Gallery walls are a creative way to decorate an empty space, but if done incorrectly, they can also be disastrous. And by disastrous I mean this is what my wall looked like after I attempted to create one myself without any direction or planning whatsoever.
Don't let this happen to you.
I thought I had enough of an artistic eye to slap some artwork on my wall and call it a day, but that didn’t exactly work in my favor. Today there are so many ways you can design a gallery wall for all kinds of spaces that I thought it would be beneficial to write a series of posts about how to do so depending on what style you are going for. I hope you find these helpful enough so you don’t end up with a hole-filled wall like I did.
Today, we’ll start with the basics and some helpful tips courtesy of one of the top interior design firms, Homepolish.com:
Step 1: Pick Your Style
First you'll want to decide your aesthetic, because your gallery of art will have to fit the space depending on your style. For example, if you have more of an eclectic taste, you may want to design a gallery wall that’s a bit non-traditional and asymmetrical with different sized pieces all over the place.
Someone going for a classic look may want their artwork nicely lined up in a grid format with all pieces sized exactly the same. Again, there are so many styles these days that we can write an entirely separate post about them, so be sure you select something you have your heart set on before you nail anything down.
You'll also want to decide on a color scheme for your gallery wall and frames before doing anything else. Do you want all of your frames to match? Should they be a mishmash of complimentary colors to the artwork you’re hanging or are you going for a contemporary, all black theme? Either way, don’t be afraid to mix materials—artwork, photos, unframed, sculptures, and different shaped pieces. Doing so will only make the gallery wall more interesting
Step 2: Lay It Out
As we mentioned earlier, without a plan, a gallery wall can truly end up disastrous. Lay out the pieces of your gallery wall on the floor first so you can get an idea of what style you like. Do you want something asymmetrical, more traditional, something mixed with different materials, or a series of frames leaned up on your wall?
A good way to start is by deciding on your focal point or your favorite piece and build your gallery out from there. If you have a variety of artwork, try and mix them up evenly so similar pieces aren’t clumped together. If you’ve tried a few different layouts and aren’t sure which one you like best, snap some pictures as you’re doing this exercise so you remember how you’ve arranged things and so you can go back and decide after you’ve had some time to think about it.
Step 3: Gather Your Supplies
Not only do you need wall art and decor, you’ll also need a hammer, nails, a pencil, a tape measure and a level. Make sure that the nails are strong enough to hold up each frame or whatever you’re hanging. If you’re nailing into a wall without adequate support behind it (you can tell if the nail goes in to the wall too easily) make sure you’re using the appropriate nail or screw anchor, otherwise the nail will just fall right out of the wall. While you’re hanging, use a level to check that you’re not placing each frame on the wall crooked. It will throw off your entire arrangement. Industrial Velcro is another option for lighter pieces or frames. Use it instead of nails, but remember it will only hold so much weight.
Step 4: Mock it Up
Next, to be sure that your composition is placed properly and looks good on the wall, mock it up with paper. Trace each frame onto a piece of kraft or tissue paper, trim to size, and tape to the wall in your desired order.
Ask yourself, is it grouped around nearby furniture appropriately? Is it at a comfortable height? Does it fill the space appropriately? Keep in mind the proportion of art to wall size and vice versa.
Image courtesy of Homepolish.com
Step 5: Hang ‘Em
After you’ve spent some time prepping, this final step should be the easiest. Before you even think about hammering, lay the frames out on the ground in front of the wall and give yourself a preview of your arrangement and spacing.
As with any perfectly placed piece of art, you’ll want to mark each paper with the spot where the nail should be placed, and when the paper is on the wall, hammer it directly into the mark on the paper, tearing the placeholder once your nail is in place. Continue the process with the rest of your pieces and voila, you are done.
Next week we’ll take a look at some of our favorite types of gallery walls and how to style them.