Arches and columns. How to make arches and columns with your own hands Columns and arches made of stone

Humanity has been familiar with columns for a very long time - at least several millennia, if not tens of thousands of years. Previously, they were used exclusively as supporting structures for the vault, but today their task has changed somewhat - such a thing as decorative columns has appeared, which have become a popular decoration for human housing.

Along with popularity, this element of decor has acquired a very low cost - the manufacture of only one decorative column can result in a decent amount. You can make it cheaper, but it can really be done only at the expense of quality deterioration. There is another option, from which the quality of the column does not suffer at all, but rather wins - this option provides for the independent production of such a decorative element, which will be discussed in this article. Together with the Dream House website, we will consider in detail the options that will allow you to make decorative columns with your own hands, if not simply, then at least not very difficult.

DIY decorative columns photo

Decorative columns: types and their features in manufacturing

Almost all decorative columns that a person uses in one way or another to decorate his living space can be divided into types according to three criteria.

And the third sign by which decorative columns for the interior can be classified is the material from which they are made. It is worth talking about this in more detail, since both the characteristics of the product and the technology of its manufacture depend entirely on the material.

What to make a decorative column with your own hands: materials and their features

The choice of material should be taken responsibly - as mentioned above, the life of the columns and the complexity of their manufacture by one's own hands depend on it. Among the most common materials from which decorative columns are made today, the following types can be distinguished.

1. Decorative foam column. We can say that this is the cheapest option, but you can not count on the full-fledged production of columns from it. Styrofoam for columns will have to be purchased. This is a kind of fixed formwork in the form of cylinders cut along. They are installed in the right place, after which their internal cavity is poured with concrete - a kind of molds that are not removed after the concrete dries. The technology for making such columns with your own hands seems to be simple, but as for finishing and operation, there are several pitfalls here. Plastering foam is very difficult - this time. And the second drawback is that it is soft (this material is great for stone or mosaic finishing, but not for plastering and painting).

   

   Decorative foam columns photo

2. Decorative columns made of wood. The option is excellent, especially if you plan to use a lot of wood in the interior of the room. Making high-quality wood columns is not as easy as it might seem at first glance - at least you can’t do it with ordinary home tools. At a minimum, you need a lathe, on which the column is turned in parts, and they are already assembled into a single product by installing anchors.

   

   Decorative wooden columns photo

3. Decorative plaster columns. For their manufacture, molds are needed - today this is not a problem at all. Gypsum columns are made by casting, which is very easy to do at home. This is a definite plus of this material, but besides it there are also minuses. First of all, this is a complex and painstaking technology for finishing the columns, as they say, to the standard - the gypsum product is puttied with a very thin layer in order to eliminate various kinds of shells formed during the casting process. After that, it is cleaned and only then mounted and painted. By itself, this process is simple, you just need to be patient, especially when it comes to columns of complex configuration, decorated with bas-reliefs. By the way, in almost the same way you can cast columns from concrete.

   

   Decorative columns made of plaster photo

4. Decorative stone columns. This material is remarkable in that the columns made from it do not require finishing. Of the minuses, one can note the fact that they are not suitable for every interior. In most cases, they look massive and look good only in large rooms. We can say that decorative stone columns are in some way similar to foam plastic columns - both materials are used as fixed formwork. That is, first, a cylindrical formwork is constructed from stone, similar to brickwork, which is subsequently filled with concrete. If the core of the column is reinforced with metal, then it can also perform load-bearing functions. Styrofoam columns can be reinforced in the same way.

Drywall. Here is another material that can be used to make decorative columns with your own hands. This method of making columns should be discussed separately - oddly enough, but in home repairs it is used most often.

Decorative stone columns photo

How to make decorative plasterboard columns with your own hands

Despite the fact that almost anything can be made from drywall, there are still problems with the columns of the classical cylindrical shape - it is very difficult to make them, although it is possible. They are made gradually - in the sense that at first a multifaceted structure is made with many small planes, which are subsequently smoothed out with putty. This business is by no means for home craftsmen - this is a serious job that requires capital theoretical and practical skills. It should also be noted here that in many respects the complexity of manufacturing a cylindrical column of drywall depends on its diameter - the thicker the support column, the easier it is to give it a smooth outline.

