Creating a Gallery Wall: 10 Steps for a Professional Look

Ever found yourself drooling over those stunning gallery walls on Instagram and longed to bring that same chic vibe to your own space? 

In this article we’re unveiling the 10 steps to craft your own swoon-worthy gallery wall. 

But, fair warning: These tips aren’t your average DIY fare - with over 4 years dedicated to curating artwork for spaces, we’re spilling some insider secrets you won’t find anywhere else. 

• 1: Plan Your Layout.

  • Symmetry vs. Asymmetry: Decide whether you want a symmetrical, grid-like arrangement or a more organic, asymmetrical layout. Symmetry offers a clean, more formal look, while asymmetry can feel more dynamic and personal.

  • Paper Templates: Cut out paper templates the size of each frame and arrange them on the wall with tape. This allows you to experiment with different layouts without making holes.

• 2: Select Your Frames.

  • Variety vs Uniformity: If you’re going for a more structured, formal look, choosing the same frame for your pieces will help to achieve that. If you’re opting for a more personal and relaxed aesthetic, use frames of different sizes, colours, and materials - this adds visual interest and depth to your gallery wall.

  • Tip for Variety: Determine a palette for your framing to make sure everything ties together nicely. This gives you the freedom to mix profiles, materials, and finishes with the confidence that things work together. 

  • Mounting artworks: The way you mount your art can make a big difference. Try edge-to-edge framing, single or double mounts, or our favourite - float frames, which make the art look like it's floating inside the frame.

• 3. Mix Art Styles and Mediums.

  • Diverse Selection: Incorporate a mix of art styles, including paintings, photographs, prints, and even three-dimensional objects like sculptures or textiles.

  • Cohesive Color Palette: Choose pieces that share a common colour palette to create a cohesive look, even with varied art styles.

• 4. Choose a Focal Point.

  • Anchor Piece: Start with a large or striking piece in the centre or slightly off-centre. This piece will act as the anchor around which the other pieces are arranged.

  • Balanced Composition: Distribute weight evenly around the focal point. Make sure that no area feels too heavy or too light.

• 5. Spacing and Alignment.

  • Even Spacing: Keep the spacing between frames consistent. A good rule of thumb is to leave about 5cm between each piece.

  • Alignment: If you’ve opted for a more formal aesthetic, make sure the edges of your artworks are aligned properly. If you’ve opted for a more relaxed aesthetic, you can let the edges be misaligned - just make sure to consider their relationship to each other for a balanced composition.

• 6. Consider the Wall Colour.

  • Complementary Background: Consider changing the colour of your wall to complement your artwork. Lighter art on dark walls and vibrant pieces on neutral walls can create striking contrasts.

• 7. Lighting

  • Highlighting Art: Use accent lighting such as picture lights, sconces, or track lighting to highlight your gallery wall. Proper lighting can enhance the colours and details of your artwork.

  • Avoid Glare: Ensure that your lighting doesn’t cause glare on the glass of the frames. Angled or diffused lighting can help reduce this - so can opting for museum or anti-reflective glass when framing your pieces.

• 8. Personal Touches.

  • Incorporate Personal Items: Mix in personal items like family photos, travel souvenirs, or meaningful quotes to make the gallery wall uniquely yours.

  • Storytelling: Think about the narrative your gallery wall tells. Arrange your pieces in a way that reflects a journey, theme, or story.

• 9. Edit and Rotate.

  • Seasonal Changes: Don’t be afraid to rotate pieces seasonally or as your tastes change. This keeps the gallery wall fresh, and reflects your evolving style and experiences.

10. Final Touches

• Step Back and Assess: After hanging, step back and view your gallery wall from different angles to ensure balance and cohesion.

• Seek Feedback: Sometimes a fresh set of eyes can offer new perspectives. Don’t hesitate to ask us for our opinion.

Let’s chat one-on-one to tailor these steps to your space - Book a free call now.