Think Twice Before DIYing A New Arched Built-In Cabinet. Here's Why

Curvy lines are having a moment right now. Arch-shaped doorways and windows add a playful softness to rooms, while built-in details, like cabinets, can help refine a space with cohesiveness. There are plenty of reasons to love the essence of curved silhouettes in a home, but weigh the pros and cons of DIYing a built-in cabinet, especially when your home is architecturally more modern or has updated interiors. Building a seamless arched cabinet can look out of place, depending on its architectural style.

Curvy movements have appeal because we associate the organic nature in which we experience them, like rolling hills or soothing plants. According to a blog post by interior designer Jessica Fratantoni of Fratantoni Interior Designers, "Curves naturally create a feeling of comfort and softness. Unlike sharp edges, rounded lines are associated with movement, flow, and approachability." And its vintage appeal is in part due to their historical influence. Arched doorways were popular during the art nouveau era around the turn of the 20th century. Built-in arched details also had a revival in the '70s and '80s, when interior interests shifted toward organic elements. But in certain architectural styles, you risk disrupting the cohesiveness of the overall design in your home.

There's a reason for the allure of curvy built-in cabinets, but unless arched details are relevant to the period or style of your home, adding one can look unnatural and awkward. And with interior decor trends shifting away from the simple, sterile, and ultra-refined shapes that are at the core of minimalist and modern decor styles, it's clear why people are yearning for character, gravitating towards a more whimsical, collected, and imperfectly lived-in aesthetic. Arched built-in cabinets, especially in a living room, can instantly bring warmth and coziness, especially in contrast with boxy silhouettes and straight lines. But when you factor in your home's natural architectural style, it might throw off the overall look and feel of a room.

For example, if your home leans more toward typical Cape Cod-style architecture, with its flat designs and angular details, then an arched built-in cabinet can feel random at best, and out of place at worst. Curved built-in cabinets in colonial-style homes, as another example, which favor Shaker-style cabinets and clean lines, might not hold up or feel authentic. American Craftsman-style homes, with their typical angular cabinetry, might make a curved built-in cabinet feel out of place, too. You want to be careful about incorporating this type of shape unless there are already rounded architectural details, from the types of wall moldings to your window shapes. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is, if there aren't already arches somewhere in your home, don't add a built-in one.