Gallery Walls Made Easy: Your Guide to Design
Introduction: Why a Gallery Wall?
Imagine walking into a room that feels uniquely yours—every corner tells a story, every wall a testament to your journey, tastes, and experiences. A gallery wall, at its core, is a reflection of you.
It’s more than just decor; it’s a living, breathing arrangement that evolves with you over time. Unlike mass-produced artwork or cookie-cutter interior design, a gallery wall offers the chance to create a bespoke experience for anyone who steps into your home.
Perhaps you've collected a range of prints from artists you admire, or maybe you’ve framed snapshots of precious moments. Or, you have a mix of paintings, personal sketches, and inherited pieces, each with a special meaning. A gallery wall takes all those moments and ideas and allows them to coexist in one harmonious space.
But a gallery wall is not just about slapping frames on the wall haphazardly. Like any great piece of art, it requires thought, strategy, and a touch of creativity.
This guide will take you through the ins and outs of creating a gallery wall, with an emphasis on blending personal meaning with design know-how to produce a space that feels beautifully curated, yet still deeply personal.
Understanding the Magic of a Gallery Wall
The Gallery Wall as Storytelling
There’s something magical about the way a gallery wall pulls people in. When done right, it can stop guests in their tracks. They’ll walk closer, drawn by the variety of textures, colours, and images, curious to know more. Unlike a single, large painting or a neatly framed mirror, a gallery wall speaks to the multifaceted layers of your life.
Each piece of art, each frame, and each layout decision tells a chapter in the story of your home. Perhaps the oversized photograph is a memory of a trip that changed your life. The smaller sketches might be your children’s drawings, celebrating their creativity. The antique mirror tucked into the corner? It’s something passed down from a grandparent. The mix of memories and visuals creates a space full of energy and character.
Types of Gallery Wall Layouts
While the beauty of a gallery wall is its versatility, understanding different layout styles can give your design a head start. Below are several layouts, each with its own personality and ideal use case. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution—it’s all about what resonates with you.
Boxed Layout: For the Lover of Symmetry
The boxed layout is like a symphony of order and balance. If you're someone who finds calm in neatness, this layout may be your perfect fit. In this design, frames are arranged to create a grid, forming a larger rectangle or square on your wall. This uniform arrangement brings an immediate sense of structure to the space.
This type of gallery wall works particularly well in rooms where you want to introduce a sense of quiet sophistication—like a formal dining room or a hallway. You can use identical frames to reinforce the symmetry or mix things up slightly with varying frame styles, as long as the overall structure remains intact.
Pro Tip: When working with a boxed layout, consistency is key. Stick to the same size and type of artwork for a modern, clean look. You might try black-and-white photography or minimalist line drawings.
Eclectic Layout: For the Creative Spirit
If the boxed layout is a symphony, the eclectic layout is a jazz improvisation. This layout is for those who don’t mind breaking the rules to create something truly unique. It’s perfect if you have a wide array of art styles, frame shapes, and sizes. An eclectic gallery wall embraces chaos, but that chaos is intentional.
Arranging an eclectic gallery wall is a bit like putting together a puzzle. There’s no strict template to follow, but you need to ensure the pieces fit together harmoniously. While the art doesn’t need to be evenly spaced or symmetrical, it should still feel balanced. For example, placing several small frames next to one large one can create visual balance.
Pro Tip: To avoid making your wall feel cluttered, try sticking to a common theme or colour palette across the different artworks and frames. This will help the wall feel cohesive, even amidst the varied arrangement.
Ascending Layout: For the Vertical Space Explorer
The ascending layout is the perfect solution for making use of vertical spaces, especially in areas like staircases or narrow corridors. In this layout, pieces of art are arranged to follow an upward or downward incline, echoing the rise or fall of the space.
This layout not only makes use of tricky spaces but also draws the eye upward, creating a sense of grandeur and height. This works especially well with pieces that have a linear or vertical theme.
Pro Tip: Stairways often get neglected when it comes to decor. Using an ascending layout here not only brightens the space but also creates a dynamic, ever-changing display as you walk up or down the stairs.
