How to Create the Perfect Gallery Wall

If you have a large blank space in your living room or want to add some excitement to a plain hallway or staircase, a gallery wall is a perfect solution. You can display family photos, different pieces of artwork, and shadowboxes filled with special and nostalgic items. While there are no hard and fast rules to putting together your gallery wall, there are some tips that will help you create a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing final product.

Use White Matting

Surrounding your photos and art in frames with white matting brings a sense of cohesion to the wall. It also works to bring out the colors of what you're framing. Using dark or multiple colors of matting is always an option, but takes a little more care to pull off a cohesive look.

Choose the Right Frames

Fortunately, you can’t’ really go wrong here. Some people like to keep things uniform and use the same color and type of frame for the entire gallery. Others prefer a more eclectic look with lots of different colors and textures of frames. This tends to make it look as if you have been collecting and building your gallery over time. If you go this route, try to use something, such as white matting, to create a sense of unity among the pieces.

Start with a Foundation Piece

If you are going for more of a freeform approach and will be using different size pieces, start with your main foundation piece and build the gallery out from that point. This doesn’t necessarily have to be the largest piece. Perhaps it uses the boldest colors or is your most treasured piece of art. It's up to you.

Test Different Arrangements

Before you start nailing holes in the wall, clear off space on your floor where you can try different arrangement options. You can move things around as much as you want and find a design you love without any commitment.

Create a Grid

For those who want a completely organized look with complete continuity, you can lay out the gallery grid on your wall using paper templates. This involves a little more work, but it will give you a clear vision of the final product and allow you to swing that hammer with confidence. Simply trace the shape of each frame on a piece of paper to create an easy template that can be taped to the wall. You can level each template and mark the top center spot with a pencil, so you'll know exactly where to palace the nail.

Watch Your Spacing

Even if you decide to take a more freeform approach, spacing is key to a beautiful final product. As a rule of thumb, you will want to place two inches between each frame. Taking the time to do a little measuring can go a long way to perfecting your gallery wall.

If you have admired beautiful gallery walls online and in magazines, there is no reason you can’t recreate this look in your own home. Find a general style you like and use these tips to create a gallery wall that highlights both your style and the art and photos you love.