A gallery wall or photo wall is a fairly easy way to transform bland walls, create a focal point in your room and bring character and personality to your living space.
This curated display of photographs, posters or prints, creatively arranged on a wall using photo frames, is commonplace but not limited to living rooms, bedrooms, hallways and staircases. The space you're working with will dictate just how many pieces of artwork and frames you'll need, but even in the most bijou of spaces, some consideration is needed.
There are certain rules to follow when decorating your home with art and a well curated gallery wall should lean into a theme or aesthetic, for example, abstract monochrome prints or coastal images. Alternatively, you could err on the eclectic side with bold block colour prints and typography images juxtaposed with your favourite family photos – a gallery wall is supposed to be expressive, after all.
'Wall art is often chosen as the finishing touch to a room, but it can act as a great starting point when picking the palette for a space,' says Dee Fontenot, Wayfair's global resident style advisor. 'Select a piece with colours that speak to you and then build your surrounding look from there, alighting upon three to four key tones to form the basis of your scheme.'
There are two options for gallery walls:
- Create a gallery wall using your own photographs and art and purchase suitably sized picture frames to hang on the wall.
- Buy a curated set of framed wall art prints (these are often themed such as botanical or landscape prints), that you can simply hang on the wall.
Want to display your most treasured pieces of art, favourite prints, or those special family moments from birthdays, to weddings and new arrivals? Here's how to build the perfect gallery wall...
1. Collect, collect, collect
Much like the beginnings of creating a moodboard, start by making a collection of things you love, including original art, handmade prints and photographs, say the team at Artfinder . As you start collecting, think about the scale of your possible collection and the arrangement you want. Do you want to keep them all the same size? Or work in a mixture of different sizes? Look for inspiration online, in your favourite cafes and restaurants, or at home shows and exhibitions.
2. Create a theme
When you have a selection you're happy with, pick out your favourites and group them by themes, e.g. family, memorable places, happy events, or another mix that means something to you. For art or prints, select colours that go with your room decor or suit the tone of the room you want to display them in. Or, just ones that make you happy.
Stylist's Tip: 'For an eclectic look, don’t limit your gallery wall to just art. Integrating unusual objects, sculptures and even small mirrors will create an artistic finish that makes the eye linger longer,' says Dee.
Take a look at a few gallery wall ideas on Instagram:
3. Even or odd?
Decide if odd or even numbers work best. Sometimes even numbers work well in regimented groups of the same size, but more random arrangements or collections work better with odd numbers.
4. Measure up
Measure your wall space and lay your collection on the floor to consider the size and layout. Do you want neat rows or an organic arrangement? Is there room for you to add more? Do you need to swap anything?
'Before you start hanging art directly on the wall, arrange your wall art on the floor and take your time to perfect the arrangement,' says Dee.
5. Pick your frames
When you are happy with the layout, get your frames. You need to decide whether you want them to blend in or contrast with the wall, or to stand out in their own right. Decide if you want them all exactly the same, or if you want lots of different colours. A white or neutral frame is perfect for Scandi-style interiors, while black picture frames are more suited to contemporary or industrial themed interiors.
Think about collecting different styles of frames in the same colour; this too can add interest. Are they going to be different sizes? If you're buying artwork it might be easier to buy pieces framed or ready to hang on box canvases.
Once you've got your frames, lay it all out on the floor and rearrange if need be. Once you're happy with it, take another picture.
Gallery Set Multi-aperture Photo Frames, 8 Photo, Champagne
6. Hanging
You'll need nails or picture hooks and a hammer – if you're a first timer you might want to make paper templates. Ensure you also have a pencil, rubber, ruler and wall filler to hand in case of mistakes.
Draw lightly on the walls where the top corners of the frames will be, the team at Artfinder advise. Measure and mark how much lower down the picture frame you want your nail holes. Start hammering and get them all up. Use a spirit level to make sure everything is straight.
Crucially, when hanging your art, pay careful attention to the spaces between prints, warns Dee: 'Keeping distances consistent makes for a pleasing and balanced finish, although it’s fine to vary the sizes of your frames.'
Stylist's Tip: 'If you’re hanging art above furniture, try to ensure you leave a space of at least six inches. Anything less and your arrangement will feel cramped,' says Dee.
7. The final look
Stand back, enjoy, and bask in the glory of your creation. Remember, your gallery wall can be easily be swapped or updated with new favourites seasonally, or whenever you feel like. Just decide what you want to take down and either remount or replace it with a similar sized piece.
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The Living Room Edit
