How to make a gallery wall

Gallery walls are a common feature in modern interiors. They often display family photos that evoke wonderful memories, as well as paintings and posters that showcase your personal taste.

When creating an art wall for the first time, you might feel stuck because the arrangement doesn’t seem to come together cohesively. However, with our guide featuring simple tips, you can easily design a gallery wall that perfectly complements your interior.

Plan the arrangement of your gallery wall before hanging it up.

Outline the placement of the frames on the wall using painter's tape, which will not leave marks. Alternatively, you can cut out approximate sizes of the frames from paper or tracing paper and gently stick them to the wall with washi tape.

If you already know the sizes of the frames you want to use, that's fantastic! However, if you're unsure, don’t worry. You can easily browse Amazon or your favorite home store to find frames that appeal to you, or you can check out the most popular frame sizes.

Begin with the largest and most significant element of your composition.

When designing your gallery wall, begin by focusing on the largest, most vibrant, or particularly meaningful artworks that you want to showcase. These standout pieces should take center stage, so it's important to arrange them thoughtfully to ensure they harmonize with the surrounding decor. Be mindful not to let these key elements clash with other features in your space, such as lamps, lighting fixtures, hooks, or shelves, which could distract from their impact. If you have several captivating pieces, avoid clustering them together; instead, space them out across the wall to foster a more dynamic and visually engaging composition that invites the viewer's eye to explore the entire arrangement.

Symmetry is the enemy of art... but there are some exceptions.

The Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi highlights the beauty found in imperfection, impermanence, and naturalness. It encourages the appreciation of beauty in incompleteness, asymmetry, and change. When creating a gallery wall, try to avoid arranging all the elements symmetrically.

However, there are exceptions; for instance, if your entire interior design is based on symmetry, such as around a fireplace or lighting, or if you intend to display no more than six pieces in your gallery wall.

If you've decided to create a symmetrical art wall, make sure the symmetry is supported by the arrangement of furniture, lighting, and other elements in the space. Avoid placing a symmetrical composition on a blank wall without any context. For example, a large number of posters arranged symmetrically in a straight line can look unappealing:

Blend the decor with the artwork

We refer to this as adding a little spice. Your wall doesn't need to be made up solely of posters or photos. Consider incorporating a neon light, a macramé decoration, some pottery, a musical instrument, or a quirky toy. The gallery wall should reflect the overall mood of the space.