If there’s one design element that has been having a major moment lately, it has to be gallery walls. Whether it’s big, small or somewhere in between, creating a gallery with your favourite prints and art pieces can instantly elevate the style of any space.
I recently moved my toddler from her cot into a bed. This called for a little room makeover, so this weekend (Flu and all!) I decided to do a little gallery wall in Mackenzie’s room and would like to share with you some tips on how to do one yourself.
I had been collecting prints and pieces for Mackenzie’s room for quite some time, and some of the pieces had been in her room since she was born. (I really like rooms that are “age neutral’ – but more about that another time) I think the most successful gallery walls are ones that combine a variety of art mediums and frame styles. If you’re looking for a foolproof way to make sure your art works together, choose pieces that have a common thread—a certain color for example. But you don’t have to limit yourself. The most important thing is for your wall to represent you—your tastes, your history, and the art you love most. In this case, Mackenzie’s room is a colour palette of gold, peach and pinks, so the prints and pieces all have that in common. I used a variety of frames, and different shaped pieces too which I think is key to achieving the right look.
When it comes to gallery walls, size does matter! More important than focusing on the art type or scheme, it’s often the combination of sizes that makes or breaks a gallery wall. The key is making sure you start with a couple of larger pieces to anchor the wall. In my case I had a big round mirror that had to stay where it was (Hiding an awful TV plug and cords!) So I had to build my gallery wall around that. If you don’t have one large piece, group two together for the illusion of a larger work. Once you’ve placed the largest piece, build off of that from the centre outwards. Groupings look most cohesive when frames are spaced tightly, however if there is an extra large piece in the mix, give it a little extra room to breathe. With regard to height, I recommend limiting the height of your gallery wall to two to three works, top to bottom. This generally keeps your art at eye-level. Of course ceiling to floor gallery walls are super dramatic too! So if you have the room to handle it, that will look fabulous!
While the final look appears casual and uncalculated, there is actually a method to the madness. Creating a wall gallery is no easy feat. That’s why I’ve put together some tips below to teach you how to hang a wall collage with finesse. In retrospect I wish I had made a video tutorial to show you this, but hope my not-so-professional Iphone pics will suffice!
1. I took each artwork and traced it onto card which I cut out, to make templates.
2. I then used Prestick to stick the templates onto the wall and try out different layout options. This is key, and despite been a tedious and time consuming process with all the cutting and sticking etc. (Especially when you have a toddler trying to ‘help!’) I really recommend you do this with all your art prior to hanging it. Big tip: Multiple frames look best when based around the following shapes: rectangle, diamond or square. Straight set rows are nice too. If you opt for straight, use a piece of string stretched between two pushpins as a guide along with a level to make sure it’s straight.
3. Once you have your layout, you then need to do all the measuring to hang it onto the wall. I was quite lazy and used ‘No More Nails’ to stick some of the lighter pieces up. My husband drilled some holes for the heavier pieces (It was a really family affair) and I used my new favorite DIY tool: the Hilti picture hanger, and did some myself!
And there you have it- a gorgeous gallery wall!
PS. How cute is the House bed!
Here is some inspiration of other gallery walls for you to swoon over: