Installing a Gallery Wall

Inspiring ideas and a step-by-step guide to installing your own gallery wall

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A curated display of pictures, photos, art, posters or mixture of them all is a fantastic way to showcase your style and personality and add a focal point to any room.  A gallery wall is generally defined as a collection of pictures hung grouped in one space, the idea originating from the gallery itself classically displaying art for people to admire and buy.

A gallery wall in the home is a fantastic interior feature which can help achieve any number of design goals such as, displaying family photos, framing beautiful images that have been collected over time, mounting art as a grouped collection, giving depth and texture to an otherwise empty space or even showcasing your children’s or grandchildren’s drawings and art projects.  Whatever you have in mind,  we hope to inspire and guide you to creating your own gallery and that you are left with something special and meaningful.  Please come back and share your achievements with us, we would love to know how you got on, stay in touch by messaging Contact Us.

Firstly we suggest thinking about the space and layout you have to work with, do you have somewhere in mind.  Also consider the current style of your home if you are not overhaling the entire space you will want your gallery wall to tie in and match what you already have.  What budget if any, do you have in mind to achieve your gallery wall, this project can be done with a minimal budget depending on your choices.  Your gallery wall once in place will draw people over to look at it when they visit your home, so consider access and hanging heights too. 

Below are some useful steps to think through and guide you on your way to your perfect installation.

1.      Choosing the right location

People tend to install gallery walls with the purpose of filling a plank space, bringing a bit of interest and colour to an otherwise flat wall and finding somewhere to showcase a load of photos or art that have never seen the light of day.  This article should help with all of those goals, we also like the idea of mini gallery walls where you hang 4 or 5 small pictures above a console table or in the cloakroom, this might be a good way to practice or get started if you are less confident, or have smaller spaces available to you.  For the sake of this article though we are focussed more on the larger scale instalments.  Places that generally work really well and you might consider are:

·      Living Room - Above the sofa or a sideboard.

·      Hallways  - Long, narrow spaces are perfect for a linear arrangement.

·      Staircase - Create a dynamic, ascending display that follows the rise of the stairs.

·      Bedroom -  Above the bed or on a feature wall.

·      Home Office - An inspiring backdrop for your workspace.

·      Kitchen/ diner  - Behind a built-in dining table, on a back wall away from regularly used cupboards and white good.

2.      Gathering materials

You may already have everything you need to create your gallery wall, but here is a list of the essential elements required to pull everything together.

·      Frames – choose a variety ahspes, sizes and styles for an eclectic look or uniform frames for a cohesive and symmetrical finish.

·      Contents to be displayed - Photos or prints, paintings or any other decorative items or a mixture of them all.

·      Measuring Tape and spirit evel - To ensure precise placement.

·      Pencil and Painter's Tape - For marking positions without damaging the wall.

·      Hammer and Nails/Picture Hook -  To securely hang your frames.

·      Optional  - Templates or brown paper to plan your layout.

3.      Choosing your display style

There are a few ways in which you can display your images:

·      Shelving, narrow thin picture shelves  with a small lip or classic open shelves  or built in shelving and museum walls.

·      A symmetrical display where all frames are the same size and in equal number.

·      A random collection of style, size and coloured frames displayed together with the same sized gap between each.

·      Hanging pictures using chains and picture hooks, usually from a dado rail or picture hanging poles. You could also hang pictures from ribbons or fabric.

4.       Planning Your Layout

Before you start hammering nails into the wall, it's crucial to plan your layout:

·      Theme and Colour Scheme - Decide if you want a theme (e.g., black-and-white photos, botanical prints) or a specific colour palette to tie into the rest of the décor in that space.

·      Symmetrical vs. Asymmetrical - Symmetrical arrangements offer a formal look, while asymmetrical layouts provide a more relaxed, eclectic feel, a mixture of antique of vintage frames in different sizes would work really well here.

·      Mock Layout - Lay your frames on the floor to experiment with different arrangements. Alternatively, use templates cut from paper to visualise the layout on the wall, using blue tac or decorators masking tape should protect your walls.

·      Anchor Piece - Start with a central piece or anchor and build around it, ensuring a balanced composition, use smaller frames to fill gaps until you get the desired look, or building out from the middle if you have gone for the asymmetric finish.

5.      Measuring and Marking

Precision is key to a professional-looking gallery wall:

·      Measure and Mark - Use a measuring tape to find the centre of your wall and mark it with a pencil. From this point, measure and mark where each frame will go, using your completed layout plan.

·      Spacing - Aim for consistent spacing between frames (typically 2-4 inches/ 5-10cm).  Also think about there being the same amount of space above and below your gallery wall and to either side so that there entire installation sits centrally.  If you are installing above a bed or sideboard you would want the space above

·      Level - Use a spirit level or laser to ensure your marks are straight.

6.      Hanging Your Frames

With your layout planned and marks in place, it’s time to start hanging:

·      Double check the wall – Depending on your chosen location you may want to double check the wall is safe to go ahead and add nails and hooks without fear of hitting electrical wires or plumbing works.  An easy way to check at home is purchase or hire a pipe and cable detector, most hardware shops have these and it will give you peace of mind if you are concerned.

·      Nail Placement - For each frame, measure the distance from the top of the frame to the hanging hardware. Transfer this measurement to the wall and place your nails or hooks accordingly.

·      Hang and Adjust - Hang each frame and use a level to ensure it is straight.  Also keep taking steps back to check you are happy with how things are taking shape, adjust as needed.

7.      Final Touches

Once all frames are hung, step back and make any final adjustments to ensure balance and alignment. You can also add small decorative items like wall-mounted shelves or sconces to enhance the display.

8.      Additional elements to help perfect your Gallery Wall

·      Start Small - If you're unsure, begin with a small section and expand over time, or practise but creating a smaller gallery wall in a child’s bedroom or office.

·      Mix and Match - Combine different frame styles, sizes, and orientations for an interesting look, adding a round or oval frame within all the classically square or rectangular shapes adds a lovely edge.

·      Mounts and boarders – Using unified mounts within mismatching frames hung randomly can help pull the scheme together.   Equally using a collection of identical frames hung symmetrically but changing the colour or pattern of the mount adds a quirky element to the more contemporary alignment of frames.

·      Worried about the walls – For anyone worried about hammering nails into the walls, or renting you home,  or not comfortable with the use of tools, there are products on the market strong enough to hold picture frames in place, you should be able to find these hanging strips online or in your local hardware store. Follow instructions on the pack, they can be removed when needed with no need for filler and repainting afterwards.

·      Lighting - Proper lighting can make your gallery wall stand out. Consider adding picture lights or adjustable spotlights.

·      Change It Up - Don’t be afraid to refresh your gallery wall periodically with new artwork or photos. The great thing about a gallery wall is that it can adapt along with any c changes in interior design, you can simply swap around colours, add new mounts etc and your space will be harmonious.

We hope you found these pointers useful and enjoyed looking through the images we added to help spark ideas for your own space. Projects like this are a great way to build confidence and motivation to spur you onto other interior design ednevour. We have lots of other interior and lifestyle articles ready for you to read and a section highlighting additional Resources that will support you in achieving your home interior dreams. Dont forget to share your gallery wall achievements with us via our Contact Us form, we would love hear how you got on.