Hello and Happy Sunday!
Today we're talking about Gallery Walls!
Having recently put up this little collection of prints and photos on our wall at home, I thought it would be fun to share a few of my tips and tricks to help you create one of your own.
There are so many different ways of putting together a Gallery Wall and I love that you can really show your own personal style through the prints you choose, the frames, the colours (or lack of colours!), the arrangement and of course the ability to display personal photos in a way that is a little more artsy and creative.
Step 1: Gather inspiration and decide on a theme
Do you like colour or would you prefer something monochromatic? Are you into the eclectic, mismatched style with a variety of sizes and different frames or do you prefer something more classic and symmetrical. The best way to figure out what you like is to hop on Pinterest and gather inspiration. You'll soon figure out which look you gravitate towards and what will work in your home!
If you like, you can take a look at my pinterest board where I collected inspiration :)
Step 2: Choose photos and artwork
The easiest way to decide what to include in your Gallery Wall is to start with a few main pieces that you want to display and then collect others that will complement them (rather than just trying to piece together a bunch of random prints that don't quite work together).
It's nice to include a mix of artwork and personal photos, and I love the look of more artistic or candid shots rather than the "smiling at the camera type" (but of course this is up to your personal preference).
For our Gallery, I knew I wanted to display a few of our engagement photos so I started with these and then chose prints that looked good with them. I bought these prints at a market for local artists which makes them a little more special and meaningful too! I like to think this gallery has a kind of "Australian nature" theme.
Engagement Photos - Katie Grant, Botanical Print - Alina Tang, Animal Prints - Ellie Barrett
Step 3 - Make sure it's balanced
Considering the balance of colours (light and bright/dark and moody) and choosing pieces that pick up on colours in each other will help create a cohesive look.
The style of frames is also obviously something to consider as a heavy and ornate frame will give a very different look to something more streamlined and modern. Of course, it's fine to include a variety of different frame styles if you're going for an eclectic look - you just need to make sure they're balanced!
For our Gallery, I chose simple gold matted frames. I like how they're streamlined and classic and also how they pick up on the golden tones in the photos. There are also pops of pink in some of the prints which complement the photos (because of the pinky tones in my dress) and also ties in with our pink armchair!
I really love the look of Gallery walls that include larger prints and mix in a a variety of different sizes, but for this one I kept things on the smaller side and stuck with similar sized frames (for the sake of simplicity!)
Step 4: Play around with the arrangement
Once you've collected all your prints and photos and sorted out your frames (sometimes finding the right size frame can be the hardest part!!!) it's time to start arranging!
The best way to do this is to map it out on the floor and play around with different arrangements to see what you like best. If you take photos of the different options it's easier to compare and make your final decision! (I am very indecisive so this was important for me!)
If you have one or two big pieces, it's best to make those the central focus and then build outwards from there. Pinterest comes in handy if you need some ideas!
Remember it doesn't have to be symmetrical, but you do need a balance of sizes and colours.
Step 5: Map it out on the wall!
It's important to map out your arrangement on the wall before you start drilling any holes! Cut out paper to the size of your frames and stick them to the wall with washi tape. This makes it easy to make adjustments (you will be doing a lot of tweaking and small adjustments!) and lets you see the big picture. It's important to consider how the Gallery Wall will fit in with your furniture too!
Step 6: Time to start drilling (or sticking!)
Measure the frames and mark on the paper how far down the screw needs to go. Then it's time to start drilling, or using adhesive hooks) and actually put up your artwork!
Step 7: Step back and admire your Gallery!
Yay!!! It's finished! Celebrate, do a little happy dance and enjoy your Gallery
(and then spend ages trying to get all the photos straight! ;)
I hope you've enjoyed the post and that it's given you a little inspiration! For me, the idea of putting together a gallery wall was actually quite daunting (mainly because I have commitment issues when it comes to hanging things on walls and I wanted it to be perfect!)
Collecting the right pieces, finding the right frames and deciding on the arrangement you like can take time. Just be patient, have fun with it and remember you can always make changes if you really want to! Drilling holes in the wall is not as scary as it may seem! (I'm talking to my past self here!!!)
I'd love for you to share this post if you found it helpful!
Come say hi on instagram @laurennatalia29 or leave me a comment down below and let me know your thoughts on Gallery Walls (and tell me if you're as terrified to drill holes in the wall as I was!)
If you get inspired to make your own Gallery Wall I'd love to see how it turns out!
Lots of Love
Lauren
xxx
