How To Paint An Arch On A Wall
We are so excited to share a guide to our DIY painted arch on wall. This was a surprisingly easy DIY project that turned a boring, underused wall into a fun space in the playroom.
It’s also a pretty quick project. The only ‘long’ part of the project is the drying time between coats. But it’s definitely one you can complete in a day. If you are planning to hang shelves, plan on two days.
The arch wall can serve as a background for so many great pieces, from art that you want to showcase, a backdrop for furniture or even bookshelves. We went with the bookshelf route since ours is in the playroom and we have too many books!
Now, onto our step-by-step guide to an easy DIY painted arch wall. Before we get into the steps, let’s first chat about the supplies needed.
Supplies You’ll Need
You just need a few supplies for this project! Definitely plan to have a laser level on hand to make sure you get the lines straight. You’ll make them a bit wobbly when you paint them by hand, but you do want everything nicely laid out beforehand.
Pencil
String
Nail or thumbtack
Paint trays (you’ll want a metal tray and plastic disposable trays)
Paint & paint stirrer
How to Paint An Arch On A Wall
Step 1
Determine Your Dimensions
Figure out how wide and tall you want your arch, and where on the wall the curve will start. For ours, we had a defined area between a doorway and a wall and sized the arch to match the doorway width– but yours may be different.
Step 2
Tape The sides
Mark the edges with a pencil, then run painter’s tape down each side to keep the lines straight. Paint inward from the tape rather than outward– this prevents paint from sneaking underneath.
Shorter pieces of tape are easier to work with than one long piece, and you can remove and reapply if anything looks angled.
Step 3
Find Your Center Point
Measure the distance between your two taped sides and mark the center point at the top– this is where the curve will begin. Note the distance from the center to one edge. This is your radius and you’ll need it for the next step.
Step 4
Draw The Arch
Tie one end of a piece of string around a pencil, then cut the string to match your radius. If your arch is 40 inches wide, your string should be 20 inches.
Anchor the loose end of the string at your center point using a nail or a piece of tape. Then use the pencil to draw a semicircle from one side to the other– the string keeps the distance consistent as you work your way around.
Take your time and watch the angle of your pencil. And don’t press too hard– pencil lines can show through lighter paint. If your lines look too dark, go back with an eraser to lighten them before painting.
Step 5
Paint The Sides
Use a small paintbrush to paint along the tape, brushing inward toward the center of the arch. Paint a few inches in so a roller can cover the rest.
Wondering about the color of ours? It’s Babouche.
Step 6
Paint The Arch
Work your way up and around the curved line with a small brush. Take it slowly– it doesn’t have to be perfect up close. Paint always looks better from a distance than it does when you’re right on top of it. Paint just far enough in that a roller can cover the rest.
Step 7
Paint THe Inside
Roll the inside of the arch– this is the quick, satisfying part. Remove your tape immediately while the paint is still wet to prevent peeling.
Once the first coat dries, add a second. The second coat is much easier since you already have lines to follow– no tape needed.
Step 8
Add Shelves (Optional)
The arch makes a beautiful backdrop on its own or you can add shelves to turn it into a bookshelf like we did. Alex built ours, but these scallop wood shelves are a great option and could easily be painted to match.