mm mark and 1000 mm from the floor on the side of the arc, and in the rest of the space we make stained glass. The old partition was made of double shingled boards and plastered, the opening was only 90mm thick. We framed the entire old opening with a 60x10mm planed batten on all sides, above 2540 mm we made a frame from it for the blind lining of the wall. We bought an arched metal profile 3000 mm long. A quarter circle with a radius of 1500 mm was drawn on an old cardboard refrigerator packaging. The profile was bent along it and installed in place, securing it to the upper frame under the wall lining. At a height of 1000 mm from the floor, a side frame was completed from the lath for lining the wall, secured to the profile and lath on the opening. Based on the measurements of the frames and the drawn quarter circle, the upper and lower linings were cut out of plasterboard and secured to the frames with self-tapping screws. We measured the profile that remained uncovered and, using it and the semicircle drawing, we marked and cut out arc linings from plasterboard 60 mm high, aligned with the profile along the bottom of the arc. Pieces 15 mm long were cut from a 60 mm lath and secured to a bent profile at 150 mm intervals. We attached the side plasterboard linings to the profile. Then we bought 6 corners for tiling and 3 plastic panels of the same beech color. We lined all the openings and the bottom of the arc with panels using tile corners. Before this, we completely puttyed and leveled the plasterboard linings with the wall, covering the joints with fiberglass mesh. To ensure that the putty lays evenly, I advise you to completely prime the drywall. acrylic composition. The final touch is purchasing the slats plastic holder beech colors for glass, sticking it to liquid nails and glazing. The only thing I regret is that after exchanging the apartment, the hard drive on the computer burned out and there were no photographs left of the resulting miracle, which I am proud of.

Finishing

There are many design solutions fine finishing. Take your time to look at them. When making your final choice, have full confidence that you will be able to complete the work yourself and handle the financial issues. After that, feel free to realize your fantasies. You will succeed.

Video: DIY plasterboard arch

Making an arched opening with your own hands is quite possible. It is important to work carefully and know what you want to get as a result.

Often the interior passage in an apartment is not closed with a door, but left open. This allows you to elegantly unite the space and make the interior design of the rooms more elegant. To do this, you can purchase a ready-made structure from assembled elements or cut out individual parts with your own hands and then assemble everything in the doorway. But how to make an arch yourself so that it looks smooth and beautiful? After all, there are a lot of materials and technologies for installation; you need to choose wisely.

Designer arch

What arches can be installed in an apartment?

Installation arched design In place of an interior door can be done without the involvement of professional builders. You just need to choose the type of arch and materials for its manufacture. Following the step-by-step instructions below will help you avoid mistakes and make an arch with your own hands.

Arch curves can be the most bizarre

Design features and significant differences

In construction, arched structures are supports for overlying elements of walls and structures. But in apartments, doorways to the corridor and between rooms are not load-bearing. In the first case construction materials are selected based on serious external loads, and in the second they must support only their own weight along with the finishing.

Arch with bar counter

An apartment door arch, installed instead of a door, is an element of interior design. Its frame can be made from a lightweight profile for gypsum boards or bars with a cross-section of 20–30 mm. This design can easily withstand the weight of finishing materials. You just need to firmly fix it on the walls so that the decor does not warp or fall off after a couple of weeks.

Reference! In private houses and city apartments, an open door arch between rooms serves exclusively decorative functions. Bearing loads in this case are placed on concrete walls on the side or a lintel above the opening.

Finished plastic arch

Shapes of arched openings and their capabilities

There are many options for arranging interior arches in shape:

"Classic".
"Romance".
"Modern".
"Ellipse".
"Trapezoid".
"Portal".

The most popular types of interior arches

The first option at the top has the shape of a regular semicircle, and the last one has strict rectangular outlines throughout its entire height. The rest are intermediate versions between them. But other variations are also possible with one side “support” or two curved posts.

