CREATE A GORGEOUS GALLERY WALL

Gallery walls: they’re everywhere these days and it looks like they’re here to stay. (They’re number four on Real Simple’s list of 5 Decorating Trends That Will Define Summer 2025.) And why not? With open plan living cutting down on walls, arranging multiple pieces together allows you to display more in less space.

To quote our friends at Southern Living, “One thing we love about a gallery wall is that there are virtually no rules. If you’re displaying more than a couple bits of wall decor in a cluster together, then you’ve already met the minimum quota.” (For more SL wisdom, see 60 Gallery Wall Ideas To Make The Most Of Your Space.) Is it really as simple as sticking a bunch of stuff on a wall? Almost…but there are a few choices to make along the way.

CHOOSE YOUR WALL(S)

Image: Image: Sheltnerness.com

Where will your gallery go? Over a bed, above a couch, up the stairs, down a hall? It’s your call. Food for thought: your gallery “wall” doesn’t have to be just one wall. Consider a gallery corner for extra impact.

CHOOSE YOUR THEME

Image: Lavenderandlaurelhome.com

What’s going in your gallery? Family photos, prized album covers, plates, vacation pics, actual paintings, mirrors, all of the above or something else altogether? What ties them all together? The subject matter? The color scheme? The fact that every piece is something you love? There’s no one right answer: this is your gallery, so whatever you choose is right for you.

CHOOSE YOUR ART

Image: Etsy

Gather all your potential exhibits together in the same room as your gallery-to-be. Once you see everything together, a little curating may be in order. You may need to edit out a piece (or two), you may decide to add something else (shopping!), or you may have exactly what you need. You won’t really know until you get them all together. And you won’t really really know until you…

CHOOSE YOUR LAYOUT

Image: JJ Martin, House Beautiful

You can go maximalist and fill the space from corner to corner, ceiling to floor or opt for a pleasing shape that takes up less wall space. Groupings that are roughly oval are graceful, symmetrical arrangements with perfectly spaced lines are classic, but there are multiple options. It’s recommended that you give pieces a bit of ‘breathing room’ between them. The plates in the image above break that “rule” but did you notice how their arrangement mimics the arch of the chair below? Nice.

CHOOSE TO ENJOY

Image: copparstadinterior, curatedinterior.com

Once you’ve made all your choices and installed your gallery, stand back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. It’s your very own ‘art’ gallery!

5 BONUS TIPS

1. IF YOU DON’T HAVE B&W PHOTOS, YOU CAN MAKE THEM

Image: @devon_grace_interiors

If you have your heart set on a stylish wall of black & white photos but your pics are all in color, you can easily turn them into B&W versions. Common programs like PowerPoint and Photoshop will do it with the click of a mouse. If you don’t have a program on your computer, try an online one like Canva.

2. YOU DON’T NEED A LOT TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL ARRANGEMENT

Image: Shutterfly

See the image above for one example. Five pictures. Three shelves. Just enough. Also, notice how this arrangement leads the eye to the fireplace.

3. HANGING PLATES IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK

Image: The Inspired Room

You can, of course, use those wire hangers with springs in them like granny used to use, but for a more modern, invisible option, see How to Hang Plates on the Wall – The Inspired Room.

4. BEFORE YOU HANG ANYTHING…

Image: Bluebird on Unsplash

…take a good look at your wall. Is the paint chipped or peeling? Will your art look its best on that color? If the answer is no, contact us to turn the actual wall of your gallery wall into the backdrop your collection deserves.

5. FOR MORE INSPIRATION, JUST GOOGLE