How to Create a Gallery Wall

The gallery wall —  it's a versatile design trend that is here to stay. It's a great way to fill an empty wall with your favorite art, 3D elements, textures and more. And the best part is it works in any size space (yes, even for you studio apartment dwellers). Here's all you need to know to create a gallery wall. 

Consider the size of your space.

There aren't a lot of rules when it comes to creating gallery walls, but you will set yourself up for success if you sketch it out a little beforehand. How big is the space you're working with? If the goal is to take up a large wall, you're going to want to collect some bigger pieces to show off. If it's a smaller space going above your desk, for example, smaller pieces will work great. Before you start gathering the decor, measure the size of your space. 

Pick a color palette. 

Next things next! What's the tone of your living space? If it's earthy, you might want to stick to sages, burnt oranges, golds and browns. If it's chic modern, maybe whites, blacks and metals will work best. Your gallery wall is a statement, but it's not supposed to be completely incohesive from the rest of your style. Pick a color palette that's going to accentuate the space. 

Collect your pieces. 

Now that you know the space you need to fill and the aesthetic you're aiming for, you've got a pretty good plan developing before your eyes. It's time to start collecting pieces you want to go in this! Photos you love, art that speaks to you, 3D pieces, floating shelves and wall mounted lamps are all things to consider when creating your gallery wall. 

Lay it all out.

Consider this a practice round. Lay all your pieces onto the floor and finagle how you want them to look. A few tips to keep in mind include keeping your second largest piece away from the first, mixing horizontal and verticals and throwing in different frame colors and materials. If you're really committed to the layout, measure out the distance of each mount so you know exactly where to hang them on the wall. If you're more loosey-goosey, eyeballing it will also work for this situation. 

Get the right mounts.

Finally, hang it all up! Just make sure you've got a gallery wall that's built to last by using the right mounts. Check weight restrictions, reinforce heavier pieces and do your future self a favor and try not to drill too many holes in the wall *wink wink.*

You're all set!

Enjoy your gallery wall, you tasteful artist, you.