How to Style a Gallery Wall
Let your home tell your story through this uniquely personal gallery of images you curate
The gallery wall is today’s feature wall, and it’s more affordable (no extra carpentry, no special materials) and personal than feature walls of old.
What it is
A gallery wall is a curated selection of framed photographs, posters or postcards, quotes and even objects such as mirrors, commemorative plates and travel memorabilia. These are all gathered and hung together on a wall, creating a graphic pattern as viewed from afar, and inviting the viewer to come closer and inspect each individual image.
A gallery wall is a curated selection of framed photographs, posters or postcards, quotes and even objects such as mirrors, commemorative plates and travel memorabilia. These are all gathered and hung together on a wall, creating a graphic pattern as viewed from afar, and inviting the viewer to come closer and inspect each individual image.
Each gallery wall is unique, because it’s a personal curation, and the photos displayed are personal photos that celebrate significant events, travels and relationships. It’s an inspiration board magnified to wall size, so it’s something that will always bring a smile to the homeowner’s face, and be a conversation piece for guests.
Styling tip: Designate a central focus, such as the mirror in this photo. Place your framed photos and posters around it evenly. Don’t forget to add some quotes and illustrations with your photos.
Styling tip: Designate a central focus, such as the mirror in this photo. Place your framed photos and posters around it evenly. Don’t forget to add some quotes and illustrations with your photos.
Not sure where to start? Try three posters, prints or large-format photos of something that you’re really excited about. In this house, for example, it’s graphic movie posters.
Styling tip: If you’re not yet confident about styling your gallery wall, choose uniform sizes and frame colours.
Styling tip: If you’re not yet confident about styling your gallery wall, choose uniform sizes and frame colours.
If you’re feeling confident enough to fill up a whole wall, go for it! You don’t have to follow the art-hanging rule of keeping something at eye level. A gallery wall displays more character when it’s full – it’s a visual representation of your full heart!
Styling tip: Mix and match frame sizes and finishes – if you’re confident enough about your selection, it doesn’t matter if you mix up metallic, wooden and painted frames of various sizes.
Styling tip: Mix and match frame sizes and finishes – if you’re confident enough about your selection, it doesn’t matter if you mix up metallic, wooden and painted frames of various sizes.
Styling tip: Want to call more attention to your gallery wall? Paint it a beautifully contrasting colour that will make your curation pop.
See more gallery wall ideas
See more gallery wall ideas
Styling tip: If you don’t want to commit to a specific arrangement of photos and mementoes, use picture rails for your gallery wall. This will allow you to move images around until you’re satisfied with the arrangement.
Renting? You may not be able to install picture rails, but you can still enjoy a gallery wall without drilling holes into the wall. Use 3M hooks or picture hanging strips that you can remove without damaging the paintwork.
Don’t want to hang? Lean it!
Renting? You may not be able to install picture rails, but you can still enjoy a gallery wall without drilling holes into the wall. Use 3M hooks or picture hanging strips that you can remove without damaging the paintwork.
Don’t want to hang? Lean it!
Where to have a gallery wall
In a nutshell – anywhere you like! Try the living room…
In a nutshell – anywhere you like! Try the living room…
… dining room…
… bedroom…
… hallway…
… and stairway.
For gallery walls as well as feature walls, not all walls should be gallery walls (else you wouldn’t know where to look!). Choose one wall that gets little traffic, or one wall where most people spend the most time in, and fill that wall up.
TELL US
Do you have a gallery wall? Share what you have on it, or post a photo in the Comments section.
For gallery walls as well as feature walls, not all walls should be gallery walls (else you wouldn’t know where to look!). Choose one wall that gets little traffic, or one wall where most people spend the most time in, and fill that wall up.
TELL US
Do you have a gallery wall? Share what you have on it, or post a photo in the Comments section.