Curves ahead – nail the arch trend

From the Resene decorating blog

Embrace your curves. Graceful, elegant, whimsical… what’s not to love about an arch? From soaring Gothic vaults and pointed Moroccan doorways to the softer curves of the Californian Spanish-style, archways have long been an architectural favourite.

However, in more recent times indoor archways have tended to be viewed as a sad relic of the 60s and 70s (along with their friends the shag-pile carpet and the faux brick wallpaper). Not any longer. The archway is back – and with some clever Resene paint touches, it can elevate your space, add a dash of playfulness, and introduce an attractive focal point. Importantly, these curvaceous portals invite in a greater amount of light and create beautiful flow from one space to another.

An archway also provides a graceful transition, signalling a change in mood or function between spaces. It’s up to you whether you want to herald this transition by underlining the archway’s presence or have it blend more subtly into the wider design scheme.

Similarly, the archway leading to this bedroom is painted in Resene Lonestar, echoing the colour scheme within. The lighter bedroom wall is in Resene Sakura, providing a stylish contrast that still preserves a family tie with the darker hue.

Find your niche

Where you have an arched nook with built in shelves, go for a bold, deep colour to accent the built form and draw your eye in. Painting the shelves the same shade will let your prized possessions hog the limelight (you paid for that fancy crystal so why not flaunt it?). Try a lovely rich copper brown like Resene Cinnamon and contrast it with a pale wall colour like Resene Half Ash. Go for something in between on the floor like grey-green Resene Half Innocence.

For an ultra-matte but velvety finish, use Karen Walker Chalk Colour available from Resene ColorShops. This finish can be enhanced with one of two waxes: Vintage and Clear.

Just fake it

Don’t have an archway? Then grab a paintbrush and create one! It’s an easy and cost-effective way to reinvent your space – perfect for breaking up plain walls, delineating different zones in your home, providing an interesting focal point, or as a handy solution for cramped spaces like hallways where furniture is out of the question. There’s no limit to the painted archway’s uses: everything from attractive desk spaces and feature fireplaces to coat peg areas and faux headboards. Use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen to turn an arch into a handy chalk board above a desk.

The best part it, it’s simple to do. You just need a pencil, some string and a drawing pin – effectively you’re making a giant compass.

First decide how wide you want your archway and cut the string to that length. Halve the string to get the radius of your arch. Use a level to draw straight lines in pencil up the wall to where you want the circle of the arch to begin. Use masking tape along the lines you’ve drawn to get a crisp edge when you paint. Find the centre of the width of the arch and hammer in a nail. Fasten the radius-length string to the end of your pencil, loop it around the nail, and hold it taut while you draw your circle. Place small pieces of masking tape along the line of the arch. Now you’re ready to paint!

A painted archway can even elevate the humble shoe rack (potentially the messiest of areas in most homes) to a stylish design feature. For our hallway rack (1.8m high x 1.2m wide) we’ve leaned into the shoe theme with a soft leathery tan, Resene Papier Mache. The floor and walls are painted in Resene Rice Cake, a clean starchy white with a tiny touch of yellow. Everything is nicely corralled within the shape, creating a pleasing sense of order.

Whether you’re adding an arch detail to your building plans or simply painting an arch in a quiet corner of your home, arches can add softness and a pleasing pop of colour to your home.

October 17, 2022

For help choosing colours and products to suit your projects, visit your local Resene ColorShop, ask a Resene Colour Expert online or book a Resene Colour Consultation.

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