Gallery Walls: A Beginner’s Guide to Creating Your Own
Growing into a huge design trend, gallery walls are a stylish refined way to fill your walls with art, photographs and all those lovely memories you want to save. With that said, they make for an excellent way to show off your personality, some color and texture in a room, and a bit of cohesion without being too matchy. Whether you’re a grizzled veteran of this decorating game or a complete beginner, then creating a gallery wall is a fun and rewarding project. In this beginner’s guide, I’ll show you how to make your own gallery wall that reflects your style and really makes an impact in your space.
- Choose Your Space
First off, you’ve got to choose the right wall for your gallery wall. Spaces that feel a bit empty or need an extra visual boost gallery walls are perfect for: living rooms, dining areas, bedrooms, hallways, etc. A collection of art can be created in a space on the wall of the choice, which shall not look too tight. Think about the size and floor plan of the room, then furnishings layout.
For example, if you are looking to use a gallery wall above a couch, give yourself 6–12 inches between the bottom of your frames and the top of your furniture. For large, the larger is better try a larger gallery wall and vice versa.
- Curate Your Art and Photos
So next up, create a curation of the pieces you want to include in your gallery wall. And while there are no hard and fast guidelines when it comes to what should appear on a gallery wall, it’s your opportunity to display what you love and ensure that it all looks personal and yours. Consider the following options for a mix of personal and decorative touches:
Artwork: The paintings, drawings, prints or posters can be included. Pick abstract, botanical, or vintage inspired pieces which you like.
Photographs: Sentimental or personal touch can be family portraits, travel photos or snap shots.
Text or Quotes: A gallery wall can be given a lot of character with motivational sayings, quotes, or humorous text based art.
Miscellaneous Pieces: For variety and visual interest add maps, vintage advertisements, fabric swatches, or even small trinkets or keepsakes.
But on it when you’re selecting your pieces, think ahead and think of the mood that you want to set for the room. Do you want it to be relaxed, peaceful or vibrant, eclectic? When choosing pieces, choose ones that aren’t too chaotic — even if they’re the same color or subject.
- Consider the Layout
Thoughtful layout is a major piece of a successful gallery wall. Your pieces should be arranged so that they look and feel balanced, appealing, to the eye. There are several layout styles to choose from, depending on your taste:
Grid Layout: It is a clean, good way to arrange your pieces. They all are aligned in a grid, with exactly same spacing between each piece. It works fine for creating a nice and uniform look.
Salon Style: Often called a “cluster,” or “eclectic” style, this layout will have you placing your frames in an organic, slightly overlapping method. It’s that little bit more casual and art gallery feeling, and works great with a combination of different sizes and frame styles.
Linear Layout: If you want less of a cluttered look, the art can be laid out in a single horizontal or vertical line. Smaller spaces, or when you want to draw attention to a focal point, work especially well with this.
Central Focal Point: Begin with a huge piece in the centre and position smaller pieces about it. It brings all elements together into a cohesive and balanced design, yet ensures the eye concentrates on the middle of the display.
Then lay the frames out on the floor to visualize the layout, before you start hanging. This gives you the freedom to shift and change them as you work before having the final arrangement(s).
- Mix and Match Frames
What’s also exciting about gallery walls is that you can mix different frames and styles for an eclectic, yet cohesive, look. But make sure the frame styles, materials, and colors don’t combat each other.
Consistent Color Scheme: Use similar frames, going with all black, gold, or wood frames and mixing different types of art. It makes it look uniform and feels like it’s coordinated.
Varied Frames: Alternatively, you can choose to combine completely different types of frames, for instance, they can be thin mother of pearl frames, rustic wood frames, sleek acrylic frames or anything in between. By mixing frame styles you can add depth and dimension to the display.
Frame Size: Add in a selection of different frame sizes to give the look some vibe. Pairing larger statement pieces and smaller prints in the same space can help add visual interest and avoid the boring drip of the wall being a single print over and over again.
Whichever way you will look at the frames, you will try to achieve balance between the frames. Uniformity can be too much of a good thing; too little can appear as chaos.
Items – l items such as fabric swatches, post cards, or even small objets d’art that could be mounted in shadow boxes or frames.
- Ensure the Right Balance
The last tip for a successful gallery wall is about balance. Don’t let all the possibilities get away with you, but remember, too many pieces in one section of the wall makes the display uneven. Think about how each piece feels visually heavy and distribute the art work on the wall accordingly, so that it looks balanced. If your large and bold piece is balance out with smaller or lighter pieces in its area.
With so many pieces you love but no clue how to incorporate them into your home, creating a gallery wall is a fun (and creative) option to decorate your space with things that mean something to you. Whether it’s a few pieces of art or you’re aiming for a bold, eclectic look, a thoughtfully designed gallery wall can breathe life into your space and reveal all the wonderful quirks of your personal style. By choosing artwork you love, choosing frame styles that suit it, and arranging your pieces with care, you can come up with art pieces set that is absolutely beautiful and unique, and will make a big impact any room in your house.