Interior arches made of plastic - finishing ideas

Decorating the interior of your home can take a lot of time. Of course, you will have to spend effort and money on this matter, as well as money - without this you can’t go anywhere. However, this process is still very exciting and interesting. You have a chance to show your creativity and turn your design ideas into reality.

In the interiors of modern apartments, arches are often used

That is why many people try to carry out finishing work inside a house or apartment on their own - if there is such an opportunity. For example, any good owner is interested in how to decorate an arch with plastic. Such decorative structures are becoming more and more common, therefore, they require high-quality, aesthetic cladding.

Why are plastic arches needed?

You can make an arch from plasterboard or make a rectangular opening, making do with plaster of the passage. But in both cases, the arched structure is not finished. Therefore, it is lined, emphasizing the curves and shapes of the opening. It is made from various materials:

Plastic products are common and popular. Plastic moldings are characterized by a wide range of colors and a choice of shapes. Products made of wood and metal are difficult to install, including the difficulty of choosing a shape for the arch configuration.

Decorating is only one purpose, although it is the main one. Plastic linings on the arched structure ensure reliability in case of mechanical damage. The edges of the opening are susceptible to abrasion, which can subsequently cause mechanical damage.

Plastic products have a number of advantages.

• Moisture resistance. Resistance to moisture allows the use of plastic products to decorate rooms of varying degrees of humidity.
• Practicality. They will not require frequent and thorough care.
• Durability. During the period of operation, plastic products retain their original appearance. So, the average service life is 15-20 years. With gentle handling of the material, the service life can reach 30 or 40 years.
• Resistance to strong temperature changes. Both relatively low and high temperatures will not affect the quality of the material.
• Fire resistant. Plastic does not burn, but melts when exposed to open flame. Even with strong heating, it will not ignite due to the special structure of the chemical elements.

These simple advantages of using plastic arches suggest that they can be used to decorate a house beautifully and reliably.

How to attach

If the evenness of the base of the opening allows, the plastic product can be fixed with your own hands using liquid nails. It is not recommended to use a mechanical method (self-tapping screws or screws with dowels), as this can lead to damage to the material, and therefore damage to the entire structure.

As a result, the quality of the result will depend on the properties of liquid nails and the correct manufacturing of the product.

A good alternative, especially if the base is uneven, is polyurethane foam. It perfectly fills voids and holds the material well after expansion. However, in this case, you need to act carefully, since an insufficient amount of material will cause fragility of the structure, and an excess will cause its deformation.

How to decorate

Finally, it is worth noting the decorating stage. Arches made of plastic can have an original appearance not only due to the color of the material and the shape of the product, but also through the use of decorative elements:

• metal surface;
• panels with imitation leather or other natural materials;
• spectacular stucco molding;
• textile;
• mosaic;
• others.

The design can be complemented by stained glass windows in the transom located above the opening. As a result, the arch will become an excellent transition from one room to another.

Plastic arches in the interior

The purpose and advantages of arched structures lined with plastic are clear.

Molding to match the door color

Arches are a unique use of a doorway and an economical use of space. Plastic moldings are suitable for various stylistic trends. So, one type of arch goes well with two different rooms, decorated with different materials. We combine plastic with stone, wood or wallpaper.

The purpose of the arched structure and open doorway is to unite two rooms, which cannot be achieved by using doors. If adjoining rooms have different designs, then doors do not create a soft transition between them. That’s why arches are used, which are able to soften the joints of stylistic trends, identify common features and use them as a connecting link.

Arches united by a single structure

In this function of the arches, plastic moldings serve as that connecting element. They complement the decor of the opening, creating an asymmetry that at first glance seems alien. But this asymmetry of design makes the interior unique.

Of course, the arches catch the eye even without trying to emphasize it. Therefore, the main thing is not to go too far. To make a unique arch, you can try different components of plastic arches.

• Texture. The plastic is monotonous and smooth. For modern styles, such as modern and high-tech, streamlining is more acceptable than relief. Relief like classic or country.
• Design size. It all depends on the size of the room itself. If you make a massive arch in a small room, it will reduce the space.
• Thickness. The thickness is influenced by decorative patterns and relief of the product.
• Form. The classic style of arches is the exact ratio of the radius of the arc and the width of the opening. The romantic style is characterized by the absence of an arc in the upper part; instead, a kind of chord is used for connection. There are many shape options. The final choice will be influenced by the shape of the opening.

Roman style

• Plastic color. The color range is rich. Preference should come from the stylistic direction. So, it looks better if the color of the arch matches the color of the baseboard.

