Arches are quite popular in interior design. In almost every stylistic direction of housing, you can find your own unique form of construction. Lancet arch is used to create a unique oriental or gothic interior.
Role in history
Lancet arches were originally decorated with medieval castles in the Gothic style, as well as eastern palaces. The element played not only a decorative role, but also served to redistribute the load of the floor, reduced the vertical reaction of the supports and thereby reduced the pressure on the foundation.
The design feature of the arched lancet arch made it possible to significantly lighten the weight of the walls. That is why the floors were used at all levels of the building and were often mounted as a doorway. At the peak of popularity in the form of lancet arches, window openings could take shape.
Arch design
Lancet arch has its own unique design, which distinguishes it from the rest. It has a pointed arch and sloping sides. Its shape can be either simple or complex, depending on the stylistic orientation of the design.
An arch of unusual shape is the main decoration of the interior, so the rest of the decoration of the room may differ in modesty. The pointed arch is intended for rooms with high ceilings, only in this case can it emphasize the majesty of the interior.
How to build a pointed arch
The construction of the pointed arch in the classic version begins with a schematic drawing, on which the dimensions of the structure are indicated. Then the material is determined to create the architectural element. After that, an approximate amount of the required building material for the structure is calculated.
To date, the most popular wooden lancet arch, and the design made of drywall is not far behind. The latter is easy to build and does not require special financial costs, while wooden structures require a lot of time to create.
The creation of a lancet interior of gypsum plasterboard occurs in several stages:
- The metal profile is cut along the sides to give softness and the possibility of forming an arch.
- The desired shape of the arch is formed from the profile and fixed using long screws.
- The metal profile is sheathed with plasterboard cut in shape.
- Finishing work is being carried out.
This design option can be completely performed at home without the use of special building skills.
Materials for building an arch
The material for the manufacture of the arch must meet the stylistic design of the room. The most commonly used building materials are:
- The stone is a rather independent part of the interior, which does not need additional decoration. Stone imitation tiles can be used to decorate arches from other materials.
- Wood looks as natural and natural as possible in any interior. The disadvantages include only the high cost of the material, which varies depending on the type of wood.
- Drywall is the most affordable and popular material for decorating arches of any kind. With it, you can create designs of all shapes and sizes. The finished design can be decorated depending on the interior design of the room.
- Polyurethane refers to fully synthetic materials that withstand high humidity and ultraviolet. The advantages include ease of installation.
The choice of material for creating arches in the Gothic style depends on the personal wishes of the person and his financial capabilities.
Stylistic direction
As mentioned above, the lancet arch is an interior item that is used in the Gothic or Oriental style. It is often decorated with mosaics or stained glass windows, which are designed to become the center of attention of the entire interior of the room.
In order to create a gothic style with a lancet arch, it is important to use other interior elements and compositions. For example, the pointed arches of the doorways in combination with the individual design of the door itself will help to realize the unique atmosphere in the room. In addition, forged elements and massive wooden furniture will help to emphasize Gothic sophistication. Specific accessories are used: candlesticks, crystal chandeliers, paintings in large frames. They will help to emphasize the uniqueness of the lancet arches of stained-glass windows made on the arch of the structure or the windows of the room.
In the eastern style of interior design, pointed arches are also often used, but, unlike the Gothic, they are decorated with curly carvings and design complexity. Carpets, upholstered furniture with wooden elements and accessories in oriental style will help to emphasize oriental notes.
Why do we need arches in the house?
The versatility of arches is able to both delimit the space of a room, and combine it into one. By combining the rooms, you can create the effect of a studio apartment with unlimited space. In addition, the design is able to divide a large living room into zones.
In practical terms, the installation of arches instead of interior doors is justified in small apartments, where every centimeter of road space. The bulky door takes up a lot of space, and the arch, in turn, looks compact and neat. In addition, with its help you can combine two rooms into one, for example, a kitchen with a living room.
An architectural element can be either simple or complex - it all depends on the desired result in the interior design. In some cases, complex structures with arches can open an overview of several rooms at once.
Where are arches used?
The practical and decorative purpose of lancet arches is multifaceted; they can be used to frame:
- Door and window openings - a design solution aimed at creating an individual style. The nuance is that doors and windows will need to be made to order, which will entail considerable costs.
- Zoning with arches is a well-known design move to increase the space of rooms. Using arched structures, you can visually increase the space, while maintaining the privacy of each zone.
- Design transition zones, for example, small narrow corridors. In this case, the ceiling arch repeats the pointed shape of the arch. This way of decorating rooms is suitable exclusively for rooms with high ceilings, as it visually reduces the space.
- Decorating with simulated arches can be used in rooms of any size. Bookshelves and accessories are often placed inside the false vault.
Modern interior designers will help to match the appearance of the arch to the configuration of a particular home. At the same time, the space will not visually decrease, and in some cases even increase.