An oversized painted arch creates an instant architectural focal point, framing furniture or architectural elements like a bed headboard or a desk without requiring physical construction.
- Materials Needed: Painter’s tape, a pencil, a piece of string, a thumbtack, a small trim brush, a roller, and your choice of accent paint color.
- How to Make It: Determine the width and height of your arch. Push a thumbtack into the wall at the starting point of the curved radius. Tie a string to the tack and a pencil to the other end to create a makeshift compass. Draw the top curve, then drop plumb lines down to the baseboard. Carefully apply flexible painter’s tape along the outside of your pencil lines. Cut in the edges with a small brush, roll the interior, and peel the tape while the paint is still slightly tacky.
- Tips: Seal the edge of your painter’s tape by painting over it with the base wall color first; this trick prevents bleed-through and guarantees crisp, razor-sharp lines.
- Variations: Paint a double-tiered arch or combine the arch with a contrasting terracotta hue inside a soft neutral room.
7. Modern Grid and Square Paneling