Hanging pictures and putting together the perfect gallery wall can be deceptively tricky. There are many elements to consider, such as lighting, spacing and layout. Overcrowding (or under filling), uneven gaps between artwork and lopsided alignment are pretty common mistakes. Not to mention the hassle of refilling and patch painting all those drywall holes from repeated attempts to get it looking right.
But once you find that perfect balance, a gallery wall can be a brilliant way to cohesively showcase family photos, meaningful art and special mementos simultaneously. So, to unlock this core decorating skill — and avoid turning your wall into a dartboard — take these tips to heart, and get it done right from the get-go.
Tools:
Measuring tape
Long ruler
Roll of newsprint or large cardstock paper
Level
Pencil
Frame hooks and hammer (or weight-bearing adhesive hooks)
Masking tape
Related: Style Your Home Like a Luxury Home Stager With These 10 Tips
1. Pick a Wall
Choosing which wall to use can be just as important as picking which art to hang. Ideally, look for a wall space with lots of natural light but without any windows or doors. If the space is on the darker side, consider incorporating wall sconces or a vintage reading light into the display to brighten it up.
The decorating rule of thirds also applies to gallery walls — aim to fill up two thirds, leaving a third bare. This open space works as a visual “frame” around the whole display. Also, don’t squash frames up too close to the ceiling — create a 10-inch buffer from the top of the wall.
If the gallery wall is going above a large piece of furniture, keep the frames contained within the length/width of the couch, table or armchair. Going beyond the border can make the gallery wall feel overbearing in the space. Get clear on what two thirds looks like by measuring it out and putting up a masking-tape border on the wall.
2. Gather Your Art
Collecting art is such a personal process that this tip is simple — put up what you like! Seriously. It could be a triptych of enormous, professionally framed art prints that stand alone in the space. Or maybe you’ve thrifted a cool oil canvas and you’d like to mix it up, mad-hatter style, with a cheeky embroidered message, your niece’s doodles and a collection of float-mounted train tickets.
Almost any combination of art and objects can work — it’s the attention to spacing and proportion that’s important here. That being said, if you prefer a more curated look to a gallery wall, select a colour palette or singular frame colour and stick to it. Picking pieces with a similar tone or intensity creates unity. For example, if black-and-white photos in simple black frames are a big part of the grouping, select other monotone or dark-framed pieces.
Having a mix of horizontal and vertical pieces will also make the gallery wall more interesting. Round or oval pieces in a group of straight-framed pieces is a welcome surprise; adding in woven or ceramic pieces brings texture. For bigger walls, make sure to have one to three big pieces to start — they’ll work as a visual anchor in the centre. For smaller a wall, have five to seven small-to-medium sized pieces on hand.
Related: How to Start a Junk Journal
3. Mix and Match
Measure out the total size of the “frame” of your gallery wall (reminder: two thirds of the wall, or the space above a piece of furniture). Use masking tape to mark it out on the floor. Now, here comes the fun part — figuring out what to put where.
Take all the frames, art pieces and mementos and test out different setups. Take a look at each from different aspects — when you step back, does it look balanced? Also, snap photos along the way so there’s a visual record of all the combos; this will help make the final decision.
Find the middle point of the frame, and place the biggest or most substantial pieces there (or slightly off centre). Then work out from that central point, spacing out each piece evenly. Try putting similarly sized frames together, grouping smaller ones into clusters, where possible. Grouping like with like helps balance out the bigger collection.
4. Lay It Out
When noodling around with layout options, there are a couple different formation formats to consider. A symmetrical layout uses similarly sized pieces, and places equal focus on each by using the same spacing across the board. It’s formal, structured and striking; its simplicity makes it easy for the eye to follow.
For a more laidback gallery wall, an asymmetrical layout uses a variety of differently sized pieces with varying spacing between. It’s casual and more free flowing, which makes it easier to add more pieces over time without too much hassle. To keep this more laissez-faire formation from feeling messy, line up the tops or sides of frames. This will give the collection some form without feeling too confined.
Related: Picture Perfect: A Foolproof Guide to Hanging Pictures Perfectly, Every Time
5. Spacing Is Everything
Getting the spacing just right is what separates a pedestrian gallery wall from a professionally designed one. Appropriate spacing makes the art stand out, and creates cohesiveness in a display that, by its very nature, is fragmented.
So, here’s a good standard to start with: for small-room walls, stick close to two inches; for medium-sized displays, two and half inches; and for larger walls, use up to three inches. Frame size is also something to consider — a larger frame can handle a bigger gap.
Now, these are just suggestions — how you’d like your room to feel also plays a part. For a cozy reading nook, you might want to tighten up the intermittent space; but for a large, open-concept dining room, more space might complement its airy aesthetic.
6. Wall Test
Use the newsprint or cardstock to cut out all the shapes of the final selection of frames and art pieces. Tape these templates to the wall in your favourite formation, working out from the centre and from biggest to smallest. Confirm the spacing is uniform and everything is lined up evenly with ruler and level. While this technical process can be tedious, front-end loading the work now will be worth it (promise).
Stand back — are you happy with the configuration? Consider sitting with the layout for a day or two. If there are any holes in the mix, fix them before pulling out the hammer and nails. With everything in place, hold up each frame to its corresponding paper template. To get the exact spot for the hanging nail or hook, measure the distance from the top of the frame to its hanging wire or bracket.
Rinse and repeat until the gallery wall is complete, and everything perfectly aligned the first time around — and with it, this well-earned decorating skill is now officially unlocked.
