5 Tips for Building a Gallery Wall in Your Home
By Amy Wright | Jan 17, 2018
A gallery wall (also known as a photo wall) is a beautiful addition to any home or rental apartment. They can add so much depth and make a room infinitely more interesting. The beautiful thing about them is that there are so many ways to create one, but you need to put the appropriate amount of thought and effort into it. Here are some practical tips for creating a gallery wall that’s perfect for you.
1. Find the perfect wall space.
A huge empty wall in your home is often a great spot to hang your gallery wall. That being said, it’s not the only place you can put it. It can look great near a fireplace, above a bed, around windows and doors, near kitchen cabinets, above the crib in a nursery, and more. Gallery walls are perfect for homes and apartments of any size, even small spaces because you can tailor the gallery wall to fit any space!
2. Choose the right photo prints.
Here are some questions you’ll want to ask yourself before you get started. What theme am I going for with my photo wall? Am I looking for one that’s uniform, or am I hoping to mix and match? How many pieces do I want to hang up? Do I want to add other decorative items aside from photo prints (e.g. clocks, souvenirs, mirrors, etc.)?
3. Use the floor and stencils.
Once you have a few photos and items that you think will look good together, how will you arrange them on your wall?
Use large pieces of craft paper or newspapers and put them on the floor. Put your pieces on top of it. Move them around on the floor until you find a layout that you’re happy with. Trace each of the photo prints and items and cut them out. Using painter’s tape, stick these stencils to the wall in the desired arrangement. Use a tape measure to get the spacing right and a level to make sure the stencils of the prints are aligned.
Taking these steps will save you from hanging them up in the wrong places. You don’t want to waste time doing that!
Gorgeous gallery wall by Art by Megan
Photo credit: Art by Megan
4. Don’t be afraid to go off-center.
Speaking of arrangements and layout, don’t be afraid to have your focal piece (if you choose to have one) hanging to the side of the center. That’s not to say that hanging it in the middle is a bad thing, but consider different layouts where the focal point can be off to the side. There are many different combinations you can try out.
5. Let it grow, let it grow!
A gallery wall doesn’t have to be static; like all things in life, it can evolve and change over time. You can add more canvas prints, framed prints or other items to expand the gallery wall, or even switch out old pieces for new ones. The only limit is your imagination.
If you’re looking for more gallery wall tips? Check out our blog post, Gallery Wall: Canvas Print Display Ideas.
Are you ready to start creating your masterpiece?
