Interior Faceoff: Doors VS Arches

Arches have been used in buildings going back nearly 4,000 years. The ancient Romans were the original architectural trendsetters and the perfect arches of the Pantheon and Colosseum are a testament to this. 

Whilst some claim arches are refined and classical, others deem them outdated, and many people are having their archways squared off and fitted with bespoke doors. 
Before you take a sledgehammer to your wall or grimace in disgust at your kitchen’s archway let us take you through the pros and cons of doorways and archways. 

Benefits of Doors

Doors can be an interesting design feature in themselves, with a huge variety of internal doors available you can create specific looks in your home. However, aside from looking nice, doors also have some practical uses.

Being able to close a door means you can block out noise for some much needed respite. Doors are great when you require privacy and can help block out draughts and help keep rooms warm during chillier winter months. 

Doors are also a great safety feature, for example, interior fire doors can provide a life-saving barrier in emergencies such as a house fire. 

Disadvantages of Doors

Whilst the positives vastly outweigh the negatives, doors aren’t perfect! Some can be expensive and we all know somebody who has trapped their finger in one. 

Doors can also sometimes make rooms feel much smaller than they are when closed. Furthermore, they often block out noises that you would prefer to hear, like a dog whining to be let out or child crying. 

Pros of Archways

Depending on your taste archways can look very elegant and create an open plan living spaces that many people crave.

You will often see archways linking dining rooms, lounges and kitchens. They are also a fantastic way to make the most of smaller spaces by opening them up.

Parents often love archways as they allow for an easy eye or ear to be kept on children, guests and pets. 

Downsides of Archways 

Lack of physical boundary can be stressful with archways. Not being able to contain children and pets in certain spaces can be an annoyance, along with lack of privacy.

Due to lack of protection from draughts, heating bills can be more expensive as rooms with archways can be harder to keep warm. 

Want the Best of Both?

Whilst at JB Kind we understand that everybody has diverse interior tastes we believe it’s easier to have the best of both worlds!