How to Make an Art Gallery Wall
Art gallery walls are an enduring and timeless way to invigorate your walls, express your personality, and demonstrate a life well lived. When done with consideration, this design trend looks effortless. If you’re not sure where to start, read our guide on how to make an art gallery wall.
Why art gallery walls are here to stay
Art gallery walls are an excellent way to make a dramatic and immersive statement in your home. By collecting several different pieces of art and displaying them together on a single wall, you can deliver a curated and personal narrative to your home. This inventive decor approach allows you to blend photos, canvases, and prints of different shapes and sizes into a coherent whole.
How to make an art gallery wall
A good art gallery wall might appear like a spontaneous mix of different pieces, but they require a bit of planning.
1. Collect your art
The first step is to collect the art that you want to hang on your gallery wall. You can use a mix of different sizes or keep things uniform. However, these pieces thrive on a certain level of contrast.
2. Measure your space
Measure out the space that you want to allocate for your art gallery wall. You can use a tight space or a whole wall. Everything depends on the specific room and how many pieces you want to hang.
3. Start on the floor
If you have the space, lay out your art on the floor. Use tape to define the dimensions of where you will hang the art. That way, you can play around with different arrangements until you settle on a composition that you like best.
As a general rule, your biggest piece of art should take center stage. Then, you can work the other pieces around them.
4. Take a photo
Once you’ve settled on the right positioning, it’s time to take a photo. That will provide you with a helpful reference point for when you are putting everything on the wall.
5. Hang the art
When you’re happy with your composition, it’s time to hang the art. While smaller pieces can be suspended by adhesive, larger and heavier works may need to be screwed into a wall stud. So, ensure you research the weight of each piece and use appropriate hanging materials.
Alternative methods for planning out your wall
Of course, while using the floor is a great way to get a good sense of how your art gallery wall will look, not everyone has the space. Thankfully, there are other methods that you can use when you’re figuring out how to make an art gallery wall look just right in your home.
Go digital
There are lots of apps that allow you to take photos and arrange them. Adobe has some free tools, but there are plenty of other options. So, if you don’t want to use the floor method, you can take photos of your art, arrange them in relative size, and drag and drop them around a screen.
Tape and trace
Finally, you can go old school and use the tape and trace method. For this, you need to trace the frames and use tape to put the outline on your wall. The downsides of this method are its lack of sustainability and the fact that you see outlines, but not the art itself, together.
Art gallery wall best practices
While there are no strict rules for how to make a gallery wall, there are some best practices to help you achieve the look. Here are a few tips that will come in handy.
Matching tones
Finding the right balance for an art gallery wall can be tricky. Yes, you want to use contrast, but just like any other decor within your home, you need some level of tonal consistency. Color is a great way to provide a touch of uniformity without going too far. So, if you are shopping for art for your gallery wall, look for hues that match and represent each one a couple of times across your space.
Spacing
Spacing is another thing to consider. Too close together, and your art gallery wall will feel cluttered and confusing; too far apart, and you’ll negate the effect. As a general rule, try to place your pieces about three to six inches apart and go from there.
Different styles
Art gallery walls are a great choice for people with eclectic tastes. While you are free to include a piece from every significant art movement in history, a gallery wall works best when you limit the genres. Try two or three different styles together, and consider adding more if they are tonally coherent.
Symmetry or asymmetry
Some gallery walls use a very rigid placement. This effect can look very striking, especially with pieces of a similar size. However, asymmetrical arrangements can create a feeling of organized chaos that bursts with life and vitality. It’s a delicate balance.
Framed or unframed
If you have an existing collection for your art gallery wall, some pieces may be framed with others unframed. If you’re wondering if you can mix both types, the answer is an overwhelming yes.
Additionally, you can also mix and match different types of frames. However, just like colors and styles, it’s worth trying for tonal harmony where possible.
We believe art wields the power to inspire, energize, and transform people and places. Our team of curators and craftspeople are passionate about providing art that meets your unique vision and style.