The shape of the door arch and its design are chosen to match the design style of the room. This takes into account the height of the ceiling, the size of the opening and the features of the rooms on both sides. In some houses, classic shapes with a regular curve in the form of a semicircle will look ideal, while in others - a rectangular portal. This is more a matter of the taste of the home owners and the general style of interior decor. Some people even prefer cone-shaped contours.

Classic version It is recommended to choose only with high ceilings in the region of 3 meters and above.
In typical panel high-rise buildings, it is better to design the entrance to the kitchen with a “MODERN” arch.
For a wide doorway from the hall to the corridor, “ROMANTIC” with large wide racks is more suitable.
The rectangular “PORTAL” looks best in an interior where clear horizontal and vertical lines predominate in the decoration. This type of doorway design is ideal for houses made of timber or logs. In such a home, its rectangular corners will look elegant and fit the theme as much as possible.

Classic in the interior

What to build a designer doorway from with your own hands

To quickly make an arch in the doorway of an apartment, it is enough to purchase a set of prefabricated elements made of plastic or laminated chipboard lumber. They must be cut to the desired height and then secured in the places specified according to the instructions. But such options are standard and quite expensive. Plus - not every opening can be fitted with a ready-made model with the right sizes.

Components of an interior arched system

To make panels of arched posts and arches you will need one of the following materials:

drywall;
plywood;

Advice! It is better to choose plasterboard sheets for covering the frame. GCR can later be finished with a large number of different materials. However, thin plywood is much easier to bend.

Finished veneered arch

The frame for an interior arch can be made:

from metal profile;
from wooden blocks 20x20 and 30x30 mm.

Brick decoration is ideal for connecting a balcony

You can also make an arch instead of a door from concrete, brick or aerated concrete blocks, and only then decorate them with one or another finishing material. But these options are more for those who like capitalism and solidity. Plus they weigh a lot, in old apartments apartment buildings It is impossible to build anything from them.

The use of metal is limited not only by its weight, but also by its high cost. Manufacturing metal structures of complex shapes at home is a very difficult project to implement in practice. The easiest way to do it yourself is to work with drywall and its profile.

Step-by-step instructions for self-installation

The photos and recommendations below will allow even a novice master to cope with the improvement of a doorway. To do this, you first need to create a frame, and then sheathe it and decorate it. You can do everything yourself, you just need to do everything consistently and without mistakes.

Scheme of a plasterboard arch

Preparing the doorway

First, the leaf and frame of the existing door (if it exists and is in place) are dismantled.
Then the opening is expanded to the planned dimensions.
There is no need to plaster the cut walls under the frame; they will still be covered with sheathing. It is enough to straighten them and remove everything that can fall off (plaster, pieces of concrete, falling bricks). The main thing is that the supporting profile can be secured securely and in a strictly vertical position without tilting.
If you are planning a backlit design, then you need to install the wiring in advance.
Measurements are always taken at several points in the opening so as not to miscalculate the dimensions.
If the walls are uneven, then the thickness of the racks (depth of the arch) is selected according to the thickest place.
To simplify marking and cutting sheet material To cover the arched frame, you need to make a life-size template from cardboard. This will allow you to avoid mistakes and preview how the contours of the structure being formed will look.

Important point! The upper part of the arch takes about 10–15 cm away from the height of the doorway. At least 20 cm should remain from it to the ceiling. When calculating and marking, these numbers must be taken into account.

Fastening the guides

Creating a load-bearing frame

To make a frame for an arch, you first need to create a main contour from a profile around the perimeter of the opening, fixing it to the walls.
Then the upper curved part of the frame system will be attached to it. Sometimes only a curved element is made on top, but this is only possible with perfectly smooth slopes.
Vertical guides in the doorway are attached with an indentation from the plane of the interior wall by the thickness of the plasterboard sheet plus 2 mm for subsequent plaster on top of it.
After plastering you should have a single, flat surface.
On each side and at the top of the arch being created, you will need to secure two such profiles parallel to each other.

