How to Make a Gallery Wall the 136 Home Way
Make a statement with this step-by-step guide, easy enough for beginners.
What’s better than a perfectly curated DIY gallery wall? Not much, if you ask me. So, I’m sharing all of my favorite DIY Gallery Wall Ideas and Pro tips to get the wall of your dreams.
Art has always played a critical role in the overall success of any room in my spaces. That’s why it was surprising, even to me, that I had yet to share with y’all the process by which I lay out, hang, and style my gallery walls. How could I be so rude?
So today, I want to make it up to ya and explain how, in just a single afternoon, anyone can transform any empty wall in their home into a jaw-dropping moment.
If you are just starting out or looking to save on your budget, I am first sharing one of my favorite DIY’s so that you can print your very own art at home for a fraction of the cost. Nope, you don’t actually need to already own an entire collection of canvas prints!
All you need is a printer, thrift store frames, tape, and canvas printer paper. I have everything you need linked here. If you already have all your art prints, go ahead and jump down to the Layout and Placement section. Otherwise, let’s get started on our DIY gallery wall with my favorite DIY Gallery Wall Ideas.
The Purpose of Your DIY Gallery Wall
When you’re trying to find the best way to fill in a blank wall in your own home, it can be helpful to start with the purpose (rather than the art displays themselves).
Of course, the face-value purpose of adding photo frames to a room is obvious: you want to add some visual flair! However, that doesn’t really define a “purpose.” What do I mean by purpose? Well, here’s what I mean.
Obviously, your room is missing something. For a dining room, it could be missing that sense of watch. A living room could be missing the feeling of family. A bedroom could be lacking a sense of personality. These are all problems you can easily solve with a gallery wall!
Changing the “room feel” is easy to do with art. However, if you don’t have a goal in mind, the change you end up with may not be the change you were after. That’s why it’s so important to have a specific purpose or goal in mind.
Common Reasons You Should Create a DIY Gallery Wall
There are many different goals you can have when designing a gallery wall, but here are a few of the most common reasons I’ve personally added wall art to a room:
To add character to the room. Nobody likes a room that reminds them of a hospital. It’s neutral, it’s uninspiring. Gallery wall art lets you infuse your personality into the space, turning a “living space” into a “lived-in home.”
To fill in a blank space. Having a large space on your wall with nothing in it just makes it feel like something is missing: I don’t like it! Sure, you could always just fill the space with one large photo, but I feel like creating a gallery wall specifically curated for that space feels much more special.
To give the room a specific theme. Love birds? Space? The ocean? If so, creating a themed gallery wall is the perfect way to show your appreciation for a particular thing. Since tastes, hobbies, and passions vary widely, curating your gallery wall to fit the room's larger theme is one of the most unique ways to decorate!
Family Photos: Yay or Nay?
I love having family photos in my house, but let’s face it: the vibe they give off is a bit different from that of most art! This can make it challenging to incorporate some of your favorite photos into your gallery wall ideas.
Photos of family members often involve similar poses, which is great if you’re trying to create a symmetrical gallery wall. However, the lack of variety can make it hard to incorporate these photos into your larger gallery wall.
What’s the Solution?
Fortunately, there are alternatives to creating a dedicated family photo wall! Here are a few ways to add family photos to your DIY photo wall without them looking out of place.
Frame multiple photos together. Whether you want to leave the photos intact or create a hand-crafted collage, framing family photos together helps prevent them from standing out in the gallery.
Give them a thick frame. Alternatively, you can make them stand out a bit more by giving your favorite family photos a wider mat. This extra space between the photo and the wall helps the eyes transition from one surface to the other, while also making the photos look at home on the wall.
Opt for candids instead. As previously mentioned, posed photos stick out. Like, a lot! If possible, you should go for candid photos. These are great because they showcase the personalities of the people in the photos, while also offering a wider range of settings to work with.
Stick to your color theme. To really help your family blend into your photo gallery walls, it’s usually best to select photos with the same color theme as the gallery itself.
When in doubt, go black & white. B&W is a classic option. While it may not be the most visually daring choice, that doesn’t really matter (as long as it looks good!).
Alright, with those thoughts out of the way (but still in the back of your mind), let’s get started with the actual creation process!)
Start Curating Frames
Never pay full price for a picture frame. I get almost the majority of my frames from either Goodwill, a local thrift store, flea markets, or a swap meet. If safety is a concern there are amazing and affordable options online via Amazon, Etsy, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace. Just type
Download a Print to make a DIY Gallery Wall
Head to some of my favorite online vendors for hi-res art that prints beautifully for your DIY gallery wall. You can’t beat the prices. My Favorite Sources are:
Get the Right Paper for Your DIY Gallery Wall
First, you’ll need to…
Measure and Print on Canvas Paper
Be sure to measure the size you need with a measuring tape, and check that your printer can handle the paper source. I would suggest not going above 11” x 14” unless your printer can produce a jumbo image. Print at the best quality you can. Need a printer upgrade? I suggest
Consider Frame Sizing
You’ll also need to decide whether you want to use uniform or varied frame sizes. Even with uniformly-sized photos, you can still add some visual flair with how you arrange the photos, so don’t instantly write off that option!
