Turn Cardboard Scraps Into DIY Door Arches That Take Minutes To Make

Interior design can be tricky. On one hand, you want to make your home feel elevated and personal. On the other hand, there's a limit on the time and money you invest in your living space, perhaps because it's a rental or your resources simply aren't infinite. But there are numerous clever and creative ways to improve the look of your home for a reasonable price — many of which can be completed in an afternoon. Case in point: DIY arches for your doorways. Adding a subtle curve to the openings between rooms makes a bigger impact than you'd expect. These arches help your space feel softer, more organic, and less builder-grade. They add depth, draw the eye upward, and create a sense of flow. That's a pretty good return on investment for a simple architectural detail.

Instead of shelling out for construction, you can make arches at home using cardboard. When your arches are cut and measured to fit your space, then painted in the same color as your walls, they look like they were always there, built right into the structure of your home. To make them, you'll need measuring tape, a pencil, cardboard, a craft knife, caulk, paint primer, and the same paint color that's on your adjacent walls. (These are 2026's official paint colors of the year, if you need some inspiration.)

Start by measuring the width of your doorway's opening, from the left inside edge to the right inside edge. (Refer to these clever tape measure hacks if you need help.) Draw a line of the same length on your cardboard. Then measure halfway in from one end of that line and mark it with your pencil. Finally, measure the same half-distance downward from that point and mark it. For instance, if the width of your doorway's opening from edge to edge is 24 inches, you'll begin by drawing a 24-inch line on your cardboard. You'll then measure 12 inches in (horizontally) from one end of the line, delineate it with a mark, then measure 12 inches downward (vertically) to make your second mark.

To draw the arch, loop a string around your pencil. Using your thumb and forefinger, hold the ends of the looped string on your bottom-most point. Pull the string taught, align the pencil with the midpoint on your line, then draw a semi-circle using your homemade "compass." Using a craft knife, cut out the semicircle, keeping in mind that you will be using the remaining arch-shaped cardboard in your doorway, not the semicircle itself. Once you've cut out your arch, cut it in half at the midpoint so you have two pieces, one for each corner of your doorway. Repeat this exact process for the opposite side of the doorway.

Now it's time for the fun part! Paint your cardboard arches with primer so your wall paint will go on smoothly later. Then, when the primer is dry, attach the arches to each side of your doorway. If you're renting, you can use Command Strips or strong mounting tape. Otherwise, try hot glue. Once the arches are attached, caulk the seams to help them look integrated with the wall. And finally, paint the same color as your walls to make everything look "built-in."

Once you've got the hang of this project, you can do a more "advanced" version with dramatic, Mediterranean-inspired arches, or even asymmetrical, organic-looking ones. If there's room in your doorway, you can add a floating shelf for small plants under the arches for extra visual appeal. You can also experiment with lighting, adding an LED strip between the edges of the arch, or even mounting wall sconces adjacent to it. And if, after all of that, you have extra material lying around, try these additional cardboard DIYs to add style and decor to any room in your home.