Another thing is the columns of a rectangular shape or some other angular configuration. They are very easy to make, and they are mounted according to the principle of manufacturing boxes, which are used to mask pipelines and other communications. If we are talking about decorative columns of such a section, then it is better than drywall, the material for their manufacture cannot be invented.

How to make a decorative column with your own hands photo

Decorative columns: finishing options

As you understand, not every material from which modern decorative columns are made can boast of the absence of the need for finishing. And those who have this dignity have an appearance that can please all people. In general, one way or another, the decoration of these interior elements has a place to be and cannot be dispensed with. There are not so many finishing technologies, and all of them can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

1. Painting. The easiest and most inexpensive option for decorating columns. Suitable for almost any type of material - concrete, gypsum, wood, and, of course, plasterboard columns. Only columns made of decorative stone and similar materials are not subject to painting.
2. Decorative plaster. This option for finishing columns is attractive in that it allows you to give the product a look that is almost one hundred percent similar to the look of natural polished stone - for example, marble, the surface of which is obtained using. For independent implementation, this is a very complex type of finish, although not hopeless - if desired, this technology can be easily mastered.
3. Mosaic. Despite the fact that this is a good way to decorate columns, it still has one significant drawback - it is far from acceptable for every room. In principle, in some way this moment depends on the type - if it is a small natural pebble, then it is quite possible to use such material for decorating columns in halls, and other similar premises of an apartment or house.

There are other materials for finishing a clone - designers, in an attempt to jump over each other, vying with each other, offer to use a variety of non-standard materials. For example, in their opinion, it is possible to finish a column with almost any floor covering - with the same success, this element of the interior can be draped with fabric. In general, everything here is without restrictions.

And in conclusion of the topic about decorative columns, only one thing remains to be added: to say that the independent production of columns is a very laborious process that will not guarantee that you will really like the end result. If you have already decided that such decor should be in your home, then it is better to turn to professionals about its manufacture. Alternatively, the columns can be purchased ready-made - the most popular in this regard are polyurethane decorative columns, which do not require final finishing.

DIY decorative foam columns can decorate your interior. Antique style in architecture and interiors always arouses admiration and delight. This is a classic of the genre - simplicity and completeness. But sometimes to embody such perfection at home is simply impossible. All columns and pillars in the old style are very expensive, and in combination with the work of the master, and in general - fabulously expensive. But there is still one loophole, which I propose to use. You can do it - do-it-yourself decorative foam columns. Let's get started!

Required building materials:

• Styrofoam;
• corner plaster for finishing works;
• putty;
• a bag of tile adhesive;
• putty knife;
• blade for cutting metal or wood.

The first step is marking the walls.

It is necessary to imagine exactly where exactly the foam columns will be located and how many pieces are needed. It is also very important to visually imagine the thickness of the columns, because the choice of foam depends on this aspect. If the room is large and with high ceilings, then you can safely buy polystyrene No. 5. With such polystyrene, the columns will turn out to be thick and wide, reminiscent of their antique relatives. The optimal column width is half the width of the foam sheet. Using a level, beat off on the wall and draw the borders of the column with a marker, where our heroine will paste later.

The second step is the preparation of the foam.

The selected foam must be measured, beat off the middle from the width of the foam, and draw a cut line along the length of the foam. In other words, just cut into two long halves.

It is convenient to cut the foam with a blade for cutting metal or wood. To do this, you will not need additional tools, hold one edge of the canvas in your hands, and carefully cut the other along the drawn line on the foam. Prepare the required number of foam halves.

The third step is the birth of the column.

Foam halves on one side must be smeared with tile adhesive,

then stick it on the wall.

The foam should be pressed strongly, but with feeling, because it breaks very easily. A few minutes is enough for the glue to grab and hold the foam in place. Under the first part of the column we sculpt the second and so on. With a room height of 3 meters, and there are also such, it is necessary to assemble a column of three halves of foam.

