Design your own straight wall moulding frames
A plain wall offers room for more than a new colour. Straight wall moulding frames add depth and structure, turning an empty surface into a considered part of your interior.
Take inspiration from the lines already in your room: the width of your sofa, the position of a bed or the height of a doorway. Your wall frames can echo these features to create a composition that feels connected to the space.
Whether you prefer a quiet backdrop or a more defined feature wall, start with your own dimensions in the Orac wall moulding calculator and develop a design that feels right for your home.
A layout shaped around your wall
Straight frames give you a clear structure to work with, whether you are decorating a full living room wall or a smaller area above a sideboard. Consider which part of the wall should draw attention and where you want a quieter backdrop.
A symmetrical arrangement can bring order to a busy room, while a wider central frame can emphasise a sofa or dining table. Start with the furniture and features you plan to keep, then develop the frame division around them.
- See the balance before you orderPreview your frame arrangement to scale using your actual wall dimensions.
- Let the calculator handle the measurementsYour layout determines the frame dimensions and required quantity of mouldings.
- Keep your budget in viewCheck the material costs as you refine your profile and composition.
- Work around sockets and switchesRequest alternative layouts when a moulding crosses an existing faceplate.
Explore straight wall frame combinations
These examples show just a few of the possibilities. In the calculator, you can combine frame counts, widths, heights and spacing in almost endless ways to create your own layout. Each example uses a wall measuring 400 × 270 cm so you can compare the designs.
Look at the relationship between the frames as well as their individual shape. A composition with fewer divisions feels different from a wall with stacked rows, even when the same moulding profile is used. Use these arrangements as a starting point and adapt them to your own room.
One large wall frame
One large frame leaves the wall feeling open while giving the surface a defined outline. It can surround a piece of art or create a backdrop above a sofa, sideboard or bed. Leave enough room around the composition so the frame feels intentional rather than squeezed between neighbouring features.
Two matching frames
Two matching frames introduce a simple, balanced division without adding many lines to the wall. Consider what sits beneath each section: a pair of chairs or a long piece of furniture can help anchor the arrangement. The central gap becomes part of the composition, so give it as much attention as the frame widths.
Three equal frames
Three equal frames create a repeating rhythm that works well across an uninterrupted wall. The consistent widths keep the composition easy to read, even when the room contains different furniture shapes. Check how the outer frames relate to the ends of your sofa or sideboard before settling on the final spacing.
A wider centre frame
A wider middle frame brings emphasis to the centre while narrower side frames complete the arrangement. This can be useful when a central piece of furniture or artwork deserves more space. Keep the side frames visually substantial enough to read as part of the design rather than leftover strips.
Two rows, different proportions
Two rows divide the wall vertically as well as horizontally. Taller upper frames can provide a backdrop for artwork, while smaller lower frames add detail nearer furniture height. Consider where the horizontal division falls in relation to chair backs, a headboard or other lines already present in the room.
A composition across three rows
Three rows create a more layered composition with additional horizontal lines. The proportions between the rows determine whether the result feels evenly divided or focused on one part of the wall. This arrangement deserves a careful look alongside furniture and artwork, so the extra detail supports the room rather than competing with it.
Keep your sockets and switches in place
A layout that looks balanced also needs to fit around the details already on your wall. Enter each faceplate’s position and dimensions, then choose how much clearance to leave around it.
If a moulding or its clearance area overlaps a socket or switch, the calculator can suggest adjustments. Preview an available proposal and apply it to your design. Your electrical fittings stay where they are.
A socket on the frame line
The original frame arrangement places a vertical moulding across an existing socket. A design that appears balanced on an empty wall therefore needs an adjustment once the faceplate is included. Entering its dimensions and clearance makes this conflict visible before you order.
An adjusted frame arrangement
The adjusted arrangement leaves space around the faceplate while preserving a coherent frame division. The socket remains in its original position; it is the wall moulding layout that changes. Compare the suggested options before choosing the one that best suits the rest of your composition.
Design your straight wall frames in six steps
Build your design in the same order as the calculator: start with the wall, choose your frame shape and profile, then refine the arrangement. Preparing your measurements first makes it easier to focus on the visual decisions as you work through the options.
The six steps below cover the design itself. Once your layout is complete, a separate cost summary brings together the materials and ordering options.
Enter your wall details
Name your wall and enter its width and height in centimetres. Measure the height excluding existing or planned skirting boards and cornice mouldings.
Choose straight frames
Select Straight as your frame shape. Start with square or rectangular frames and build an arrangement around your wall dimensions.
Choose your Orac moulding
Select an available Orac profile or search by product name or code. The profile you choose helps define the character of your wall frames.
Set the number of frames
Choose how many frames sit side by side and vertically. Adjust the available width and height ratios to create your preferred composition.
Adjust the spacing
Set the margins around your design and the gaps between frames. Keep all margins and gaps equal or adjust them separately.
Add sockets and switches
Enter their positions, faceplate dimensions and required clearance, or skip this step. If a collision occurs, request layout suggestions, preview an option and apply it.
Then review your cost summary
Check the required mouldings and total cost. Select the cutting service where available and add recommended Orac installation adhesive, joint adhesive and filler. When you are happy with your selection, add it to your cart.
Design and calculate your costsStraight wall mouldings with or without cutting service
Decide whether you want to prepare the mouldings yourself or have the cutting done for you. This choice is separate from the design: the frame arrangement still needs to be checked against your wall measurements before you order.
The optional cutting service is available for straight frames in supported delivery locations. It prepares the pieces for your chosen frame sizes, while fixing the mouldings to the wall and finishing the joints remain part of the installation.
Choose the cutting service
Have the lengths prepared to your specified frame dimensions with 45-degree mitre cuts for square or rectangular frames. This reduces the cutting work you need to carry out during installation and is useful if you prefer to focus on positioning and fixing the pieces. Select the service in the cost summary to see the additional charge.
Cut the mouldings yourself
Order the required profiles uncut and prepare the lengths and corners yourself. This option suits you if you have the tools and experience to make accurate mitre cuts. Use your completed design as a reference, check the measurements on the actual wall and plan the cuts before starting.
Check all measurements before ordering. Cut-to-size mouldings cannot be returned.
Frequently asked questions
What are straight wall moulding frames?
Straight frames use horizontal and vertical mouldings to form square or rectangular outlines on a wall. You can arrange them individually, side by side or in multiple rows.
Can I combine different frame sizes?
Yes. Choose the number of frames and adjust the available width and height ratios. You can create a wider centre frame or combine taller and shorter rows.
How should I measure my wall?
Enter the full wall width and the wall height excluding existing or planned skirting boards and cornice mouldings. Frame dimensions, margins and gaps are measured to the outside edge of the moulding.
What if a frame overlaps a socket or switch?
Add the faceplate position, dimensions and clearance in step 6. If the calculator detects a collision, use the layout suggestions to preview and apply a suitable adjustment where one is available. Sockets and switches remain in place.
Can I order straight mouldings with a cutting service?
Yes, the calculator offers an optional cutting service for straight frames where available for your delivery location. Select it in the cost summary to see the additional cost. Cut-to-size mouldings cannot be returned.
Can I order the mouldings uncut?
Yes. Leave the cutting service unselected to order the required mouldings for cutting yourself. You can also add the recommended Orac adhesives and filler.
Explore another shape for your wall