With a successful selection of components, finishing from plastic molding will emphasize the taste and style of the home owner.

How plastic arched structures are created

The arch is created according to a pre-prepared design template. Manufacturing of products takes from one to three days. For this, the following machines can be used: for bending using glycerin, hot air flow and infrared heaters.

And although the equipment differs from each other, the production stages are generally the same. Arches can be made of PVC material of different colors. First, the polyvinyl chloride is cut, then bending is performed - the product receives the required shape, according to the template. To make the PVC material more durable in this design, it is reinforced with a special profile.

Related article: Is it possible to connect a heated floor without a thermostat?

Special profiles for various cases will also help: L-shaped, U-shaped and others.

How to install a plastic arch with your own hands

If the arch has been selected in the store, then you can begin installation. It is worth noting that if the arch is 2-3 millimeters smaller than the door, then this is played out, but if it is tight, then this is more difficult to fix.

Installation of plastic products does not require fasteners and screws

How to install a plastic arch on drywall or plastered surface? The plastic arch is attached to the surface with liquid nails or assembly adhesive. In order for it to stick well, first of all, you need to prepare the surface of the opening.

The preparatory part of the work includes plaster, putty and surface leveling. An arch made of laminated plastic is installed as a finishing coating, after the walls have been puttyed and painted. Therefore, if the wall is lined with plasterboard or plastered, then the procedure is the same.

To set the glue, level the surface

It is worth noting that it is strictly forbidden to glue the plastic components of the arch on top of the wallpaper. In this case, it rests only on them, and not on the surface. The wallpaper will come off and so will the plastic molding. Therefore, excess wallpaper is removed.

To do this, apply an arch and draw a line according to the shape with a pencil. It’s also not a good idea to remove wallpaper exactly along the drawn line. It is better if the wallpaper is 3-4 millimeters under the plastic coating. This way you can hide the joint and at the same time ensure that the glue sets.

Wallpaper has been removed, dirt and dust has been cleaned. You need to check the evenness of the surface. If there are irregularities, they are rubbed with sandpaper and the surface is puttied. After the putty has dried, the finishing layer is applied. One layer is enough. Again, minor irregularities that may have arisen during application are removed.

Interior and arches made of plastic

Arches are often finished with plastic, and there are reasons for this.

What can you say about such a wonderful solution as plastic arches? In general, this is a great option for finishing a doorway. This building itself can be called unique.

Nowadays, for example, a very popular solution is the following technique: when a corridor with an arch is finished with different materials that suit each of the two rooms well. However, there are no doors between these rooms.

The absence of doors is a very important technique. Due to it, the passage is constantly open and minimal discrepancies will immediately be evident.

What can you say about the purpose of plastic exclusive arches in the interior? In addition to its basic functions that traditional arches perform (separating rooms visually while maintaining the integrity of the space, decorating openings), an arch with plastic trim creates a special originality. This design will make your home unique and non-standard. Perhaps the interior will acquire a certain asymmetry - which is also approved by interior designers.

Arched doorways - types of design

Arched openings are designed in different ways

What is the role of arches in an apartment? They are not only needed in order to maintain the integrity of the space, there are other tasks here as well. It's simple: if there is an arch in the room, it becomes a kind of “feature” that immediately catches the eye.

You can make your arch a completely unique design, for which there are no analogues. It's not that difficult. There are simply many parameters that can be changed (however, they all depend on the specific room in which the work is being done).

Arches may vary depending on:

• Its texture;
• Size of the structure;
• Its thickness;
• The chosen form;
• The colors of the material (plastic) that it was decided to use.

If you select all of the above parameters successfully, finishing the arch with plastic for your interior will be a really good addition to any stylistic ideas that have already been implemented in the room.

How to finish an arch

Before finishing the arch with plastic, you first need to create a template for your future project.

Attention! The work on producing these elements of interior decor takes on average from 1 to 3 days, and can be implemented in several ways, which depend on the tools used.

• Profile bending machine using glycerin.
• Infrared heaters.
• Hot air currents.

However, despite the different equipment, the stages of production of plastic arches are approximately the same. Plastic arches are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in various colors. Therefore, you should not be afraid that this or that plastic will not fit into the overall interior of the premises.

Production begins with the separation of PVC into individual elements, which are then given the required shape.

Advice. In order for arches trimmed with plastic to look unusual not only because of the irregular shape and color of PVC, it is worth resorting to the use of various decorative elements.

These include:

• Textile.
• Decorative glue.
• A variety of artificial imitations (leather, gold leaf, metal surfaces, mosaics, etc.).

Arch cladding - main stages of work

You can decorate the arch with plastic like this - you get a very functional element of the interior

When choosing the shapes and optimal dimensions for an arch, it is important to remember one significant parameter - the height of the ceilings in the room. Many forms of arches may simply not be suitable for a specific height, therefore, the entire effect of such an arched structure, the impression from it can be not only unexpected, but also generally negative.

Before taking on the work of building an arch, as well as finishing it with plastic, it is important to perform certain calculations and preparatory steps. For example, in order to decorate the desired doorway with plastic, it is important to resolve all issues with its cost and advantages.

Such arched openings are also common today

It is quite possible that another option will be more profitable for you - this cannot be denied.

If this is the case, you should immediately evaluate the positive aspects of plastic as a finishing material. First of all, it is very easy to care for. And secondly, it is not expensive at all.

Moreover, if you purchase plastic, you will be able to choose almost any color of the coating. Installation work requires very little time, the work is simple - even alone you can do it without problems.

The following materials are usually used for finishing doorways:

• Plastic panels;
• Plaster;
• Special slats made of wood;
• Adhesive compositions.

What shape should you choose for arches that are installed in doorways? It all depends entirely on what the owner’s tastes are. Of course, it is best when the arch is a kind of decoration.

The classic style of arch design is an arch of the correct shape. But you don’t have to stop there: there is also design in the Art Nouveau style, semi-arches, even a portal arch.

More information about the types of arches:

1. If the arc has a slightly truncated radius, you have a modern-style arch;
2. Arch in a romantic style - when the corners are rounded;
3. Elliptical arches (both irregular and regular) are common;
4. You can’t write off trapezoids (the arch has the appropriate shape).

However, when the master begins to design the vault, plastic is absolutely irreplaceable in this case. After all, the main advantage of this material is known to everyone - it can take any shape, including the one you want.

That is, you always have the opportunity to trim the arch with plastic and get a complex asymmetrical vault shape - if this does not harm the overall style and concept of your home.

Material selection

Yes, the most popular materials for creating unusual arches have always been wood and stone. However, new technologies now make it possible to expand the boundaries of such use. The same MDF or plasterboard can surpass wood and stone, creating unusual shapes. But the most affordable is PVC.

Therefore, let’s take a closer look at this material, what can be made from it and how to properly use it for finishing arches. And here an important characteristic of PVC comes in handy - plasticity. Thanks to this, you can realize the most daring ideas, and for pennies.

Functional purpose

The presented photos are excellent proof that PVC today is a popular material for creating high-quality and ornate arches. This design has been used since ancient times to smooth out and dull anything sharp. Thus, the interior turns out to be softer, with a pleasant atmosphere. Although, it must be said, arches were used not only inside, but also outside. And this helped create very original facades.

Therefore, the arch is designed to smooth out sharp corners, as well as decorate the space. At the same time, it is also realized in a functional sense - it can become a boundary between two different rooms, but at the same time maintaining the integrity of the space, which doors cannot provide. And thanks to the implementation of arches of non-standard shapes, the design becomes an extraordinary addition to the interior.

About existing types of structures

To implement an exclusive interior PVC arch, it must be created according to an individual project, which will take into account the dimensions of the opening, the required strength, shape, dimensions and other parameters. Only in this case will the design harmoniously complement the interior design.

And the shape created by yourself can be different:

• classic – normal arc radius;
• portal - a rectangular structure;
• romance - straight lines with rounded corners;
• modern - truncated arc radius;
• ellipse – the shape of an ellipse;

When using PVC, it is worth considering its plasticity when creating original shapes.

About the functions of plastic structures in the interior

Arches made of plastic, as it turns out, are a fairly popular solution. This fact is confirmed by the presence of many photos. But the most arched design came to us from the times of the Ancient East and Ancient Rome, where arches were always held in high esteem. If we translate this word from Latin, we get “arc”.

The arch has always been used to decorate buildings, as this smoothing of the corners brings softness to the design. At the same time, they were widely used not only for external decoration, but also in interior decoration.

But everything is changing. And today, for these purposes, it is not wood or stone that is used, but the same plastic. At the same time, the effect is still as amazing.

One way or another, many are trying to smooth out the corners in the literal and figurative sense of this expression. As a result, furniture with rounded corners and other objects appear in the house. Such elements make the atmosphere more calm and balanced.

