Creating a gallery style wall can be intimidating and put you into an overwhelmed state of mind; have no fear! I am going to share with you my best tips on how to create a gallery wall of pictures, beautifully grouped together, so you can achieve the look you want for a gallery wall in your space.
In this post you will learn a quick and easy technique, what tools you will need to be successful, how to group and hang pictures (photos, art, or both), and the ultimate way to get a unique and authentic look in your space.
A gallery wall can be designed and configured in any way that you choose:
- Tight and uniform
- Loose and a-symetrical
- Grand and formal
- Casual and simple
The steps are simple, so chances are you already have what you need. Follow these 5 easy steps to creating a gallery wall in your space.
- Gather your items – frames, prints, art, shelves – nothing is off limits!
- Decide what you will need to hang your items, based on the type of wall you have
- Procure your basic tools – hammer, screw driver, nails, screws, hooks, level tool, tape measure
- Create your layout based on the size of the wall and the items you have chosen
- Hang your items in their designated space
First, you will want to consider the wall itself before beginning to hang anything. Do you have drywall, plaster, or shiplap/paneling? Each of these will require different tools in order to properly install your gallery wall. You will also want to consider the weight of what you are hanging and find the best product that matches your item’s weight.
Below are a few suggestions on where to start. You definitely want to use the right tools for the job. These are just suggestions and good starting point. Evaluate what best fits your needs and choose accordingly.
- Drywall – nails, picture hooks and screws are great options
- Plaster walls -these picture hooks are designed for plaster
- Shiplap or paneling – anything you like. I usually don’t suggest anything specific for hanging on wood, just something sturdy enough to hold up to the weight of the item you are hanging.
Pro tip: if you are working with drywall or plaster you will want to use more precision on where you place your nails/screws/hooks, as these two materials are less forgiving. Wood is much more forgiving and gives you much more freedom if you nail and decide you don’t like where it is. But don’t let this stop you from going for it, just take your time and use a tape measure and level.
Ok. Now that you have decided on what you will need, based on the type of wall you have, let’s dig into what you will be hanging. Do you have frames and photos you want to display? Do you have art – original paintings, digital prints, mixed media? What about something really fun, like a shadow box? Perhaps you have some or all of these. Let’s get started on how to tackle marrying your unique collection into a gallery wall that even a museum curator would be jealous of.
This is a simple process. The hardest part is deciding what hang on your wall. Maybe you have some really special items, like a velvet Elvis, or an heirloom letter, or even a scrap of dreamy textile you just can’t get rid of; the sky and your imagination are the limiting factors here.
Once you have gathered all of your “art” for your gallery wall, along with your tools begin the process of laying out and designing the wall. You will want to measure the width (from the outermost edges of where you want the “art” to stop) of the space you will be filling and use a pencil to mark those extremities. Now do the same with where you want the “art” to stop from top to bottom and pencil mark that.
Now that you have designated the general area for where you want you gallery wall to start and stop, the fun begins! Start arranging your items on the floor, in the same size area as you marked on the wall, in different ways until you reached a desired result. This part is where you get to change your mind until you are utterly satisfied with the configuration, with no consequences.
This part of the process is not very precise or technical. Because you are looking to do a quick and easy install, “eye-balling” is the way to go here. I like to put my visually “heavy” items towards the center and then work my way out with the visually “lighter” pieces.
Pro tip: take a photo of your layout, because you will inevitably become distracted and forget how it really looked as you start to put things on the wall and the reference photo will help you stay focused.
Alright! Here we go! Starting from the center of your designated area and building out to either side is always a good idea. This will help things stay centered as you move towards the outer edges during the installation process.
Once you have the first item hung. Take a step back and make sure your “floor set up” is translating well to the wall. Go for the next item. I like to hold the next item up on the wall where I think I want it and make a pencil mark. If you are working alone this helps a lot to see if proximity is good on the wall. If you have a helper get your helper to hold it up for viewing and then mark.
Continue in this way until you have installed all of your pieces in the same configuration as you had laid out on the floor. Of course you have the freedom to change things up as you go, but be sure you don’t become overwhelmed by making any drastic changes mid installation.
The items suggested are a good place to start. You may need to make adjustments to fit your needs based on what you are installing. With a little practice and few gallery walls under your belt, you will be a pro at this in no time. Before you know it you will be grouping and installing gallery walls all over the place.
Creating a gallery wall doesn’t have to be overwhelming or intimidating. Using the right hanging tools and getting creative will produce stunning results that will have you addicted to this technique. These 5 easy steps to hanging a gallery wall in your space are simple and actionable, so GO FOR IT! You really can’t mess it up.