Advice! If the walls are made of wood, then self-tapping screws are sufficient to attach the guides, but in the case of concrete or brick, dowel screws will be required. The spacing between fasteners should not exceed 30 cm.

If the columns of the arch are made of small thickness, then two arches can be easily replaced with a wide profile. All cutting and bending manipulations in this case are carried out according to a similar pattern. However, transverse installation will no longer be necessary. When using wooden blocks instead of a profile, the frame for the arch is made using a similar technology. Only the original carrier material changes frame structure.

Two ways to bend plasterboard sheet

Rough sheathing of the frame

After completing the assembly of the arch frame, all that remains is to mount the gypsum board or wood board on it. To give plywood or fiberboard the desired shape, they will have to be pre-moistened, fixed on a template and steamed with a hot iron.

Ideally, you need to use a special arched plasterboard, reinforced on both sides with non-woven fiberglass. It is enough to stretch it in the longitudinal direction and give it the desired shape.

There are two ways to bend a regular plasterboard sheet: wet and dry.

Wet technology involves soaking back side GCR with water and gradually bending it onto a template of the required shape and fixing it on it. This process is lengthy, haste can lead to rupture of the cardboard layer of the sheet. And the resulting part can be installed and secured with self-tapping screws on the arch frame only after the plaster has completely dried.

Advice! It is possible to speed up the process of moistening gypsum board to give it elasticity using a needle roller.

The dry method involves making parallel cuts on one side of the sheet, which affect the plaster and the upper outer layer of cardboard. But the front cardboard layer remains intact. The bend is smooth and of the correct shape.

Installation of the main element of the arch

Cutting sheet material is best done with a jigsaw. When using a hacksaw, the cutting edges will certainly be less even. The sheathing is fastened with self-tapping screws in increments of 5–6 cm. After fixing it, the edges of the plasterboard and plywood sheets. And then a special one is attached to the curved edge to protect it from chipping. plastic corner with perforation.

GKL fastening

Putty for perfect surface leveling

The next stage of finishing a plasterboard arch is primer and putty. After applying the first one, you need to wait until it dries. And fiberglass mesh is used to reinforce the second layer. The corners are also reinforced and leveled using a mesh.

The edges must be smooth

Surface putty

Putty joint with wall

Mesh reinforcement

Edge reinforcement with mesh

Next, apply the third finishing layer. The putty, which has hardened after 10-2 hours, is sanded with sandpaper to remove excess and make the surface as smooth as possible. There should be no protruding screw heads or dents left on it.

This is what the arch should look like

Decoration of the structure and design techniques

You can finally decorate the arch in the apartment with your own hands and make it beautiful:

painting in color with the walls;
wood paneling or plastic panels;
wallpapering or veneering;
finishing with decorative stone on a gypsum base;
decoration with mosaics and mirrors;
decorating using stucco or ready-made columns.

Simple finish with backlight

Materials in finishing Interior arches are used both natural and artificial. The choice here depends on the general design idea for apartment interior design. To improve the doorway, you can use polyurethane stucco molding and even textiles. All options are acceptable, the main thing is that they are in harmony with the surrounding decor.

Shelves in the design of an arched passage to the corridor

Framing columns made of clinker or decorative stone looks original and stylish. Manual installation will require time and diligence, but the result will certainly please the master. The uniqueness of the apartment with this method of decoration is guaranteed.

Decor artificial stone

Decorating the arch with natural wood will bring solidity and elegance to the house, and the mosaic pattern invented by the owners will add uniqueness to the decor. The main thing is not to overdo it with the design, making the design a tasteless heap of elements of different styles. All interior details should be in harmony with each other and complement each other.

Stucco columns in arched doorway with wide walls

Often conventionally painted white or brown It’s quite enough to complete the design, making the arch with your own hands beautiful and elegant. However, some require built-in lighting and additional decorative elements in accordance with the style chosen for the apartment. It will take more time to finish the arched opening, but it will be worth it.

