Decorating & Design
Design Pros Share Their Best Tips For Gallery Walls
Updated on January 13, 2022
From bold abstract paintings to personal family photos, gallery walls are a great way to curate your own art collection and create a unique focal point. Designing your own gallery wall isn’t the easiest task, and it can be tricky to choose the right layout, frames, or color scheme. These design and art professionals are sharing their expert tips for creating a beautiful, cohesive display.
Scroll down to see the dos and don’ts of gallery walls!
Go Bold In Open-Plan Spaces
A gallery wall is a great way to bring bold expression to gathering spaces like the living room. “Get a few artworks and mix things up by grouping them together based on your style,” says Alex Liepman, founder of art print shop DROOL. “Don’t worry if your artwork and frames don’t all match — combining multiple styles and mediums can work really well!”
Use A Serene Palette In The Bedroom
“Your bedroom should be a calming space,” says Alex. “Achieve this by picking complementary colors for your gallery wall.” Matching your bedding, pillows or accessories with your art is another way to unify the space.
Pro tip: If possible, hang art away from the natural light to prevent discoloration over time.
Consider Floating Shelves For A Linear Look
When it comes to gallery walls, Designer Hilary Matt likes to keep things simple and clean. To start, find a room with a more neutral scheme, she says. “If you want to do a personal take that mixes family photos with inspiration and travel, utilizing floating shelving is a nice touch,” says Hilary.
Don’t Overspend On Key Elements
For a budget-friendly gallery wall, designer Kate Lester suggests using a variety of inexpensive materials. “Create a display using framed pieces of wallpaper, simple stream-lined pencil sketches and more graphic art, as well as photography in ready-made frames,” says Kate. “The result is dynamic, curated and impactful, and way more interesting than a single piece of expensive traditional art!”
Embrace Tight Spaces
In this home’s entryway, a small gallery wall and bench take up every inch of space under the stairs to create an inviting entrance.”I like playing with tight groupings of art,” says Kate. “Grouping them tightly together can create an interesting focal point.”
Mix It Up With Objects As Art
Kate is an advocate of creating gallery walls with unique, unexpected art. An assortment of objects and framed photographs line this living room wall.
Play With Texture And Size
In this curated gallery wall, Kate opts for the unexpected with a floating instrument alongside art frames of varying sizes. “I love using different textures in frames and art-types — this can bring texture into a space,” she says.
Create A Plan Before You Start
According to designer Shaolin Low, measuring out your space beforehand will help you figure out what frames to use. “You want to have a variety of sizes and shapes to create dimension and texture,” she says. “For photo selection, I would definitely look at all the photos you have side by side and make sure the colors and content match and compliment each other. Then, you can decide which photos goes in which frames.”