Porch Daydreamer

  • Paint Projects
    • Paint Project Resource Guide
    • Paint Colors
  • DIY Projects
    • Home Repair and Organization Resource
    • How To Videos
      • How-to Paint Cabinets with an Airless Paint Sprayer
      • How-To Prime with an Airless Paint Sprayer
      • How-To Change a Cabinet Knob to a Cup Pull
      • How-To Install Cabinet Hardware
      • How-To Fix a Broken Light Switch
      • How-To Replace a Door Handle
  • Design Projects
    • Seasonal Decor
      • Fall Ideas and Home Tour
      • Christmas Posts
    • Home Tours
    • Room Makeovers
      • Master Bathroom Remodel
      • Powder Room Remodel
      • ORC Room Reveals
    • Decorating Resource Guide
  • Lifestyle
    • Porch Time
  • Shop & Source
    • HOME SHOP
    • Favorite Beauty Products
    • Favorite Table Decor
  • GET TO KNOW ME
You are here: Home / Home Design / Create a Gallery Wall That Looks Like a Designer Did It!

Create a Gallery Wall That Looks Like a Designer Did It!

DIY Projects· Home Design

22 Jun
  • Pin
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Have you struggled with how to even start the process of setting up your gallery wall? Does it seem too complicated? I have an easy formula!

Fill a large wall with a gallery wall of framed pictures

Create a Gallery Wall that Looks Like a Designer Did It!

Let’s start with where to begin first. Find a piece of artwork – just one – and build around it! You will be surprised how easy it is. Gallery walls are an amazing wall décor option for a variety of reasons:

  1. Inexpensively fills a large wall
  2. Creates visual interest in a room
  3. Great option for displaying family photos
  4. Artfully display personal photography
  5. Display not only framed items, but objects too

If you don’t have an interior design degree, but want your gallery wall to look like they do in magazines – I have the secret to success.  There is one basic rule that works every time!

Pin It for Later

Create a Gallery Wall That Looks Like a Designer Did It!

Post contains hand selected products, with some affiliate marketing links {full disclosure here} 

The Secret: Create Horizontal Lines

Do you want to know the main rule/secret to how I layout my gallery walls? It sounds complicated, but is really very simple:

“Layout your frames by using a base of horizontal lines that anchor multiple objects”

Tracey, what does that mean?  I’ll show you with my gallery wall! See what I mean? As you layout your items, place several at the same height using either the bottom or top of the frame.  It provides an anchor for the art and the eye. 

Even though this group of artwork is different shapes and sizes there is a substantial foundation to it.

How to Hang an Art Gallery Wall

Important: Use an uneven number of items

My gallery wall has the lucky number 13! Think in 5, 7, 9, 11 depending on the size of the space you are trying to fill. If you don’t have an uneven number, then plan to add one object later and leave space for it at one of the ends.

How-To Create a Gallery Wall

The picture below was the beginning of this gallery wall a few years ago and you can see my first instinct was to create a blocked symmetrical look. Instead after several layouts I ended up with an asymmetrical layout that I think visually looks more interesting.

Plus I’ve been able to add artwork as the years have progressed, which would have been much harder to do in a blocked design.

Supplies
  1. Pencil
  2. Hammer
  3. Wrapping or craft paper
  4. Scissors
  5. Tape Measure
  6. Level
  7. Painter’s Tape
  8. Picture Hanging Kit
Step 1:

Layout all of your art or objects on the floor to determine the best design that works for you. This really is the hardest and most time consuming part because the options are infinite!

Start of Gallery Wall_Floor

My original gallery wall

Step 2: 

Trace each frame on either craft paper or wrapping paper with grid lines. The cutting grid guide lines on the back of the wrapping paper makes everything easier from tracing, to cutting, to locating where to nail in the picture hangers.  I usually buy wrapping paper when it is on sale (most of the time standing in line at Home Goods!).

Just check the label to make sure there is a cutting grid on the back. 

Grid Wrapping Paper for Gallery Wall

Step 3:

Layout the paper cut outs on the wall. Use painter’s tape, so you can move the paper around easily without damaging the wall. Play with the design until you get it to “just about” where you want it. The beginning of this gallery wall started much smaller and with craft paper – I sure wish I would have thought to use the wrapping paper!

You aren’t finished yet 🙂 Don’t be nailing holes in the wall…keep reading.

Gallery Wall Brown Craft Paper

Step 4:

Using a tape measure, measure between each item and make sure the spacing is similar.  Most items in my gallery wall pieces are about 3 to 4 inches apart vertically and horizontally, but it’s a VERY large wall. 

Keep adjusting each item to get the spacing just where you want it.  At the same time, check to make sure each piece is level. 