The fourth step is the base of the column.

Columns, to look beautiful, must have a beginning or base. It is also not worth buying, because it can be made from pieces of foam.

Cut cubes and rectangles of the desired shape and glue to the ceiling at the beginning of the column in a circle, as if forming a footboard, which conveys the feeling that the ceiling is supported by the column.

The fifth step is putty work.

Since our columns are made of foam plastic, which has not very even corners, and is also afraid of damage, it is necessary to use a plaster corner for finishing work. Paste the two corners formed at the column with a corner. After drying, you can start puttying work.

The first layer of putty should be very thin, as if simply covering the base of the column and strengthening the structure. You can also use a plaster (construction) mesh, which will greatly facilitate the course of plastering work, and strengthen the column itself.

The second layer of putty should be the final element in the work on the decorative foam column, after which only painting.
An antique zest in a modern interior is ready!!!

The interior of the apartment often includes elements of the classics. This allows you to make the home extraordinary, give it a certain spirit of romanticism and grace. If the environment contains objects that are not purely applied, but decorative, then it no longer looks boring and monotonous, but as something creative and alive. Such architectural elements as columns and arches have long been used as load-bearing structures and at the same time decorate the facades of buildings and the interior of the premises.

Arches and columns are often used in a classic interior style.

Decorative decoration of arches in your apartment

Columns and arches in the apartment today perform mainly not a supporting, but a decorative function.

An exception is the deliberate use of columns as supports in a large area.

The arch has long been considered the overlapping of the curvilinear shape of the openings in the wall, the spans between the columns and supports

Arches were used not only in the architecture of buildings, but also in the construction of bridges, and as engineering structures they were strictly symmetrical and were calculated according to the strength of materials formulas.

Each part of the arch has its own name. Eg:

• The cross section of the top is called the capstone
• Section near the support - with a heel stone, fifth arch or impost
• External fornix - extradosom
• Internal fornix - intradosom

Types of arches

Arches in shape can be of the following types:

• triangular
• Round or semicircular
• gently sloping
• oblique
• Lancet
• horseshoe
• Planar elliptical parabolic
• concave etc

An arch in a blind opening in a wall is called a blind arch..

By style, these types of arches are distinguished:

Arches can be different both in shape and style.

Today, the fashion trend is asymmetrical arches.

Purpose of arches

Arches are used when they want to emphasize the organic design, the dominant smoothness of lines.

This technique is used for:

• Building façade and railings
• Combining two zones into one
• Division into zones
• Interior design elements:
  niches, windows, doors, mirrors, etc.

Combining two zones into one occurs when removing interior doors:

Arches are used to divide the room into zones

• The living room is combined with a corridor or kitchen
• Kitchen space - with a loggia

At the same time, the arch visually expands the space, creating a perspective. At the same time, the premises remain separate units.

Arches diversify the design of a long corridor and at the same time also divide it.

The original design of the corridor of the arched structure

A rectangular opening in a wall is also considered an arch..

arch materials

For the design of arches, different materials are used.

• Arches made of stone, concrete, brick look monumental
• Wooden arches are more decorative and create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort.
  Both stone and wood are versatile materials used for both exterior and interior decoration.
• For interior decoration, you can also use drywall, fiberboard, PVC, chipboard

These types of materials are not used for finishing external arches..

How to make an arch with your own hands

It seems that such a curvilinear structure as an arch is extremely difficult to do with your own hands.

In fact, it is very simple to make it, especially from drywall..

For this you will need:

• U-shaped metal profile
• Self-tapping screws and dowels
• drywall sheet
• Drill, jigsaw

Sequencing:

1. Marking the position of the arch
2. We fix a metal profile to the wall, ceiling and floor
3. We strengthen the frame with crossbars so that the drywall does not sag
4. We cut a piece of the profile for the arch every 2 cm, bend it and screw it to the frame
5. We cut drywall and sheathe the frame with it on both sides
6. We cut the upper part for the arch with a jigsaw
7. We produce putty surfaces and seams

Video: DIY simple arch

Columns in the interior of a modern apartment

As we have already said, columns in a city apartment are used mainly for decorative purposes today.

