Secrets To Styling a Gallery Wall
The key to creating a stunning gallery wall is really more of an art than a science. There are no set “rules” but I do have some tips that will help you get the ball rollin’ with confidence.
Shop your home
It may be tempting to go out and buy a ton of new pieces for this project but trust me when I say having your already beloved artwork staring back at you is 1000 times better.
To keep the wall feeling authentic to you, try to only buy a few additional pieces to fill in gaps or, one of my favorite options for empty spaces, is to hang empty vintage frames. These can eventually be replaced or filled with a piece that excites you.
Start with a statement
Pick your favorite piece, and no, it doesn’t have to be the largest or the boldest of them all. When you start with your prized piece (be it painting, photograph, movie poster) and take your cues from it the overall effect of your wall will be magic!
Tell a story
Identify the following then pick TWO to use as your guidelines for the collection:
color palette (think the five predominant colors in the piece)- what colors your appeal to you? Use these to inform the rest of your decisions BUT don’t try to use every single color in each piece.
theme (mythology, science, history, architecture, portraiture, etc.)- do you want to create a wall featuring just a theme
medium (photography, oil painting, watercolor, screen print, relief print, sculpture)
style (realism, abstract, cartoon, graphic)
You’re only as limited as your imagination.
Don’t limit yourself to just paintings and photography. Include anything you want in your gallery wall, given that the drywall can actually support it. Examples: vintage spoon, an embroidered patch, a woven basket, a hood ornament.
It’s more about feel than formula.
Scale
Are going for a uniform or eclectic look? If you want it uniform, for instance if you are creating a square grid: pick one size and stick to it.
Want an eclectic mix? Choose a variety of sizes and shapes.
Decide what size will make for a good focal point (not too large for the space but enough to anchor the wall). The additional pieces you choose should all be smaller than this. Don’t let this stress you out too much.
Layout
Start by moving around your pieces on a flat surface and arranging them in different compositions. Keep in mind the size and shape of the space you are planning to hang it (you can even mark this out using masking tape).
Keep the pieces spaced relatively evenly allowing, between 1.5-3 inches. The deeper the profile of your artwork the wider you should space certain pieces so you don’t end up with cast shadows.
As you make new arrangements, take pictures with your phone of the entire layout. Once you’ve exhausted your options, go back through these pics and ask yourself what FEELS the best?
