Make your home look like a museum with a stunning gallery wall filled with your favorite pieces, from paintings to photographs and other types of wall art. A gallery wall is a popular trend in homes, allowing owners to display their favorite artwork in a tight grouping that creates a stunning overall effect that is highly personalized as well. Gallery walls can be made up of photographs, either of family members themselves or favorite landscapes. They can also be comprised of favorite art prints or paintings. Three-dimensional wall art such as clocks and wooden signs can add texture and interest to your gallery wall art collection as well.

One of the things we love about gallery walls is that there are no set rules. Do you love things lined up and evenly spaced? That works. How about a more casual arrangement that centers around a focal piece? You can do that too! Did you purchase matching frames? It’s a great way to tie together different pieces. Do you prefer the look of mixed and matched frames? We’re not saying no!

Gallery walls allow you a lot of room for artistic expression. However, the task of putting together your collection of artwork and deciding where to hang each piece can feel a little daunting. We’ve put together some general guidelines to help you with some of the common questions, such as how to choose artwork for your gallery wall, as well as how and where to hang your artwork. Read on for gallery wall inspiration and best practices.

How to design a gallery art wall

Since there aren’t any set rules for creating a gallery wall, the process can be intimidating. However, it doesn’t have to be. Start with the first step: curating your collection! This is the time to decide what speaks to you. Perhaps you want to assemble your favorite family photos, from that family photo shoot you had at the park last spring to your kid’s latest back-to-school shots. Maybe you have some favorite landscape photos from the trips you’ve taken over the past years. If you are searching for a brand-new look, you can purchase new wall art such as favorite prints or paintings.

You can mix and match photos with paintings and other pieces of wall art, just keep an underlining theme that creates cohesion. This theme can be the style, such as modern art pieces; topic, such as ocean-inspired pieces; or color, such as a chic black and white theme that will never go out of style.

Once you have some of the main pieces determined, see if there are any personal touches that you can add to give your art some more depth and interest. For instance, a plate from your grandmother’s set can be added to a group of floral paintings. A map, sign or arrow can make a nice addition to your collection of travel photos; while a modern wall clock or framed mirror can enhance your collection of simple black and white prints.

How to create a gallery wall layout

Once you’ve selected your artwork, it’s time to decide on a layout. Step away from the hammer, and take the time to create an arrangement that will work for your space and look unique, yet still balanced. The key to choosing an arrangement you love is to have fun with it and experiment. First, determine how much space you want to use on your wall and mark a similar space on your floor with painter’s tape. Then, try a few different layouts within the marked space on your floor, and determine what you like best. You can start by choosing two or four main pieces (often your largest) and center them, lining them up at the same height to give some structure to your arrangement. Then, play around with your remaining pieces, working out from the center that you’ve established.

Some tips for creating a balanced gallery wall layout:

• Make sure that your overall composition is balanced by size of the artwork as well as the visual weight of each piece.
• Pay attention to color. If you have a couple of bright and bold pieces, place some distance between them.
• Don’t hang images too high or low. You’ll want the central pieces to be at eye level.

How to create a gallery wall with family art

Gallery walls are a great way to display family photos. They give you the space to display numerous prints, and the freedom to create an arrangement that you love. If you’ve decided to use family photos for your gallery wall, we have some specific tips to create an arrangement that you’ll love for years.

• Use a mix of new and old photos. By adding old photos such as your favorite wedding portrait with new photos such as your latest family photo, you’ll create an overall impression of your family’s life—without feeling like you have to redo the whole arrangement every year to keep it current.
• Mix and match photo types. Don’t feel like you can only include the photos from the studio shoots you do each year. Go ahead and include the favorite candid of your child that you took on your phone. You know, the shot that shows that sparkle in their eye. By mixing and matching formal and casual photos, you’ll add more personality to your display. Just make sure the image quality is high enough to get clear prints.

Choose some photos that can be switched out. For instance, you can include an 8 x 10 frame for each of your children that can hold their current school photo. Just take the frame down each fall and switch out last year’s photo with their most current shot.

How to create a gallery wall on a staircase

Gallery walls can be located anywhere in your house, including a living or family room wall, dining room, hallway, or even in an office or bedroom. Another common place to install a gallery wall is a wall by a staircase. A gallery of photos or other artwork escalating up a staircase wall can be a beautiful way to display artwork and enhance this often-under-utilized space.

When creating a stairwell gallery wall, you can follow the same basic steps: select your artwork and play around with different layouts before pulling out your nails and hammer. Again, you can recreate the measurements of the wall on your floor with some painter’s tape, and utilize the space to determine a layout you love. Make sure to allow 6 – 12 inches of space along the bottom of your wall, above the railing, to avoid hands bumping against the artwork.

One of the best things about a gallery wall is that it is done your way, with your favorite artwork and in the location of your choosing. You can create a gallery of matching pieces that are perfectly lined up, or a mix of artwork and frames that are hung to look random, yet balanced. No matter the content, a gallery wall is sure to be a great focal point in your home—wherever you choose to put it.