In short, traditional arches are designed to visually separate rooms while maintaining the integrity of the space, and to decorate doorways. Interior arches made of plastic will help make the interior more extraordinary through the use of original shapes and asymmetrical configurations. This is clearly visible in the photo.

As already noted, the arch is an individual piece of furniture. It is a great way to maintain the integrity of a space and add a feature to the interior. Therefore, it should be made according to an individual project: with the required size, color, shape, strength. Only then finishing the arch with plastic becomes a worthy addition to design ideas.

When choosing the shape and size of the structure, it is necessary to correlate these parameters with the height of the ceiling, since they can visually reduce the doorway, which creates an unnecessary effect. Therefore, the form is determined by the taste of the creator:

• classic – traditional arc radius;
• romance - straight lines with rounded corners;
• modern - truncated arc radius;
• ellipse – an ellipse-shaped structure;
• portal is a rectangular structure.

If plastic is used as a design material, it is better to choose some sophisticated shape to emphasize the individuality of the solution.

Nuances of creating a design

Creating a PVC arch with your own hands can involve different stages. If panels are used for these purposes, then you can create the simplest form, but it will look great - a portal.

To create the design you will need:

• sharp stationery knife;
• roulette;
• building level;
• mounting foam or liquid nails;
• PVC material.

So, first we prepare the opening. You need to remove the old door with the frame, and the resulting surface needs to be cleaned of dirt and leveled. Next, we take measurements to create an interior portal arch. We do not consider bending PVC arches, although due to the plasticity of the material this is well implemented. You just need to take care of temporarily securing the material so that it is securely fixed while the glue or foam dries.

We cut out the panels and profile to size, which will help join the vertical and horizontal panels, as well as hide the edges. A U- and L-shaped plastic profile of the corresponding color is suitable for this.

Which material to choose?

Not so long ago, wood was the most popular material for such purposes. But recently the construction industry has gone far ahead, thanks to which it is possible to embody the most daring design ideas. For these purposes, plasterboard, MDF, and plastic are often used.

It’s the latter that is worth considering in more detail. The main distinguishing feature of plastic for arches is its plastic properties. This allowed it to be widely used for the construction of structures of the most ornate shapes and colors.

PVC arch

Consolidation

If there is a flat surface, PVC panels and profiles can be fixed using liquid nails. If there are irregularities, there is no point in smoothing them out with putty. For these purposes, polyurethane foam can be used, which will act as glue to secure the panels. But in this case you need to be careful. If you pour a lot of material, the panels will become deformed; if not enough, they won’t hold together well.

In general, when using foam, you need to calculate the installation in such a way as to try to fill the entire opening at once. The fact is that the foam in the bottle dries very quickly after use, which after a while can cause difficulties in removing it again. Alternatively, after use, you need to press the valve vigorously several times to force air through the channel, but without material. This will leave space for the foam to pass through later.

Another possibility for securing the material on an uneven surface is the use of lathing. This solution cannot always be adequately implemented in small openings, so it is better to try to implement one of the two described above.

Plastic finishing is a simple, inexpensive and effective solution

Indeed, can any other material compare with PVC in terms of availability, functionality and ease of use? Therefore, the decision to decorate the doorway with this particular material is correct and logical. You can create different shapes, colors and so on. The result is an attractive design with an unusual element.

The second method of making an arch

There is another way to make an arch with your own hands from PVC pipes. Everything here is also extremely simple. First, the arcs are prepared; for this, the pipes are cut into two parts, each exactly 2 m long. Two metal pegs are driven into the ground, the thickness of which is less than the internal diameter of the pipes. The pipes are carefully heated with a construction hairdryer until they begin to bend easily and the ends are placed on the driven stakes. The result is an arc in the form of a hemisphere.

Further work:

1. Mark the location of the future arch.
2. Cut the pipe into pieces 40 cm long. You need 12 such pieces.
3. Connect them together with tees so that you get 4 pipes that will act as a support for the arch.
4. Weld the crossbars to the tees; their length can be from 30 to 50 cm. The result should be two “ladders” - the walls of the arch.
5. Weld the arcs with a soldering iron.

Now the arch can be installed. The principle of installation in a permanent place is the same as in the case described above.

It would be better to paint the finished arch green - then the white parts will not stand out so much under the foliage. Acrylic paint applied to a pre-primed surface is ideal for these purposes. It is not afraid of sunlight and adheres well to plastic.

If you plan to plant climbing plants that cling to uneven surfaces with tendrils or suction cups, the arch can be lined with plastic garden netting.