Columns in the interior can be both decorative elements and supporting structures.

However, in a loft-style room and wherever there are no partitions, the column can also bear the load..

The upper part of the column is called the capital, the lower part is called the base. The capital can also be a decorative ceiling decoration.

Columns are made today from materials of this type:

• Marble, granite
• Brick, concrete
• Drywall
• Polyurethane

Today, the decoration of columns and arches with artificial stone or polymer concrete is also popular.

Finishing columns with drywall do it yourself

Dry bending drywall sheet

Marble and granite are, of course, expensive materials, and they have to look for alternatives.

Columns made of lightweight drywall look like real ones. It doesn’t even come to mind right away that these are empty shells, that is, hollow objects (false columns)

In the manufacture of such columns, the most difficult thing is the frame.

The column can be rectangular or round. There is also another variety - pilasters. They refer to the columns conditionally. This is actually half of the column protruding from the wall.

Consider first how to make a rectangular column of drywall.

1. Two bases are made from a metal profile (upper and lower)
2. The contours of the base are compared using plumb lines
3. The bases are fixed to the ceiling and floor with dowels
4. Profile racks are attached to the corners of the bases
5. All sides of the frame are reinforced with crossbars
6. Then plasterboard is sheathed and the final finishing is finished with a plaster mixture.

Video: Do-it-yourself column decoration

How to make round columns

Round columns made of drywall are made according to the same principle. They are also easy to make with your own hands. But the manufacturing process is more laborious:

1. First, circles are drawn on the ceiling and floor, also with the help of plumb lines.
2. Cuts are made on the profile for the bases at a distance of 5 cm
3. Profiles are combined with circles and fastened with dowels
4. A sheet of drywall on one side is notched along the entire length, also at a distance of 5 cm between the notches
5. The finished sheet is bent around the frame, the cuts are sealed with a plaster mixture and left to dry.
6. Then attach the sheet to the guide profile
7. Make the final finish, complementing the stucco if necessary

Polymer concrete in the interior of apartments

Column coated with liquid polymer concrete

What if drywall and stucco are not your favorite type of finish, and you prefer an interior that is more close to the natural style?
Then the columns are not made of drywall, but, for example, made of polymer concrete or artificial stone

The texture of these materials is similar to the texture of natural stone - granite.

Polymer concrete (plast cement) - a combination of concrete, epoxy resin and filler (quartz sand, granite chips, etc.)

Polymer concrete is much more expensive than conventional concrete.

Finishing the column with polymer concrete

It is easier and cheaper to first make a column of ordinary concrete, and then apply the top layer of liquid lightweight polymer concrete.

You can do it like this:

• We assemble the bases and the frame in the same way as in the manufacture of drywall columns
  (In the bases we make additional crossbars for attaching reinforcement)
• We insert reinforcement into the frame and sheathe it with pieces of plywood (in one of the pieces we leave a hole for pouring concrete)
• We make concrete pouring
• After hardening and drying, remove the plywood
• We spray polymer concrete from the plaster gun on top of the column

It is also possible to apply a layer of polymer concrete, for example, on the countertop, on the outer wall of the fireplace, etc.

• It is also possible to produce interior items from polymer concrete by pouring into a mold that must be pre-designed.

However, this method is expensive and requires equipment.

What complements the interior in a classic style

Columns and arches in the interior of the apartment are not the only elements in the classic style.

To complement the interior can:

• Bas-reliefs and frescoes made of decorative plaster
• Items in vintage style:
  • antique candlesticks and vases
  • Venetian furniture, etc.

Video: Lightweight polymer concrete

Arches in the interior
Much has been said about the fact that arches perfectly separate the space of two rooms, but at the same time look much more elegant than doors. The interior benefits from this for sure.

Arched openings in the interior of different rooms:

Arches in the hall and corridor:

In walk-through rooms, arches are a great way to defuse monotony and add grace. In addition, the arches in the halls enhance the visual perspective if they offer a view of the neighboring rooms, such as the living room. A through arched opening above the rectangular door turns it into a sample of high classics.