Crafting a Unique Perspective for Your Space
The First Step: Collecting Your Artworks
Before jumping into arranging frames, pause to consider the artwork itself. What do you want your gallery wall to convey? What story do you want to tell? This is where personal reflection meets practical design. The art you select should resonate with you on a personal level, but it should also complement the overall style and tone of the room.
Perhaps you’ve collected artwork over the years without a specific end goal in mind. Or maybe you’re just starting to curate pieces for your gallery wall.
Personal Curation
Each room in your home has a different feel and function, and your gallery wall should reflect that. The bedroom might call for intimate, relaxing pieces like soft watercolours or personal photographs, while a living room gallery wall could lean toward bold, statement-making art. Don’t shy away from mixing different mediums - photographs, sketches, prints, and even three-dimensional objects like hanging planters or woven textiles.
The Importance of Framing
Frames do more than just protect your artwork; they add an additional layer of texture and style to your gallery wall. A sleek black frame will give a completely different feel to the same artwork than, say, a rustic wooden one.
Matching Frames for a Uniform Look
There’s a certain elegance in uniformity, especially if you have multiple artworks of a similar style. Choosing matching frames is a great way to unify a diverse range of art. This technique works particularly well for minimalist or modern homes, where clean lines and a streamlined look are key.
Mixing Frames for a Playful Vibe
On the other hand, mixing different frame styles adds visual interest and can be especially effective in more eclectic or bohemian spaces. Imagine a polished gold frame sitting beside a distressed wooden one or a white lacquered frame paired with something more organic, like bamboo. The juxtaposition of these elements adds depth and personality to your gallery wall.
Frame Styles to Consider
Wooden Frames: Adds warmth and texture to the gallery wall, perfect for traditional or farmhouse-inspired interiors.
Metal Frames: Great for industrial or modern styles, metal frames offer a sleek and contemporary edge.
Floating Frames: For a more minimalistic and airy feel, floating frames showcase your art without the bulk of traditional framing.
Visualising Your Layout
Using Painter’s Tape to Mock Up Your Design
Before you start drilling holes, step back and visualise. Using painter’s tape is a simple yet effective method to plan your gallery wall before committing to anything permanent.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:
Mark Out Your Space: Measure the area of the wall you want to cover with your gallery. Use painter’s tape to outline that space on the wall.
Create Tape Outlines for Each Frame: Measure the dimensions of each frame you plan to hang, and use the tape to outline the frames on the wall. You can use paper to cut out the size of the artwork as well. This way, you can see exactly how the pieces will fit together.
Step Back and Adjust: Take a step back and assess how the mock layout feels in the room. Make sure there’s balance between the large and small pieces and that the arrangement doesn’t overwhelm the space.
Step-by-Step: Designing Your Gallery Wall in Canva
For those who prefer a digital method, Canva is an excellent tool for mocking up your gallery wall virtually. Here’s how to do it:
Photograph Your Artwork: Take clear, well-lit photos of each piece you plan to hang.
Create a Blank Canvas in Canva: Open Canva and create a custom canvas that matches the dimensions of your wall.
Upload Your Artwork: Import the photos of your artwork into Canva.
Start Arranging: Drag and drop each piece onto the canvas, experimenting with different layouts and placements.
Finalise and Save: Once you’re happy with the arrangement, save the design as a reference for when you’re ready to hang the pieces on the wall.
Pro Tips for Creating a Polished Gallery Wall
Start from the Centre: Whether you’re working with a boxed layout or an eclectic design, starting from the centre helps anchor the arrangement.
Keep Spacing Consistent: Spacing between frames should be consistent, even if the frame sizes vary. Typically, 2-4 inches between each piece works best.
Use a Level: Nothing ruins a gallery wall like crooked frames. Invest in a spirit level to make sure everything is perfectly aligned.
Balance is Key: Even in an eclectic layout, balance is crucial. Don’t put all the large frames on one side—try to distribute the visual weight evenly across the wall.
By now, you should feel ready to tackle your own gallery wall with confidence. Need any help or design templates? Then order my gallery wall planner!
Whether you’re aiming for a neat grid of family photos or an eclectic collection of art and objects, remember that the most important element is you. Your story, your taste, your space. So take your time, enjoy the process, and have fun creating something truly one-of-a-kind.
