A charming gallery wall can turn boring, blank walls into a stunning statement! They offer the perfect place to display a personalized collection that tells a beautiful story while elevating your space. Whether showcasing cherished portraits, your favorite form of art, or simply something with special meaning, a well-designed gallery wall brings your overall home design together. So, follow along because today, I’m showing you how to create a gorgeous gallery wall that will easily transform your entire space!
Gallery walls are the perfect way to create a cozy and intimate atmosphere in a variety of spaces throughout your home. Whether it’s a gallery of photographs of family and friends, a collection of framed art pieces, or even handmade drawings from the littles in your life, it has unique special meaning.
Beyond personal significance, gallery walls are the perfect way to elevate your home design. While the furniture and layout of your home create a cohesive theme, gallery walls and artwork offer the ability to set the overall mood and tone of your space.
With endless design possibilities, creating a gallery wall can seem like a daunting task. But by following a few simple tips, this design project can be a fun and exciting way to express yourself, ultimately creating something you truly love.
How to Create a Gallery Wall
Using Templates
It can be difficult to simply look at a blank wall and visualize your desired layout. Using gallery wall templates is an easy way to ensure your pieces not only fit together, but give a flawless, styled look.
Templates offer the perfect design shortcut, especially if you’re starting from scratch. If you’ve already purchased your pieces, templates can be still be used for inspiration. They can help you identify your desired layout preference in order to achieve a cohesive design aesthetic.
Gallery Wall Tips:
- Make sure the layout you select will work within your allocated space by experimenting with frame placement. Use paper cut-outs of each frame, then hang it with tape to see how the layout will look on the wall. This allows you to make adjustments while avoiding unnecessary nail holes.
- Start with the main anchor piece of your gallery wall first, and then work outward. For a balanced look, use smaller frames around your focal piece.
- Experiment with frame size and color for added visual interest.
- Keep in mind that your gallery wall doesn’t have to include expensive art pieces to look and feel amazing. With so many affordable options, it is easy to create a curated look without the huge price tag!
Shop Amazon Gallery Frames
Gallery 1 | Gallery 2 | Gallery 3 | Gallery 4 | Gallery 5
Amazon has a great selection of gallery frame sets to choose from at incredibly affordable prices. With an assortment of frame sizes and several unique finishes, their collection allows you to design a custom layout, enhancing any room with added style. The neutral frame colors not only complement each other while adding visual interest, but draw attention to your curated display of special moments and memories.
Choosing Print Designs and Colors
Shop World Market Neutral Artwork
Shop Target Wall Art
Planning is foundational when designing a gallery wall. It’s essential to make sure everything works cohesively to bring your layout to life. The first step in choosing print designs is taking into account the color palette and tone of your home, then choosing a few dramatic prints that speak to you. The remaining gallery pieces should be more subtle and can be built around your main focal pieces.
To create a cohesive gallery wall, your artwork should balance both repeated and contrasting elements. The contrasting details will add character and variation, while the repeated features will help tie your overall design together. If you prefer your art style or prints to look uniform, you can still add contrast by varying the frame finishes.
When choosing color schemes for your art or prints, stick to a similar color palette. Ideally, choosing neutral colors will compliment your pieces while maintaining a polished look. Consider the existing wall color of your gallery and how that will impact your overall design aesthetic.
Impactful Gallery Wall Spaces in Your Home:
- Staircase: The staircase gallery wall mimics the incline of the stairs subtly, ensuring all pieces are visible from the bottom floor.
- Living room: Family room and living room gallery walls are another great option and vary in size depending on your allotted space.
- Kitchen/Dining Room: A gallery wall in the kitchen or dining room can add the perfect homey, relaxed feel to your space. Grid galleries work well in kitchen spaces, creating the perfect polished look. For a formal dining room look, stick to modern frames and ensure symmetrical clean lines.
- Shelf or Mantle: A shelf or mantle offers versatility without making things permanent. You can easily swap pieces for seasonal changes, holidays, or special occasions. For a uniform design, place the tallest piece in the back, adding dimension with medium and smaller pieces towards the front.
- Small wall space: The entryway, hallway, powder room, or the spaces between windows are all ideal for smaller gallery walls. Linear positioning is best for a small gallery wall. The idea is to use fewer pieces instead of resorting to small pieces only.
Shop Etsy Affordable Art
Hanging a Gallery Wall
Leave about 2-4 inches between individual gallery wall pieces on all sides. Larger pieces will need more blank space around them. Post-it notes are the perfect hack for spacing in lieu of measuring. Standard post-its are 3 inches and will work well for large and medium pieces. Small post-its are 2 inches wide and are ideal for smaller pieces.
The vertical center of your gallery wall should be at eye level or around 60 inches from the floor. You’ll also want to ensure your gallery wall sits at least 4-6 inches above all furnishings. Keep in mind large walls will require size-able statement pieces and when working with taller walls getting the scale correct is vital.
Picture hooks are a great option to avoid large holes that are hard to patch. They’re designed to go between wall studs and create much smaller holes than your typical nail or screw. Besides limiting damage, they also hold 50 to 100 pounds, which means no limits when selecting art and prints for your gallery wall.
Artwork is a window into your life and grasping how to create a gallery wall is the best way to put your personalized story on display!
What’s your favorite gallery wall space? Let me know in the comments below!
For more eye-catching accent wall designs, check out my post on Different Styles of Accent Walls!
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