Arches on the border of the living room and kitchen, kitchen and dining room:

Gone is the general trend of open planning and attempts to turn the apartment into a giant studio. But the rational grain of this idea - the feeling of spaciousness - is still in price. Arches smoothly transfer the view from the living room to the dining room or kitchen, or from the kitchen to the dining area. At the same time, the wider the arched opening, the more attention should be paid to harmony in the color scheme and style of neighboring rooms.

Arches to the loggia:

Attaching a loggia to a room has become almost a matter of course. But a massive beam on the border (which can not be dismantled in any case) sometimes causes irritation. Try to turn it into the basis for a spectacular arch. Here are examples for the bedroom, but it works just as well for other rooms.

Alcove arches:

Exquisite alcoves are a technique that came to us from French boudoirs, as well as from the Arab East. In the latter case, cozy corners are separated in this way in almost any area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe house. And the French ladies found it chic to place a bed or a bath in an alcove.

Elements that complement the arches:

beam masking:

If after dismantling the walls there is a wide opening that you would like to keep, you can create an arched structure only in the upper part, almost under the ceiling. In this case, the beam becomes the basis of a spectacular element of the interior. The logical support of the arch is columns or pilasters.

Lightweight version of the arch:

The option looks more elegant when, in the upper part of the arches, similar to the previous ones, the beams (or part of the opening) are framed by small curved arch-shaped elements. The interior space can be through or decorated with stained glass inserts.

Arch with bar counter:

An original move that allows you to combine the living room with the kitchen. At the same time, the composition of the furnishings of the rooms does not change, and the bar counter fits compactly on the border.

Drywall arches with through niches:

In the case when it is necessary to zone a certain room, the arch can not only mark the visual boundary, but also become a spectacular decoration. Through niches are sometimes used as shelves, but for greater practicality, it is advisable to attach fiberboard, MDF or wooden elements to a horizontal surface. Also, with a similar design, you can separate a small entrance hall (corridor, hall) from the living room.

Arches in different styles:

High classic:

Classical arches come from palace interiors. Regardless of the height of the location (a full-fledged arch, an arch element or a portal supported by columns), they look more solid than any others, and often more massive. The design uses order elements of ancient architecture, as well as techniques that came from the Baroque era, such as keystones. Finishing is just as respectable: gypsum stucco, marble, Venetian plaster. This type of arches is usually symmetrical.

The defining element of country-style arches is the finish: stone and wood. In this case, the form can be borrowed from the classics, with the exception of overly pretentious details. In this way, both open arches and the outer part of the openings, including interior doors, are formed.

Bizarre lines, reminiscent of the bends of plants - the characteristic forms of Art Nouveau (Art Nouveau) ornaments. Accordingly, they are asymmetrical. True, choosing this type of arch, do not forget. that it refers to “active”, i.e. it has dynamics. Therefore, if this particular type of arch attracts you, evaluate the volume of the room, whether it will become an excess. The curved lining of the Art Nouveau arches is made of plaster moldings or wood, while the structural elements are made of drywall.

Non-standard forms of arches:

semi-arch:

A beveled rounded opening that replaces the door is an elementary semi-arch, with a lack of space, sometimes this is the only right decision. But semi-arches can be much larger, the main difference from the correct arch is the asymmetry of the structure.

Arch in the form of a circle:

The most active, dynamic type of arch, an absolutely modern solution for original natures. It looks especially impressive when supplemented with spotlights, flutes or even curtains.

Do you want to bring into the interior notes of sublimity, spirituality, aristocracy? Complete the interior decoration with columns. The result will surprise and delight you. Having applied columns at home once, you will never want to part with them again.
What functions does this interior element perform? What styles are used? What is it made from? Is it possible to use columns in small apartments? How can you "hide" a load-bearing column? An ambiguous design element raises many questions.
The attitude to the columns in the interior as to the elements of only the palace style is a thing of the past. Their use in the premises of home, office, public is becoming more widespread. And, not in vain. Columns in the interior are worthy to decorate our lives every day.

