I’ve had a lot of questions about gallery walls lately: how to start them, what goes in (or is it on?) them, and are there any “rules” when creating them. Well, if you’ve worked with me or been in one of my classes before, you probably know my stance on “rules”: I don’t really do rules. Which isn’t to say everything goes – it doesn’t – but rather, I mean that there are so many conceivable ways to create a lovely gallery wall that I can’t even possible begin to list the process or tell you what elements you absolutely need. I can, however, give you a few suggestions and point out what makes a nice grouping. Below are some examples of great gallery walls, and some notes about how to emulate these looks. Enjoy!
Contrast is Key. I like the punch of a gallery wall that is white on black, or black on white, or white on white with bursts of color within the frames. Here are some examples of gallery walls that emphasize contrast effectively.
White on Black. (via Eclair)
Color on White. (via Pinterest, source unknown)
Variation AND Repetition Go Hand in Hand. Got an interesting gold frame to incorporate? Great! Include a few additional gold touches. Have a bunch of thin frames in a single color? Great! Add more thin frames in additional colors. Get it?
Mostly black and white with small, subtle bursts of color. (via Pinterest, source unknown)
Just the right amount of gold. (via just bella blog)
Size Doesn’t Matter. Really. You have big and small pictures? Ok. Want to mix them? Fine. Want to keep them consistent? Not a problem. Let it be what you want it to be: no rules.
Big frames, small frames, tiny clipboards – all fine. (via Design Traveler)
This one has both varying object sizes AND is small in scope. (via Pinterest, source unknown)
Start With Something Specific or Functional and Let it Grow. I often start gallery walls with a single piece of art or photography or utility that is important to the end-user. You don’t have to complete it in a day or even a week. Just hang that mirror or tv or piece of art (at eye level, preferably, as it’s the most important piece) and let other pieces spawn off of it.
Begin with a mirror and let the other elements fall where they may… (via The Fashion Medley)
…or begin with a television – BRILLIANT! I’ve used this a few times myself. (also via The Fashion Medley)
What Do You Do With A Stair Wall? GALLERY WALL! Enough said.
Simple, cool. (via Pinterest, source unknown)
Love this. (via Elle Decor via Pinterest)
Oh, you’re wondering about spacing? Well, I do have a simple rule for that. If you use all the same frames, you can space them equally but the look will be less “Anthropologie” and more traditional . If you use different, differently sized frames, space them HOWEVER YOU WANT, whether it’s super organized or more crafty and uneven.
Different frames = varied spacing. (via Pinterest, source unknown)
Different frames = varied spacing. I love the leaning art on the ground here. (via Euro Style Lighting)
Different frames = same-ish spacing. (via Arkpad)
That’s a lot of gallery walls! Which is your favorite? I’m not sure I can choose!
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