Tips for Creating a Gallery Wall

Gallery walls are one of my favorites for filling up those blank wall spaces, both small and large. Looking for an idea to add to your walls without looking cluttered? Well here you go!

The best thing about gallery walls is that you can create them however you would like, with whatever you would like, whether it's DIY wall art, photography, etc.

Here are 6 tips for choosing pieces for your gallery wall, layout and hanging:

1) Choosing pieces for your gallery wall

The beauty is you can make this as customized as possible. Do you have photos you've been wanting to frame? Do you have other wall art pieces? You can choose to combine them, or just use one consistent look for the gallery. In my space, I knew I wanted to display the photos I took from our trip to Europe but at the time I wasn't sure how I would do that. Then, voila! I purposefully edited my photos to be B+W since that's the look I was going for to match some of the black and white decor in my living room and kitchen area. You don't have to do it this way though. Use color (did I really just say that?! ;)) However, if you do use color make sure there is a consistent theme throughout and it doesn't look like a random compilation of pictures. Add other wall art in the mix, such as wall tapestries, initials, etc. depending on the space.

2) Create balance + grid style

The gallery doesn't necessarily have to be in rows, however you want to make sure you create some sort of balance when laying this out. Think about creating a grid with your pieces

3) Think about the story you want to tell

Whether you have all photos or a mix of other pieces, think about the story you want to tell with your gallery. Do you want to tell a story from left to right, top to bottom? A story doesn't have to be literal here- but depending on the items you use you want to consider colors you are using, order of the items you are laying out, etc.

4) Use matching frames

Using matching frames creates a visual consistency and makes the whole gallery looks like it belongs together. I like using bolder/darker frames (such as these black ones I got from Hayneedle). They come in white too which is another contrast depending on your wall color.

5) Lay out the gallery before hanging + create a starting point

I highly recommend laying out the gallery on the ground before you begin nailing holes in your wall. Figure out the exact placement, width between, and how you want to organize the items. First, you need to find your starting point. Begin with the biggest, or boldest, piece of artwork. If it's all similar, you can choose whatever starting point you want. Once you have that piece you are working around, begin building around it.

6) Use a grid when hanging

One of the reasons I liked ordering the frames from Hayneedle was because they provided a grid which made the process of hanging SUPER easy. I know other companies like Framebridge provide this as well. If you don't have a grid to work off of, no worries. You can create your own using a large poster and measuring out the width and height between the frames. It takes a little bit more time but it can be done to ensure there is proper spacing with your gallery wall.