Decor with corner and wallpaper

Install and design yourself interior arch instead of a door it's easy. For work, it is enough to have metal scissors, a screwdriver and a hacksaw in the house. But if you have no experience in handling these tools, it is better to trust professional installers.

To transform your interior and add some zest to it, you can make an arch from plasterboard. This design inspires respect and makes you think, because it seems that it is simply impossible to do it on your own. But all fears and worries are completely unfounded. If you wish, using the step-by-step instructions below, you can do it in an apartment or house. And also figure out which material will be preferable in each specific case.

First of all, you need to understand what such a structure is. An arch is one of the elements in architecture that is characterized by curvilinearity. The place of creation is through or blind openings and spans. For greater effect, it can be complemented with various decorative elements.

There are various types arches:

Classic – characterized by smoothness of shape. Has equilateral rounding.
Semi-arch - has only one rounded corner. Is modern solution for newfangled trends in the interior.
A trapezoid is a complex shape made of curved lines.

Of course, there are many more species (see photo).

It will be better if a template is made before starting work. It is very easy to make from ordinary cardboard or fiberboard. This way, you can immediately understand what the object will look like and which rounding is preferable.

Working with wood requires the most increased attention. In this case, no error should be allowed. Various species are suitable for production, but pine is most often used as a fairly durable and cheap material.

Need to know! Before working with wood, you need to make sure it is well dried. Otherwise, no instructions will help, drying out and warping will begin. It will be impossible to correct the situation.

Not everyone likes pine as a finishing material, but this is easy to fix. For finishing works can be used valuable species wood (oak, beech, mahogany) or cheaper veneer.

Manufacturing process

In general, any work with natural wood, if there is no experience, is better to entrust to specialists. When creating an interior opening in a house or apartment, you need to proceed from real possibilities.

There are several design options for this material:

typesetting
The arched opening is made by assembling different fragments (small parts). That is, using the pressing method, rounded elements are created, which are then joined together (gluing, twisting). This is a rather painstaking process that requires many tools. Allows you to avoid the occurrence of deformations.
Making a wooden arch
One-piece designs
They are literally made from a single piece of wood (timber). Preferably from hard rocks tree. Often, such a structure serves as an “internal” frame, which is subjected to external processing.

Installation

To install an arched structure, you must adhere to the following rules:

The installation site is carefully prepared, all excess is removed, and the surface is puttied.
Prepare in advance necessary tool- each case is individual.
Mounting occurs in several stages:
is created load-bearing frame;
elements are laid and connected;
external cladding is being done.
After this, they begin finishing: varnish or paint.
Shortcomings lead to formation empty seats– they are puttied or foamed, but this will be an obvious drawback.

This option would be preferable if you want wood to be the material, but natural wood use is not possible. In addition, making a plywood arch with your own hands is quite simple.

Preparation

A detailed sketch is created. To do this, all necessary measurements of the opening are taken. This allows you to create a visual project and immediately calculate the necessary materials and accessories.
The installation site is also prepared. Everything unnecessary is removed in advance and, if necessary, trimmed.
Preparing the instrument:
hacksaw or jigsaw with files;
drill and screwdriver;
sandpaper and block;
finishing tool.

You need to understand that plywood is a rather unique material. With its help you can create magnificent designs; it is distinguished by its strength and increased flexibility.

The first way to use plywood

The technology is as follows:

Measure the opening. Immediately note what size the arc should be.
A strip is cut from a sheet of plywood, the edges are well processed.
This fragment is slightly moistened and waited for a while.
Now this material will take almost any shape.
The strip is bent and immediately inserted into the desired opening - fastened, do not forget to install spacers in the corners.

