Are you looking for simple ways to transform the look of your space? Well, one of those ways is by creating an arched doorway! In this post, I will show you how to make arched doorways using a kit! Beautiful archways can make a HUGE difference in how a space looks and can be done with less effort, time, and money than you are probably imagining!

Arched Doorway Before and After

Before

Let’s start with a before and after to demonstrate how much an arch can improve the look of a space. This is the living room from our last project south of Nashville. In addition to other changes, we added an arch to the doorway leading from the entry to the kitchen.

As you can see, it was just a typical squared-off opening. An arch is one of those architectural features that has an unusual way of creating a softer, more elegant feel to a home. I think you will agree that the difference it makes is worth the effort!

 

After

 

To DIY or Use a Kit

When discussing how to create an arched doorway, my personal choice is to use a kit, but I certainly commend those who do it themselves! Jenna Sue has a great post on how to build an arch with plywood that I highly recommend: How to Build an Arched Doorway Opening.

My husband and I are always trying to do way more than is possible in an unreasonable amount of time, so if there is an opportunity to save a few minutes somewhere without sacrificing quality, I usually seize it.

Purchasing the Kit

If you decide to go the kit route, I recommend the prefabricated arch kits we use from Archways and Ceilings. To date, we have only purchased the half-circle arches, but they have many other options from which to choose, such as corbel, elliptical, and gothic arches.

Their ordering process is pretty simple. You simply enter the doorway’s depth and width, and the height will be automatically calculated for you. A very helpful feature is the option to add a location name to help keep track of all those arches you will be installing!

Be sure when you are measuring that your measurements do not include the thickness of the drywall. The arches are relatively inexpensive and well worth it for the time saved. For example, a half-circle arch for a 3.5″ x 36″ opening is under $40 without tax or shipping.

 

 

This is what the arch kits look like when delivered (yes, I am also putting them in the showers).

Preparing to Install an Arched Doorway

Tools Required

• Archway Kit
• Drywall (sized to match existing)
• Nail Gun
• Drill
• Drywall screw setter (a nice to have, but not necessary)
• Drywall screws
• Joint Compound
• 6″ Drywall Knife
• 12″ Drywall Taping Knife
• Drywall Saw or Dremel Tool with Drywall Blade
• Utility Knife
• Flex Archway Corner Bead
• Corner Bead Adhesive
• Paper or Mesh Drywall Tape
• Sanding Sponge

Prep for Install

If you are removing a door and simply creating an opening in its place, you will need to remove the door, the trim, and the frame. If it is already an opening (drywalled), you will need to cut the drywall away from the inside of the doorway and from the face above the doorway and on the sides.

Remember that you will need to anchor your replacement drywall, so make sure to cut back to a wood member into which you can screw. I do the cutting with a utility knife (with a new blade!).

 

Installing the Arch

Installation of the arch is pretty simple! To install the arch, you will mark the center of your header and the total height on your vertical studs. Once you have done that, you are ready to fasten it in place. You can use either a nailer or a drill.

My husband uses a framing nailer, and I use a drill. The drill is much easier for me to manage. You do what works best for you!

If you do use a drill, make sure to counter-sink your screws for a better install. We use two screws or nails in the top of each piece and two where it meets the vertical stud. If you want to see the installation in action, look at this great video created by Archways and Ceilings.

Below, you can see my husband installing the arch on the left and the finished installation on the right. You will see that he installed blocking above the arch for fastening the drywall. You may also need to do this, depending on your situation.

Installing the Drywall on the Arched Doorway

You have installed the arch and blocking (if needed), and now it is time to install the drywall. You will cut a square piece to fit your opening and fasten the drywall using your fastener of choice (I recommend screws).

Once your piece is secured, you will use either the drywall saw or a Dremel tool with a drywall blade to cut the shape of the arch from the other side. Repeat this process on the other side.

You will use a combination of straight and curved pieces of drywall for the inside of the doorway. You will use straight pieces for the sides and create a curved piece by scoring (barely puncturing the paper with a utility knife) the back of the drywall at 1-inch intervals. This will give you the curve you need for the arch. Secure the drywall using nails or screws.

As a side note, if this is your first drywall adventure, I recommend checking out my posts How to Hang Drywall by Yourself and How to Finish Drywall Flawlessly.

Taping Seams

Before installing the corner bead, you need to tape any seams. I recommend using mesh tape in this situation because you do not have to embed it in mud, allowing you to apply your corner bead. Do not apply mud to the seams until you have installed the corner bead.

Installing the Corner Bead

You will use a straight vinyl corner bead for the straight (vertical) sections and flexible corner bead for the arched section. I prefer to spray the adhesive on the corner bead rather than the wall. This stuff is very sticky, so you want to lay something down on the floor where you will be spraying.

You will spray adhesive on both sides of the interior of the corner bead, then wait 60 seconds before applying it to the corners. Run your hands along the corner bead to ensure contact with the drywall.

 

Finishing the Arched Doorway

First Coat of Mud

Now that you have installed the drywall, taped the seams, and installed the corner bead, it is time to start the finishing process! It is at this stage that you start to see how fabulous your arch is going to look!

Assuming you are dealing with a standard 3.5″ wall, I recommend using your 6″ joint knife to apply mud to the interior of the doorway. It is the perfect size for filling in between the corner bead because you can run the knife along the top of the corner bead. For the front and back above the arch, I recommend using your 12″ knife to apply the mud.

Try to smooth the mud out as much as possible when applying it. The less sanding you have to do, the happier you will be! You will likely need to apply three coats, waiting 24 hours between, and sanding after each coat.

I use a large drywall sanding sponge to sand rather than a pole sander because I feel I have more control over how much I am taking off (and because I am not coordinated enough to operate a pole sander). Again, you do what works best for you!

Final Coat of Mud

Sanding your final coat is really about achieving the right texture. After the final coat of mud has dried, you want to sand lightly in a circular motion. The goal at this step is to achieve a very smooth surface.

To help demonstrate the finishing stages, we have photos of yet another arch we installed below. The photo below was taken after the first coat of mud was applied and sanded.

Touch-Up

Below is a photo (pardon the mess) of the same arch after the primer coat of paint has been applied, and the drywall was touched up. Helpful hint – The BEST time to do a touch-up of your drywall work is after you have applied the primer. It is after the primer coat is applied that all the imperfections show up.

I like to shine my shop lights toward the area of work from the side for touching up. If you shine the lights directly on the surface, you will not see the areas that need work. The lights may be overkill, but you can see from the photo that I did a lot of touching up! I promise it is worth the extra effort to achieve fantastic results!

Summary

That’s it, friends! Does it not seem easier than you might have thought? In this post, I shared with you how to transform drab doorways into gorgeous arched doorways. Archways in homes are a great way to elevate the look without a lot of expense.

I gave you a list of the tools you will need and described the steps required to install and finish an arched doorway. After reading this post, you should have the information you need to create your own stunning doorway! If you want more information on finishing drywall, check out my post How to Finish Drywall Flawlessly in Just a Few Steps!