A great way to showcase your personal taste and make a statement in any room is through a gallery
wall. If you’re in an apartment, house or office space, a gallery wall will turn a bare wall into an eye
grabbing focal point. At first, creating a gallery wall can seem daunting but at least when you know
where to start. The good news is that with just a little effort, you can create a stylish, cohesive
gallery wall that will look like it was ripped from the pages of an interior design magazine. Here’s
how to create a gallery wall like a pro:
1. Pick the Perfect Wall
The first thing that you need to consider in creating your gallery wall is the right wall. Think of those
parts of your home that lead you crying for the love, like huge blank walls in the living room, a
hallway, a bedroom, even above the bed or the couch. Ideally for a gallery wall to work, it has to be
in a central spot and can serve as the focal point. Discourage cluttered areas that will steal an art's
thunder and pick a wall strong enough to hold multiple pieces of art without feeling hemmed in.
2. Decide on a Theme or Style
A consistent theme or style of the gallery wall is one of the keys to its success. Your gallery wall can
easily become fragmented, without a unifying concept. Here are some theme ideas to consider:
Color Palette: Pick art pieces with the same color scheme. Using the same colour scheme on the wall
will give the wall a cohesive look whether it’s neutral tones, pastels, bold hues, etc.
Art Style: If possible, choose a style of art to follow, such as minimalist designs, black and white
photography or abstract paintings, to ensure you create a uniform look with the pieces.
Subject Matter: There can be a theme based on subject matter (travel, nature, etc., or family
portraits), which keeps unity plus allows for variety of different art forms.
Frame Style: If you want to have a minimalist or modern look, then frames of same style and color
work well. To get a more eclectic vibe to your space, mix and match different frame kinds but stick
to similar tones so they tie together.
3. Mix Different Art Sizes
Art of different sizes on one gallery wall is more interesting to look at. Balance smaller pieces with
larger ones to make a dynamic arrangement. If you have a large central piece that you’d like to be
the anchor, build around that with smaller prints, photo prints or objects. All this results in a balance
and a flow of the entire thing, you end up focusing on the arrangement, not on a single artwork.
If you’re not sure about that, then lay all the stuff on the floor before putting it on the wall. This lets
you fiddle with the layout and see how the various sizes will land together. After you’ve arranged it
to your liking, stick it on the wall.
4. Create a Balanced Layout
And balance is so important when it comes to arranging your gallery wall. I am on the hunt for pieces
I can add to make a collection that resonates as a whole, not a jumble. There are a few popular ways
to lay out your art:
Grid Layout: It's a nice way to keep your pieces clean, and organized, in straight rows, and columns.
Formal and symmetrical layout, this layout is good for. Make sure there is even spacing between
each piece so it looks harmonious to the eye.
Salon Style: With a more eclectic, asymmetrical layout in this layout the entire wall is filled with
pieces of differing size and orientation. You can wear this style more casually and relaxed.
Linear Layout: If you are someone who thinks in a simple, structured manner, organize your pieces in
a single horizontal or vertical line. Smaller gallery walls benefit in layout of this typology, providing a
modern, minimalist look.
To be honest, whatever layout you select, the goal should be uniform spacing between the pieces.
Ideally there should be between 2 4 inches between frames, but adjust it to your liking given the size
of your artwork and your space.
5. Frame Your Art
It can raise the artwork to the right frame that allows the work to fade right into the décor around.
Select frames which complement your artwork, your room and your personal style. As far as frames
are concerned, black, white or wooden frames work in almost every setting. But if you plan on
keeping it more eclectic or playful, play around with frames of different materials or with finishes
like metallics, distressed woods, etc.. even colorful frames.
6. Consider Adding Objects
A gallery wall is primarily about the framed artwork, but you can kick it up a notch by incorporating
more elements such as mirrors, wall sconces—or even small sculptures. The other additions will
increase texture and dimension to your gallery wall which will enable to have a unique touch to it.
7. Hang Your Art with Precision
Now comes the fun part: hanging your artwork. Picture hanging hooks offer messy secure
placement, or for a more movable and holefree option, adhesive strips are possible.
8. Step Back and Adjust
Once you’ve got your gallery wall hung, step back and look at the whole thing. Make sure you walk
around the room to make sure the arrangement is balanced and aligned. Gallery walls won’t alway
flow out just perfectly. Don’t be afraid to tweak things if something feels off—gallery walls are often
a work in progress!
Conclusion
A great way to showcase your personal style is by creating a gallery wall — it’s fun, rewarding, and
an easy way to freshen up any room in the house. A bit of planning and creativity can take you all
the way to a beautiful, professional looking display that showcases your style and changes the way
you use your space. If you’re going for a clean grid, an eclectic salon style, or something completely
unique like latest trending mninimalist, you have limitless possibilities. In the palm of your own
hand, you’ll have a meaningful gallery wall in no time.