Support or decorative element

The ancient architects were extraordinarily skillful in the use of columns. They created magnificent grandiose colonnades of temples, public buildings, houses of the nobility, royal apartments.
Perhaps that is why for several millennia the history of architecture has considered columns as interior and exterior elements of luxury and power.

Here lies not only the status rank, but also the meaning of self-awareness, self-esteem of the owner of the house. Try to stand next to some grandiose column, for example, the Winter Palace, or walk along the colonnade of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

The classical column consists of three main parts - the base, the body and the capital. The base is the base of the column, when used as a support, the base carries a significant load. The body is a pillar that connects the top and bottom. The capital is the upper part, richly decorated in the classic version.

Richly decorated columns look best in rooms with a high ceiling height - from 290 cm and above.

With the advent of lightweight polyurethane foam products, the use of columns as decorative design details has become possible in high-rise buildings, small apartments. Any column, even standing alone, "crushes" the surrounding space. With compositions of two or three columns, it is convenient to delimit the room, highlighting individual parts, while maintaining a sense of integrity.

Colonnades with a large number of elements are almost never used by modern architects, unless the design of the entire building requires it. Comfort, a high level of quality of life requires the laying of a large number of communications going through all floors of buildings. Hiding cables, pipes inside the column is an original, sometimes the only acceptable design solution.

Considering the columns as a decorative detail, it is worth including here the semi-columns. Semi-columns do not carry a support load. They are attached to the wall, performing decorating and zoning functions, while retaining all the aesthetic decorativeness inherent in entire columns.
Low columns from 80 cm and above complement the interior in an original way. They are used as tables, stands for vases, sculptures, bowls.

Epoch? Style? Direction?

Noble classic

The classical interior with antique columns was based on Greek samples - Doric, Ionic, Corinthian styles. The decoration of the base, body, capitals not only has not changed, moreover, good taste requires exact adherence to Greek ideals.

mysterious east

Impressive colonnades connected by arches are an integral element of oriental architecture. In contrast to classical restraint, the body of the eastern column is richly decorated with mosaics, ornaments, and bright colors.

Modern interior trends

Minimalist style, hi-tech, loft - did not bypass the columns. These styles involve a large free space, a significant height. The columns here act as floor supports. Most often, these are simple poles, finished in accordance with the style of the room - metal (like silver, nickel, chrome, copper), clinker "like aged brick", concrete with traces of formwork.
The latest trend is the use of backlighting in glass columns with bubbles.

rustic styles

In the good old Provence, Russian rustic style, and other ethnic styles, wood and rough natural stone are preferred for finishing columns.
The columns can be completely wooden, and the “stone” finish on various bases (concrete, polyurethane foam, drywall, false column) is made with materials imitating stone.

Using semi-columns, columns, decorate them based on the style of the entire room, and any, even the simplest stand, will become a “highlight”.

Suitable ... materials for the manufacture of columns

Traditionally, the elements of the column were cut out of stone - marble, granite, travertine. Local stone was used, from nearby deposits, because heavy stone blocks are difficult to transport over long distances. The body of the column was assembled from several parts, the seams between them were tightly rubbed, the column looked monolithic.

How to hide a column that is not needed

The design features of some buildings suggest a large floor area with a small number of partitions and load-bearing walls. It is difficult to do without a support such as a massive column in the middle of the room under such conditions. If the column does not correspond to the general style of the room, it makes sense to decorate it.

Unusually advantageous compositions of semi-columns combined with photo wallpaper. By choosing a drawing of a suitable style, you can transform any, even the tiniest room, for example, a hallway. A small street, a piece of a garden or the canals of Venice will harmoniously enlarge and refresh the space, thanks to the framing with semi-columns.

Having comprehended the ideas of ancient architects, having selected the appropriate modern technological materials, it is possible to turn a gray concrete and glass building into a luxurious palace, an oriental harem, a brutal loft or ... a beautiful garden.

So what is the secret of using columns in the interior? They give volume, turn a flat image into 3D, create a stereo effect, set the rhythm of space, and therefore make the interior alive, real.