inspiration · Arched
BM Simply White Staircase Arched Wall Molding
BM Simply White Staircase Arched Wall Molding: wall elevation, color data (LRV 92.5), staircase layout for 8, 12, 16 ft walls, cut list, calculator and pre-cu
Project calculator
Overview
BM Simply White (OC-117) is a white with a green undertone and a calculated LRV of 92.5. Against white trim the contrast ratio is 1.03:1, which gives almost no contrast, so the molding reads through shadow alone (a tone-on-tone look); painted tone-on-tone, the arched pattern shows only through its shadow lines.
Arched layout on a 12 ft staircase wall
Molding over the full wall height, upper and lower rows divided by a chair rail. On a 12 ft wall with an 8 ft ceiling this gives 4 frames per row, each 31 in wide, with 50 in upper and 21 in lower frames. The layout uses about 32.26 m of 2.5 cm molding, or 14 sticks of 240 cm, including 10% waste. Frames follow the stair angle: keep the bottom rail parallel to the stringer.
Building the arched pattern
Arched tops are pre-formed in MDF; the straight sides and the bottom rail are cut to the same width as the arch. Fix the arch first, then hang the sides from it.
Painting molding in BM Simply White
Whites show molding through shadow only, so side light (a window or wall sconce) brings the pattern out. Use satin on trim and eggshell on the wall to add a slight sheen difference.
Wall elevation
Color data
| Color | Brand | Code | Hex | Calculated LRV | Undertone | Depth | Contrast vs white trim | Contrast vs black trim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BM Simply White | Benjamin Moore | OC-117 | #F7F7EE | 92.5 | green | white | 1.03:1 | 15.3:1 |
Trim color pairings
| Pairing | Trim color | Hex | Contrast | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tone-on-tone | BM Simply White | #F7F7EE | 1:1 | Trim painted the same color as the wall |
| matching white | BM White Dove | #EFEEE5 | 1.08:1 | White with the closest undertone |
| contrast | Black | #1F1F1F | 15.3:1 | Dark trim for a graphic outline |
Staircase wall sizes: arched accent wall layout
| Wall width | Frames per row | Frame width | Frame height (upper / lower) | Molding incl. 10% waste | 240 cm sticks | Chair rail pieces (300 cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 2 | 42 in | 50 / 21 in | 19 m | 8 | 1 |
| 12 ft | 4 | 31 in | 50 / 21 in | 32.26 m | 14 | 2 |
| 16 ft | 5 | 33.6 in | 50 / 21 in | 41.96 m | 18 | 2 |
Cut list for a 12 ft wall
| Piece | Quantity | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Frame top and bottom (lower row) | 8 | 31 in |
| Frame sides (lower row) | 8 | 21 in |
| Arch frame sides (upper row) | 8 | 34.5 in |
| Arch top + bottom rail (upper row) | 4 | 31 in span |
| Chair rail | 2 | 300 cm lengths |
Pre-cut kits for this wall
Pre-cut kits that fit this project. Open a kit for photos, options and pricing.
01 / KITDouble Arched Wall Molding Set | Pre-Cut MDF Decorative Wall Panels
From $133.60
View kit
02 / KITU Shaped Arch Wall Trim Molding Kit | Pre-Cut MDF Medium & Large
From $81.40
View kit
03 / KITArched Accent Wall Trim Molding Kit, 3 Widths | Pre-Cut MDF
From $58.40
View kit
04 / KITFlexible Arched Wall Molding, Paintable MDF Wall Trim, Pre-Cut Arch Decorative Wall Panels | Picture Frame Molding, Accent Wall Trim
From $73.60
View kit
05 / KITModern Arched Wall Panel Kit: Pre-Cut MDF Wall Molding
From $140.00
View kit
06 / KITArched Decorative Wall Molding Panels, 1 to 5 Arches | Pre-Cut MDF
From $146.40
View kitQuestions
How much molding do I need for a 12 ft staircase wall with arched frames?
About 32.26 m (106 linear ft) including a chair rail and 10% waste, which is 14 sticks of 240 cm. That assumes 4 frames per row, 31 in wide, on an 8 ft ceiling.
Is BM Simply White warm or cool?
BM Simply White has a green undertone and reads as a white white. Its calculated LRV is 92.5, so it reflects a lot of light and keeps molding shadows soft.
Should trim be the same color as BM Simply White walls?
Painting the molding the same color gives a modern, tone-on-tone finish where only shadows show the pattern. White trim adds almost no contrast, so the molding reads through shadow alone (a tone-on-tone look) (1.03:1), and black trim gives 15.3:1.
How high should the chair rail be in a staircase?
About one third of the ceiling height: 32 in on an 8 ft ceiling, 36 in on 9 ft and 40 in on 10 ft. Frames follow the stair angle: keep the bottom rail parallel to the stringer.
Trace the details
Sources & dates
Prices, options and photos come from our product catalog on the date shown. Layout tables are planning estimates; measure your wall before ordering.
- Paint color dataset (screen approximations; LRV calculated)Recorded November 11, 2026
- DecoMoldings product catalogRecorded November 11, 2026