Archways have long been a staple in architecture, creating interesting and beautiful ways to create transitions between spaces. They’re also a prime element to make even more beautiful with decorative mouldings.
Whether you want to enhance the look of an existing archway or create something entirely new, here are some ways you can use moulding to elevate your arches and transform your living space.
The Allure of Archways
Archways bear an interesting blend of practical purpose and symbolic meaning. Some cultures see them as a meaningful way to pass between two “realms,” while others use them to represent rebirth — which is why you see them in many churches. In modern design, they’re mostly an elegant way to transition between different rooms, although many people still choose to decorate these structures with something meaningful or symbolic.
Beyond their aesthetic appeal and symbolic meaning, archways or cased openings have several functional benefits. For example, they can make small spaces feel bigger and more inviting. They can also be a way to let light spill into a room and frame it with purpose, which is beneficial for areas that don’t have enough natural light otherwise. And, of course, they make an attractive focal point where you can implement your natural style or culture.
Enhancing Your Archway With Decorative Mouldings
Moulding is a great way to instantly improve the look of your archway. It adds depth and texture, turning ordinary entry points into an interesting design choice.
Here are a few ways you can use moulding to improve the design of your archway.
Picking the Right Style
In most cases, a door casing and backband moulding is a safe pick regardless of what your personal aesthetic is. It’s a classic, elegant solution that comes in various styles, which is one reason why it’s so popular.
For a traditional look, use a wider, more detailed moulding that enhances your archway’s natural curvature. If you prefer something more minimalistic, choose a more toned-down moulding for a clean, modern look. Try coordinating it with other architectural elements in the room, like lighting fixtures or other mouldings.
Choosing the Right Color
The color of your decorative mouldings may seem like a small detail, but it will significantly impact the look of your archway and the room.
What color you choose will generally depend on the texture and color of the arch itself. You can get various shades of off-white or even a more saturated yet still muted color if you’re bold, but it’s inadvisable to go too far away from white. Natural materials can make things a bit harder, but the rule of thumb is complementary tones that contrast each other. For example, if you have a wood archway, choose a high-contrast wood (like cherry) to make it stand out.
Of course, painting the moulding is always an option as well. You could paint it the same color as the wall to help it blend in seamlessly with existing elements, or you might choose a contrasting color to make the archway feel like it’s popping out of the wall. However, somewhere in the middle is where many people land, choosing to have the colors complement each other modestly yet attractively.
Introducing Light
While the beauty of natural light spilling through an archway is hard to match, artificial light can still be a great way to accent your arch with both practicality and aesthetics. Installing sconces on either side of your archway gives a cozy, classy vibe, while installing recessed lighting is a cleaner, more modern look. Warm lighting will generally be better in most cases, though it depends on the color and texture of the arch.
Applying Decorative Trim
Decorative trim is a bit of a catch-all term for anything you can put around your archway to add visual appeal. This could be other kinds of wood moulding, intricate carvings, natural greenery, religious/cultural symbols, or anything else you’d like to draw attention to or honor. While it’s generally inadvisable to crowd your archway and cover the beautiful moulding, this is your best chance to bring your own personal style to the archway.
Choosing the Right Decorative Mouldings
If you aren’t sure which kind of moulding will best suit your archway, here are a couple of factors you should consider before making your choice.
Personal Style
If you prefer a more traditional style, you’ll probably appreciate the refined look of detailed, ornate wood mouldings. On the other hand, the modern minimalist will probably prefer something more sleek and streamlined.
But above all else, you should go with your intuition and choose what you most like. With that being said, if you match the moulding with the dominant style of your home and make the interior design consistent, it will generally look better.
Materials
While mouldings these days are made from all sorts of materials — including foam, polyurethane, and rubber — most traditionalists still prefer the look and feel of wood.
Wood is quite flexible; you can paint or stain it, it’s incredibly durable, and it even looks beautiful as-is. Of course, not all wood is created equal — you may prefer the look of oak to that of pine, while poplar and maple are the woods of choice for those wanting to paint their mouldings.
Be Bold and Beautiful With Decorative Mouldings for Your Archway
Decorative mouldings are a great way to bring out the beauty of your archway. They’re a small addition that can make a big impact, even if the design isn’t all that intricate.
If you want somewhere simple to start, an off-white casing moulding is a safe choice that can add plenty of visual intrigue to the arch, but don’t hesitate to shop around for a style that really resonates with you.
When you’re ready to choose a moulding for your archways, browse the options we have available at Mouldings One. Our selection includes various kinds of wood and designs for every aesthetic — you’ll find the right fit somewhere in our product catalog.