How to create great gallery walls

 

A large central print with smaller items hung at the side.

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to creating gallery walls, but I find a few gentle guidelines can make the difference between an ordinary gallery wall and an extraordinary one. I don’t like too many rules, especially for interiors because it make a home seem contrived and a bit cold, but I think these tips are helpful for anyone who isn’t confident enough to let loose! Here are my three main tips and some images of my own gallery walls –

Gold frames help to tie this gallery wall together

Tip #1 – Unity :  I like to have an element that ties all the pieces together whether it be colour, subject,  frame or shape etc. For example, a cluster of unique frames work well when they are all the same colour. In the parlour at the guesthouse I’ve used all gold frames to tie everything together. And below, our family portraits are in a variety frames,  but the tones and colours in the photographs are similar which makes the cluster work.

Family portraits in similar colours and tones

Tip #2 – Organise by size : if you have items of varying sizes it’s best to have the larger items towards the centre with smaller frames or pictures tapering off at the edges. This rule doesn’t always apply,  but it is definitely easier to achieve balance if you arrange your items this way. In the gold bedroom at RedAgape Guesthouse I’ve hung a large oil painting over the bed, in the centre of the wall, with smaller frames and items around this central painting.

The Gold Bedroom at RedAgape Guesthouse – layered with lamps, books and pictures

A large central framed oil painting with smaller frames tapering off around the edges.

Tip #3 – Balance : A poorly composed gallery wall will look and feel awkward. There are a couple of ways to achieve balance – symmetrically or asymmetrically. Try to arrange your items on the floor until they feel right or alternatively, use cardboard or paper to represents your items and blue tac them to the wall. If you are unsure, check out my Pinterest board on gallery walls for layouts that you can reproduce.

Symmetrically arranged vintage prints above a bedhead at RedAgape Guesthouse.

Gallery wall in my daughter’s room

I love gallery walls and can’t recommend them enough. They can inject lots of life and personality into a room. So take the plunge and give a gallery wall a go! 🙂