Creating a gallery wall in your home is the perfect way to bring a boring, blank space to life and leave a lasting impression on your guests. Instead of hunting for the perfect statement painting or experimenting with wallpaper, consider arranging framed art prints, quotes and other decor pieces into an aesthetically-pleasing (and Instagram-worthy) wall collage. It’s an easy way to personalize your space, as these galleries often reflect the unique personality of each homeowner.
If you want to make an empty wall stand out, follow these basic steps to make your very own eye-catching gallery wall.
Pick your color scheme
Though many gallery walls can still make an impact when there is no distinct color scheme linking its pieces, the best way to draw attention is to create a cohesive symphony of text and art by choosing two or three colors to base your gallery around. Pick one accent color that will appear in multiple prints, and try complimenting colors to create an arrangement of shades that will help the wall flow together seamlessly.
Start collecting frames/repurposing old ones
Frames are the perfect touch to connect the pieces on your wall and make them appear as one polished display. Some people choose to hang their art prints in identical frames, or frames of the same color, or even a mismatched medley of old frames that they’ve now found a purpose for. But the important thing to remember is to add variation. Choose frames of different sizes and, if you feel bold, different styles. A little variety goes a long way towards making your gallery wall stand out.
Add different shapes and textures
To add dimension to the gallery, try to pick out a few decor pieces that will stand out from the rest of your flat, framed prints. Some of today’s popular decor pieces like wooden letters, clocks, plants, Polaroids, etc. can serve as perfect finishing touches to your near-completed accent wall. Just be sure that you scatter them throughout the arrangement so that they aren’t concentrated in one specific area. Too many different shapes next to each other may be distracting from the gallery as a whole.
Find art prints and quotes that speak to you
If you don’t have any luck finding ideal art pieces in-store, there are countless websites online where you can browse through hundreds of art prints and quotes. Search “art prints” online and order a variety of prints and patterns that fit together. When picking these out, it’s important to incorporate simple designs as well as statement ones so that more complicated pieces aren’t competing for attention. If you’re on a budget, you can even print quotes and photos out at home on regular white paper to create an affordable DIY gallery wall.
Create your masterpiece
When in the final planning stages, it’s a good idea to lay out all of your pieces on the floor, in front of the wall on which they will hang if possible. You can arrange and rearrange them to your heart’s content, until you find a desired compilation. Another strategy is to use paper, a pencil, and scissors to trace and cut out templates of each piece, taping them to the wall to get an idea of where you want to hang each item. Don’t forget to use a level and ruler when hanging so that nothing winds up crooked.