You need to wait until the plywood is completely dry. At this time, it will finally take the form of an arc. Next, they act in two ways:

Inserts are made from wooden beams. The surface is covered with plasterboard.
Polyurethane foam is used. Open areas they just foam. After complete drying, remove protruding areas of swollen material. In order for a plywood arch to take on a decorative appearance, the surface is completely puttied and covered with paint or varnish.

The second method is more complicated

It will be similar to working with gypsum board. Is as follows:

The distance between opposite sides of the opening is measured. The required height of the arch is measured.
All this is transferred to a sheet of plywood. It should be of such a size that it covers the walls by another 10-15 centimeters - you will need two sheets of these.
An arc is drawn along three points.
Use a jigsaw to cut out unnecessary things. The first sheet is used as a stencil for the second. The operation is repeated.
Both segments are installed in a stationary place. They are fixed - jumpers are made between them. The main thing is to install them correctly. In this case, the thickness of the material from which the arc will be made is measured. That is, if the thickness is 6 mm, then the jumpers should be installed from the edge of the arc at the same distance (+ 1-2 mm).
Select a material for the arc (gypsum plasterboard or plywood) - bend it and install it.
Finishing work is being carried out.

There is another way to create an arch from plywood, but it requires time and tools. Its essence lies in the fact that the internal filling of the arch is made from cut-out plywood fragments. Namely, filling occurs like a sandwich. But this method allows you to adjust the immersion depth of each subsequent arc. Thus, it is possible to create a wavy (relief) structure.

Drywall arch

How to make a plasterboard arch with your own hands? There's nothing complicated about it. This material is somewhat reminiscent of plywood, but it is easier to work with and much cheaper.

It’s great when you manage to combine several construction work: erecting walls and creating an arch from plasterboard. Then you can carry out installation with minimal finishing work.

There are two ways to use drywall, but it all starts with preparatory work:

It is necessary to ensure that the work area is cleared of all unnecessary things ( door frames, platbands, decorative elements).
If there are cracks or chips, they are repaired. Yes, the arch design will hide everything, but it’s better to avoid unpleasant consequences.
The necessary tools are being prepared.
A preliminary design is being created.

Method one - on a metal frame

This is a very fast and quite popular method that allows you to make a plasterboard arch in your house or apartment.

A wooden frame is made using a similar principle. Only there more attention needs to be paid to the jumpers on which the arc will be attached.

To better understand how to make an interior arch from plasterboard, watch this video:

The second method is typesetting

More difficult option. The principle is:

From the corner of the opening, on both sides, they begin to secure the gypsum board sections. To do this, mix PVA and water.
Each next piece is smaller than the previous one.
So, until the smallest segment is secured.
Additionally, they are reinforced with self-tapping screws and anchors.

The hard part is coming. Namely, using a putty mixture to form a smooth arc. It's not that easy, it's better to prepare templates in advance.

As you can see, there are many ways you can use different materials and technology. Not all of them are suitable for work that can be done with your own hands. But if there is a desire, then following certain rules will allow you to create a magnificent design.

Main characteristic feature arches - they always look advantageous in both classic and modern interiors. This architectural element allows you to visually combine several rooms, which to some extent softens the overall impression of small apartments.

An arch in the kitchen is very practical, because with the advent of powerful hoods, the need for a door completely disappeared. The same element, installed in the opening leading to a warm loggia, actually unifies the space and makes the adjacent room noticeably more spacious. Thanks to the expansion of the opening, it is also possible to increase the degree of insolation, which is important.

In this article we will tell you how to make an arch in a doorway yourself from different materials.

Types of arches

Immediately before you start, you must decide what shape your arch will be. Accurate and correct selection This option will ensure harmony in the overall appearance of the apartment and combine aesthetics with practicality.

When choosing the type of arch, you need to take into account the following points:

room height;
the width of the existing opening;
the material from which the walls are made.

So a regular (semicircular) arch does not look good in a room where the distance from floor to ceiling is 250 cm, unless the opening is narrow (up to 70 cm). This This option fits perfectly into high rooms (3 meters or more).

A classic arch should have a bend equal in depth to ½ the width of the opening. That is, if the last one is 80 centimeters, then the radius of the arch will be 40.

If there is a wide passage and low ceilings, it is advisable to build a straight portal; the arched element here will look too unnatural. Alternatively, it can be narrowed by placing open shelving on the sides (or only on one side).

The easiest way is to choose the shape of the arch if you are just planning to build a wall. Here the choice is practically unlimited. Openings can be wavy or trapezoidal. It is permissible to make it completely round in the Asian style.

Materials

In reality, an arch can be easily built from a variety of materials:

brick;
wood;
Chipboard and MDF;
metal;
drywall;
plywood;
plastic.

In apartment conditions, capital arches are not erected, and therefore they are most often made of wood, gypsum board or plastic.

Preparatory work

First of all, you should clear the opening from old door. It is dismantled along with the box. The internal surfaces are cleaned of solution residues, dusted and thoroughly primed. If there are irregularities, they are eliminated.

Next comes the time to determine what type of arch in your particular case fits better everything. To do this, you can cut out several options from cardboard and, attaching them to the opening, see what will look more harmonious.

If you don’t want to tinker with it yourself for a long time, purchase a ready-made arched portal at a hardware store. Products made from the following materials are currently available:

plastic;
tree.

The last option will cost the most.

Lining

It is not difficult to build an arch if the room is decorated with clapboard. In this case, however, you will have to install it on the wall of the adjacent room, but such accent elements are very popular today.

In this case, the base of the arch is cut out from chipboard (no thinner than 18 mm). It must fit clearly within the dimensions of the opening. It is strengthened there using scraps of bars installed across the sidewalls. Then the walls are sheathed decorative strips, cut to shape. The internal vault is sealed with either flexible plywood or pieces of clapboard. You can install lighting here, but only LED bulbs are allowed.

Drywall

To veneer the gypsum board opening correctly, it is necessary to knock off a layer of plaster from the wall above the future arch - this will allow the sheet to be placed flush with it. The plasterboard blank is cut out so that it protrudes above the opening by at least 15 cm, on the sides - by 5 on each side.

The profile will only be needed to stiffen the circle itself. To do this, take the UD type. In it, using scissors, cuts are made at least every 20 mm, so that only one remains intact. side wall. As a result, you will get a flexible part that can be easily adjusted to the shape of the arch.

In a rectangle prepared from plasterboard, whose size is 15 cm larger than the future arch in height and 10 in width, mark two points 50 mm from the edge.

Next, using a pencil on a string, draw the outline of the bend, holding the end of the string in the center of the bottom edge of the piece of plasterboard, starting from one of the above-mentioned marks. If the arch is made incorrectly (flat), then the place where the thread is fixed is moved below the edge of the workpiece.

Then, along the drawn line, the drywall is cut with a jigsaw or an ordinary hacksaw blade for metal (not suitable for wood - too large teeth severely damage the edge). It is advisable to put two blanks together at once and cut out the excess in one fell swoop.

The profile is screwed to the rounded end of the gypsum board with self-tapping screws, not reaching the edge 1.5 cm, so that the strip with which you will seal the arch along the end “sinks.”

Next, the surface of the wall, freed from plaster and primed, is covered with a layer of glue (Perlfix is the best) using a notched trowel. The gypsum board part is pressed against it and lightly slammed with the palm of your hand. Additionally, it is fixed with several dowels. On the other side of the wall, a second arch element is installed.

When the glue dries, jumpers are installed between the profiles for rigidity. The end is sheathed with a strip of plasterboard, cut across from the inside, every 2 centimeters and broken.

All seams are sealed special glue(Fügenfüller) and covered with fiberglass. The edges are protected with a flexible corner. The sides of the opening are also lined with gypsum plasterboard strips and reinforced.

The last stage of work is puttying and painting.