Crop
Once printed, use a straight edge and sharp scissors or an
Open up the Frame
At this point, go ahead and loosen any clips/pegs on the back and remove any paper from the frame so that you can access the old art and display glass. Depending on the frame you got, you will want to dispose of any loose paper and potentially remove the inside art, etc. I always use a flathead screwdriver to bend up the metal pegs.
Clean your Frame
Wipe with a damp cloth and consider Windex to get the frame and glass as clean as possible. You don’t need the glass, but I do think it takes the quality of the final piece up a notch if you do. I also use a feather duster once the frame has been wiped clean. This is the perfect way to avoid having any pesky dust or debris stuck to the glass that could show once framed.
Place and Set Art for Your DIY Gallery Wall
Once the frame is open, place your art in the desired location and use
Assemble
Once you have your art firmly in place proceed to simply re-assemble your frame back together. Be careful to bend back into place any cardboard backing and pegs to seal your picture uptight. Before you tighten all the pegs take a quick peek at your art from the front to see if you got everything in the right place. There is nothing worse than tightening all the pegs only to realize your DIY gallery wall art looks wonky. But, if things are looking great then flip it over and enjoy your new piece of art! I hope it looks great and you had a good time doing it.
Layout and Placement for a Perfect DIY Gallerywall
Okay, now that you have your stunning artwork gathered and framed, let’s talk about the process of deciding where to place your art and how. Here’s is what to keep in mind:
Measure Your Wall of Choice
You’ll need to measure both the length and height in which you would like all your art to be contained. You will want to use
Take a Closer Look at Your Art
Fan out your framed and/or printed art pieces
It’s Time to Tape!
Tape your workable area
Begin arranging art in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Pro Tip: Try to use odd numbers like 5,7, or 11. This tends to net a result that looks more organic and intentional. How you arrange your pieces is completely a design preference choice. But I get asked a lot what I consider when placing art. Here is what I suggest.
Start Big
Start with the most contrasting, largest piece of art
Maintain Spacing
Keep the space between frames generally evenly spaced
Approach It Like a Puzzle
Lock your pieces together like a puzzle
Space Your Dark Colors
Place darker colors opposite one another
Aim for a Bottom-Heavy Design
Try to have bigger, heavier pieces towards the bottom
Abide by the Lines
Stay inside the lines of the tape
Make Adjustments as Needed
Be sure to step back
Save Those Memories!
Take a pic
Make Your Mark(s)
Mark where you will need a hook
Once you have an adhesive hook on the back of the frames and they are snugly placed on the wall, the other walls in the room will instantly add contrast, and you will be able to see how well your layout is working in your space. Take a moment to lightly nudge anything that’s looking crooked, and feel free to remove or add additional command hooks as you see fit. They are super easy. Guys, that’s it – now you have a brand new gallery wall!
What About the Wall Itself?
A gallery wall serves as a great focal point on its own, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enhance its design even further. Coloring the wall a different color from every other wall in the room instantly adds a sense of contrast to the room, which can really help your DIY gallery wall ideas pop!
FAQ
How do I build a cheap gallery wall?
Your best option is to print your own art (as detailed above) and find picture frames for cheap at second-hand stores. While it might be a bit harder to find
How do you make a simple gallery wall?
To create an extremely simple gallery wall, you’ll only need three photos. This doesn’t leave much space for visual flow, so you’ll want to stick to one of your favorite art styles and use the same color palette for a cohesive look.
How many frames do I need for a gallery wall?
As above, you could technically make a gallery wall with as few as three photos (provided they’re the right size). In general, however, I would say most people will want at least five photos for their gallery wall. Remember, while more photos mean more options, they also mean you’ll need to put in a little more effort on the design aspect of your gallery wall layout!
What size frames for a gallery wall?
That really depends: how much space does your DIY gallery wall have? Remember, an overcrowded space is an awkward space, so, depending on the size of the space you’re working with, you may need as much as a few inches of space between each piece!
Should a gallery wall have all the same frames?
You can certainly use uniform frames, but it won’t be a very visually stimulating design. In fact, the only way I would recommend using uniform frames in your own gallery wall is if you’re trying to make a
Is there an app to create a gallery wall?
It’s 2023: of course there is! Provided your phone can support it, using an app like
Will you be giving this home decor DIY a try? I hope so. If you do, please let me know. Now go forth - dream big and design boldly. -xoxo Ant