Decorating & Design
September 27, 2022
20+ Rooms With Arches That Wow
It’s official: everyone loves an arch. Whether it’s the ancient Roman versions that line the Coliseum, Mission-inspired beauties that’s are a staple of California’s Spanish-style homes or whimsical Moorish shapes, arches are making an appearance on doorways, pantries and, yes, furniture too. The shape is so organic and a smidge whimsical (there’s just something about that swoop that lightens every room up). So level-up with one (or two) in your home like these savvy spaces.
Scroll down for 20+ rooms with arches that wow!
“It plays up the sight line from the living room into the kitchen, and it captures a storybook idealism,” says designer Jessica Allerton of this sweeping archway in this Victoria, B.C. home.
In this black and white kitchen designed by Collective Studio, an archway and curved pantry bring California cool to a midtown Toronto home.
While narrow archways that form beautiful sightlines are growing in popularity, wide arched walkways are still a classic way to create separation between two rooms.
In this circa-1830 stone house on Ontario’s Niagara Escarpment, classic elements like arched windows, original trim and Bentwood chairs bring historical charm to the space.
This kitchen of Shannan Hunter (pictured) has hints of Scandi and Moroccan style thanks to its arches, patterned tile and hits of warm oak. “The pantry color makes the archway pop,” says designer Kassandra Arbour.
“It’s those interesting pieces that give a room personality,” says designer Monica Fried. In a recent Connecticut project, an arched bench in the front hallway makes a great first impression.
In this Vancouver home designed by Shift Interiors, arches are a recurring motif meant to evoke European style. An archway in the entryway sets the tone for entire space.
“We repeated the arches on the fireplace which is a nice little feature to make the space feel aged or from another era,” says principal designer of Shift Interiors, Jamie Deck.
Another archway breaks up the space between the kitchen and the mudroom, forming a beautiful transition.
In this home designed by Jaime Zimmerman, the addition of simple, sculptural details in the form of arched doorways and circular motifs imparts softness, for a Mediterranean-inspired take on the old “less is more” design adage.
Exterior stone arches, some of which were brought inside the kitchen in an earlier renovation, inspired both the beachy palette and the many curves repeated in the design. An arch above the range has rough stone on one side that was formerly an exterior column.
In decorator Tim Lam’s renovated condo, custom built-ins bring a tailored look to the once builder-basic unit. An arched bookshelf is the perfect spot to store reading material or objets.
Tim’s love of arches is evident in the mirrors located in both the bathrooms and foyer.
An arched window offers relief from the harder lines of the cabinetry and custom wine fridge in the kitchen of Maple Leafs goalie Michael Hutchinson and his wife, baker extraordinaire Jenna Hutchinson.
For a dramatic contemporary look, even the accessory-filled bookcase in the couple’s office has rounded edges!
Symmetrical arched mirrors underscore this bungalow’s Spanish flavor in Victoria, B.C. A square pair would just fall flat next to that amazing cement-tiled fireplace.
Artist and designer Bari Ackerman didn’t hold back in this bold bathroom, where double arched mirrors are perfectly placed on glossy tiled pink arches. Each tile had to be individually cut to create the shape.
Now this is how you make an entrance to a principal bedroom! Created by Hamilton, Ontario, design-build studio Coco & Jack, the shiplap ceiling also makes the space feel cozy.
Connecting a room with an archway offers is an intriguing way to lead the eye. That swooped snippet into the next space creates the perfect sightline.
In Andrea Zappone’s kitchen, the archway that separates the breakfast area perfectly frames both the banquette (offering a glimpse of the wallpaper) and the designer’s incredible Calacatta Viola marble countertop.
Designer Shauna Walton shows off the curves of this elegant nook in a 1930s Toronto home she renovated — a perfect spot for an uncluttered display of treasures.
Australian design team The Jetty House elevated an ensuite with an archway that frames a blush pink sink topped with a crescent-shaped mirror. Soft cove lighting illuminates it all.
A black window draws attention to the archway and is a lovely soft detail in this SoCal-inspired kitchen by designer Tanya Krpan.
Shannon McIlwain says she’s “a little obsessed with arches,” so the designer repeated the gorgeous curve in the doorway of her bedroom and the built-in shelves beside the bed.
The leafy, arch-framed view in this luxurious shower in Jupiter, Florida, is a showstopper.
Designer Philip Mitchell framed this breakfast nook in his Chester, Nova Scotia, kitchen with a commanding arch — all the better to highlight a view of the spectacular harbor.
Elizabeth Haynes (feature image)
Andrea Zappone (feature image)