DIY Gallery Wall
What's better than a perfectly curated #gallerywall? Not much, if you ask me.
Art has always played a critical role in the overall success of any room in my spaces. That’s why it was surprising, even to me that I had yet to share with y’all the process by which I layout, hang and style my gallery walls. How could I be so rude?
So today, I want to make it up to ya and explain how in just a single afternoon anyone can transform any wall in their home into a jaw-dropping moment.
If you are just starting out or looking to save on budget I am first sharing one of my favorite DIY’s so that you can print your very own art at home for a fraction of the cost. You just need a printer, thrift store frames, tape, and canvas printer paper. I have everything you need linked here. If you already have all your art pieces go ahead and jump down to the Layout and Placement section. Otherwise, let’s get started:
Start Curating Frames - Never pay full price for a picture frame. I get almost the majority of my frames from either Goodwill, a local thrift store, or a swap meet. If safety is a concern there are amazing and affordable options online via Amazon, Etsy, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace. Just type vintage or antique frames into the search bar and start to scrolling.’ You should aim to vary in sizes, textures, and materials. I go for brass, walnut, and aged woods. Here are some pro-tips on how to thrift store like a boss and score big.
Download a Print: Head to some of my favorite online vendors for hi-res art that will print beautifully. You can’t beat the prices. My Favorite Sources are:
Order Canvas Paper - This is where the magic happens. This awesome paper allows you to get an authentic look because the weight and texture of the canvas look and feels just like a real painting. Just be sure to print on the correct side.
Measure and Print on Canvas Paper - Be sure to measure the size you need and make sure your printer can handle the paper source. I would suggest not going above 11” x 14” unless your printer has the ability to produce a jumbo image. Print at the best quality you can.
Crop - Once printed use a straight edge and sharp scissors or an x-acto blade to make precise cuts based on the frame you are using. Make sure the scissors are sharp so that you don’t bend or fray the paper. This paper is a lot denser than traditional paper, you will want to be careful here.
Open up the Frame - At this point go ahead and loosen any clips/pegs on the back and remove any paper from the frame so that you can access the old art and display glass. Depending on the frame you got you will want to dispose of any loose paper and potentially remove the inside art etc. I always use a flathead screwdriver to bend up the metal pegs.
Clean your Frame - Wipe with a damp cloth and consider Windex to get the frame and glass as clean as possible. You don’t need the glass, but I do think it takes the quality of the final piece up an notch if you do. I also use a feather duster once wiped clean to avoid having any pesky dust or debris stuck to the glass that could show once framed.
Place and Set Your Art - Once the frame is open place your art in the desired location and use frog tape on the four corners to hold your art in place. I prefer this over adhesives. The tape can be removed at any time and won’t damage the print or frame. Also, if you want to swap art out you can do so easily.
Assemble - Once you have your art firmly in place proceed to simply re-assemble your frame back together. Be careful to bend back into place any cardboard backing and pegs to seal your picture uptight. Before you tighten all the pegs take a quick peek at your art from the front to see if you got everything in the right place. There is nothing worse than tightening all the pegs only to realize your art looks wonky. But, if things are looking great then flip it over and enjoy your new piece of art! I hope it looks great and you had a good time doing it.
Get these prints and more for 15% OFF at North + Finch Art. Just use code: 136home during checkout
Layout and Placement
Okay, now that you have your stunning artwork gathered and framed, let’s talk about the process of deciding where to place your art and how. Here’s is what to keep in mind:
Measure your wall of choice - both the length and height in which you would like all your art contained. You will want to use Green Frogtape afterward to mark these dimensions on the floor, ideally in front of it - but I have don’t it in completely different rooms so that you know what space you have to move your “pieces” together to make the final composition
Fan out your framed and/or printed art pieces of choice in front of you on the floor. I like to be able to see all pieces so I can consider size, color, frame style, and proportions all at once. It’s best to take a moment to look at all your pieces together versus hanging them directly onto the wall one by one. I promise you will get a stronger more cohesive result this way.
Tape your workable area after you have measured and gathered all your art. I use this Frogtape. It doesn’t leave behind any residue on your floor. Be sure to tape out both the length and height from your wall. This is an important step so you know the boundaries by which you can arrange your pieces ever so precisely.
Begin arranging art in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Pro Tip: Try to use odd numbers like 5,7, or 11. This tends to net a result that looks more organic and intentional. How you arrange your pieces is completely a design preference choice. But I get asked a lot what I consider when placing art. Here is what I suggest:
Start with the largest most contrasting piece of art first. This will be where the eye goes immediately. It’s the welcome to your gallery wall so make sure this piece packs a punch. Note that I tend to avoid having this anchor piece centered but rather in a bottom third of the space either right to left-justified and never at the top. It’s usually somewhere in the bottom right or left. I just think it looks more interesting this way and avoiding the top makes sure the gallery wall doesn’t read as too heavy.
Keep the space between frames generally evenly spaced. This will help the design feel more tied together and prevent a piece from looking like it’s floating off by itself. The spacing doesn’t have to be perfect, in fact, it shouldn’t be. You want the vibe to feel lived in. Just try where possible and this will help the entire wall read as one giant piece of art. That’s the magic guys!
Lock your pieces together like a puzzle. I personally prefer to avoid having the edge of each frame exactly lined up. You want things to look locked together and overlap as needed for visual interest. This is also where I get creative with scale.
Place darker colors opposite one another and if you have more than one sketch or repeating color I tend to also have those placed opposite one another too. This keeps the eye moving and the viewing experience dynamic.
Try to have bigger heavier pieces towards the bottom but not all. This will ground the vignette more strongly
Be sure to stay inside the lines of the tape and make sure you are paying attention to where the hanging hook or wire is on the nack of each piece. That is where you will have to hang each piece of art. You don’t want that to slide below or above the tape.
Be sure to step back and look at your gallery holistically. Have fun with it and be creative. There is no right or wrong here. You will know when it feels right to you.
Take a Pic - Once you have a layout you love. You would be surprised how quickly you can forget. Then…
Mark where you will need a hook. I have a pro tip here. Simply, squeeze the tiniest drop of toothpaste on the hook or center of the wire where you will need to have the art hung. Then place the art on the wall where you want it to live and pull it off. Guess what? That tiny little dot is where you will want to place a….
Command Hook - to hang each item. These are my favorite items for hanging wall art. I don’t love putting holes in my walls and I move art around a ton. They come in tons of sizes and options. You can’t go wrong with the sawtooth version that works for both a hook and wire. I have been linked here.
Once you have a command hook in place for each piece of art and you have them snugly placed on the wall you will be able to see how well your layout is working in your space. Take a moment to lightly nudge anything that’s looking crooked, and feel free to remove or add additional command hooks as you see fit. They are super easy. Guys, that’s it - now you have a brand new gallery wall!
Will you be giving this DIY a try? I hope so, and if you do please let me know over on Instagram. I really do think art makes all the difference in a home and I hope that this DIY and step-by-step on how to layout and hang your art helps you bring an affordable and beautiful gallery wall into your home. I know I love mine. I hope you do too.
Don’t Forget It. Pin It!