Placing Pictures with Tape for Gallery Wall Layout

Step 5:

Have a picture hanging kit handy with a wide variety of sizes of picture hangers to make this job easier. Then measure the back of the picture where the hanger is or pull up on the hanging wire to measure. I typically will use the measurement from the top of the frame.  You need the center point and the distance down from the top of the frame.

measure the back of a frame for hanger placement

Measure in from one end and down from the top. Take those same measurements, map it out on the paper, and mark the spot with a pencil. Nail the hanger right through the paper. Hang up the artwork to test if it looks good.

Make any adjustments and rip down the paper.  Nice, right?

Adding a picture to a gallery wall with paper and tape_Hanger through paper copy

Step 6:

Step back and admire your work. Be proud of your accomplishment! You just created a gallery wall that looks like you hired a designer to do it!

Large Bedroom Gallery Wall 13 Pieces of Art

The gallery wall in my bedroom makes me smile.  I’ve filled it with images that are personal to me or inspire me plus added some of my own “artful” photography as well.  It includes images of my favorite travel destinations, goals and even a lovely painting of my dog Mick as a puppy. Overtime I change it for my mood or life events.

Two of my favorite places to find inexpensive art are Etsy and Minted.  You can support a new artist along the way! Plus as you travel pick up post cards or take photography that can be framed.

Frame Sizing

So you have perspective, I thought it would be fun to show you the exact frame sizes and measurements of my gallery wall. Then if you want to re-create the same look or portions of the wall you will know ahead of time exactly what to purchase. 

Gallery Wall Layout with Sizes of Frames Included

Frame Sizes in Inches

Or if you like you can purchase pre-made frame kits to get you started! Don’t forget mats! Mats are really what highlights the artwork itself and also creates a cohesive visual look.  Most of the frames have them included, so not to worry!

Frame Kits

 

OR Buy the individual frames

3 ea. 12 in x 15 in  |  2 ea. 17 in x 21 in  |  3 ea. 11 in x 13 in  |  1 ea. 11 in x 15 in  |  1 ea. 18 in x 11 in  |  1 ea. 11 in x 7 in  | 1 ea. 30 in x 24 in  | 1 ea. 24 in x 28 in

 

Happy hanging! CLICK HERE to see my post where I transformed my walnut frames to champagne gold easily and inexpensively.

Until next time…

Porch Daydreamer

Tracey

  • Pin
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

6 Comments

« Ultimate 4th of July Party Planner
Single Mom’s Guide to a Basic DIY Tool Box »

Comments

  1. Christina says

    May 29, 2018 at 6:13 PM

    May I ask where you got the frames that were originally the espresso color? They look a bit like PB frames.

    Thank you much.

    Reply
    • [email protected] says

      June 2, 2018 at 1:32 PM

      Hey, Christina! Yes, there area few from PB and others I bought at Hobby Lobby or Frame it Easy. Hope that helps – didn’t want to spend the PB money to build the whole wall!

      Reply
  2. Julie Silberstein says

    April 21, 2018 at 10:50 PM

    Hi Tracey,

    I love your gallery wall Thank you so much for the detailed instructions. I have been looking at so many gallery photo/art walls online but the difference with yours is that design edge. Just like you mentioned, it looks like a designer created it!!! Can I ask you how tall your wall is from floor to ceiling and what height from the ceiling is the picture that is closest to the ceiling if that makes sense?

    Thank you!!
    Julie

    Reply
    • [email protected] says

      April 22, 2018 at 10:55 AM

      Julie,

      Hi! I’m so glad that you found my instructions helpful! My ceilings are 10 ft. tall and the crown moulding is about a foot deep. When I measure the “couple” piece of art from the top of the frame to the bottom of the crown moulding it is 28.5 inches.

      Hope that’s what you need 🙂
      Tracey

      Reply
  3. Toni Carstensen says

    June 22, 2017 at 8:51 PM

    I looooove this! So helpful to know that the top and bottoms of frames should be level with one another. I’m really diggin your wall color! Can you tell me what color it is?

    Reply
    • [email protected] says

      June 23, 2017 at 8:21 AM

      Thank you and glad this was helpful! This wall color is so soothing. I’ve had it 7 years and redecorated 3 times around it. The blue acts like a neutral: LOWE’S/ Valspar Feeling Blue CI 13.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

free download of porch daydreamer paint colors

Hi! My name is Tracey

Porch-Daydreamer-Headshot-Blue-minImprove + Beautify + Teach

Creating a beautiful life one project at a time!

A single mom using her crazy career in home improvement to master DIY projects, design, and painting everything! Teaching what I’ve learned + new projects too!

Tracey’s work has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens Magazine, Holiday Decor Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce plus more!

Behind the name Porch Daydreamer

Shop My Instagram

LiketoKnow.IT Shop My Instagram-min

Daily Home Pictures

Instagram_Widget-min

Please Follow Me!

Pinterest-porch-daydreamer-widget-min

  • GET TO KNOW ME
  • WORK WITH ME
  • Contact Me
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
© 2019 Porch Daydreamer | ·Refined Theme Restored 316