How to Create a DIY Gallery Wall in Your Home
A gallery wall is an easy and stylish way to show off your favorite art and add style to a room. Plus, it’s great for updating the decor as your tastes and preferences evolve over time!
When creating a gallery wall, it’s essential to sketch out the layout beforehand. These tips will help ensure your gallery looks organized and cohesive!
Frames
Gallery walls can be an excellent way to show off your favorite artwork and photos. Not only do they create a focal point in your home, but they add visual interest with frames of various colors, sizes and finishes. Gallery walls offer endless opportunities for visual interest on any wall!
Before you begin creating your DIY gallery wall, it is essential to decide the layout. Use a drawing board, painter’s tape or scissors as guides to get an idea of the desired aesthetic before hanging artwork.
Nayak suggests making cutouts of the frames on scrap paper and testing out different layouts before you commit. Doing this gives you a visual of how they will appear when installed, giving you plenty of time for tweaks and corrections.
Another option is to purchase a kit of pre-cut templates and paper. This will make creating your layout much faster. After creating the templates, simply tap them onto the wall in exactly the desired location for hanging.
If you’re a master of organization, this method can help create the ideal layout for your DIY gallery wall. Depending on how big the gallery and which style appeals to you most, you may space out frames evenly or leave some room between them; either way works depending on its size and intended look.
Furthermore, you can hang your frames at varying heights to create an appealing gallery wall effect. Use a level to ensure the entire wall is level before hanging any frames for added visual interest.
No matter your preferred arrangement, it’s essential to adhere to the rule of thirds when placing frames. Doing this helps avoid having a disorganized gallery wall that appears like you threw everything together without thought.
Once your gallery wall is set up the way you desire, it’s time to hang each frame. Anchors for heavier pieces of art or nails for lighter ones work great; just be sure to check their weight before applying them on your walls.
Artwork
Gallery walls can be an attractive way to show off photos and art without making your wall appear overrun with items. But before you begin, consider where you want to hang artwork as well as which type of images or prints you would like included.
When designing a living room, choose images that complement the color of your walls and other decor elements in the space. Alternatively, smaller-scale artworks could be ideal for nurseries or offices.
When selecting art for your gallery wall, begin with one focal piece such as a large painting or photograph. This should serve as the anchor and form the basis of all other items on your display.
Once you’ve selected your focal piece, it’s time to begin arranging other artwork. Whether working with one large image or multiple smaller ones, hang them a few inches apart – this doesn’t need to be an exact science, but using some sort of standard spacing as a starting point will give you plenty of breathing room when styling each piece.
When working with a larger piece of art, try creating an effect by intergrating several smaller ones around it to create a grid-like pattern. Doing this can give your artwork more cohesiveness and interest in the design.
Mixing different art types and frames to achieve an eclectic aesthetic is a great idea. Try mixing large and small paintings with frames, as well as even out intricate artworks with empty frames or other interesting pieces on your wall for balance.
Another helpful trick when hanging art is using a hanging guide. Hanging large paper templates on the wall serves as an indication for where pictures should be nailed in, making it simple to hang artwork without taking up too much wall space.
If you’re uncertain of how to hang your art, there are plenty of guides online. Some are free and some require payment; either way, these tools help guarantee that your piece will be hung correctly.
Decorative Accessories
Your gallery wall’s decorative accessories help tie together the design and give it a polished, polished appearance. Choose items such as paintings, sculptures and memorabilia to achieve an attractive blend.
Create a more eye-catching gallery wall by mixing and matching colors and styles. Laura Mitchell Interior Design suggests choosing colors that go well with the rest of your room’s decor for an eye-catching effect (see this bedroom idea).
Add some personality to your gallery wall by using different framed pieces that showcase your individual taste. Display family photos or favorite vacation memories for an eye-catching aesthetic.
Another way to make your DIY gallery wall unique is by selecting a theme or story that you are passionate about. This could include anything from traveling the world to honoring your family’s cultural heritage.
Once you’ve selected a theme, select colors for your collection which complement it. This could be something as straightforward as adding complimentary shades or opting for bold, graphic hues.
Before you begin hanging your items, it is essential to test your layout on the floor. This will enable you to decide how they should be organized and avoid having to drill multiple holes in your wall.
Before hanging artwork, draw out the layout on paper to ensure it fits properly and make any necessary adjustments before nailing in the frames. This will guarantee a perfect look!
When hanging artwork, remember to expand upward rather than downward; this way, you don’t end up with a row of crooked frames that detract from the overall aesthetic of your gallery wall.
Finally, when selecting a spot for your gallery wall, it’s best to choose an uncluttered neutral wall that doesn’t compete with any other elements in the space as a focal point or statement piece.
To guarantee the wall is level, use a spirit level and measure its length. After you’ve established the correct height, hang your art and display it proudly on the wall!
Wall Colors
Gallery walls are an enjoyable way to display a carefully chosen selection of wall art in any room of your home. Not only do they add personality and flair, but they’re also easy to create without breaking your budget.
When shopping for art pieces, it’s essential to select a color palette that unites them all. Not only will this create an eye-catching design, but each piece will stand out on its own as well.
When selecting paint colors for artwork, try to steer away from hues that are either too vibrant or subdued. A softer, muted hue will help draw out the details in your art piece and enhance its impact.
For instance, a soft lavender wall would go well with silver-framed artworks and pinkish-orange backgrounds will enhance paintings featuring subtler tones.
Keep your color choices within one family of colors (usually around 2-3) or select one dominant hue that works well with the others. You can also mix hues to create an eye-catching scheme like 2021’s Japandi aesthetic.
Before you begin hanging your wall art, take the time to measure the space where it will hang and mark a suitable spot on the wall. Afterwards, take a step back and determine how best to organize your collection.
If your frame collection includes a variety of sizes, consider mixing and matching their shapes to achieve an unifying aesthetic. Alternatively, create an eclectic style by using different frame widths.
As a general guideline, choose a frame color that complements your artwork and photography. Otherwise, you could end up with an unbalanced mess of hues.
Add some texture and visual interest to your gallery wall by hanging some sculptures, mirrors or vases. Not only are these items eye-catching but they will bring life to your art collection as well.
When planning your gallery wall, it’s essential to keep it balanced and symmetrical, even if your frames are varied in size. To achieve this look, measure your wall and chart each frame’s dimensions onto a chart.