Projects

Ep. 1: Photo Gallery Wall

Mount a series of nine identical picture frames in a 3x3 pattern on a wall.

More of a visual person? Watch the Photo Gallery Wall video.

Tools and Supplies:

• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Note pad
• Level or laser level
• Hammer
• Low tack masking tape
• Picture hooks
• Tack putty

How To:

When considering a wall for a photo gallery installation, note the existing architectural features. There may be a window or a door on the same wall, crown moldings, a cove or a plate rail. These features along with baseboards, frame the wall and can help determine exactly where you want to mount your array of picture frames. For instance, line up the top of your frames to the height of the door casing.

Here are the instructions for how to display a 3 x 3 array of picture frames with consistent spacing between them. You may choose an alternate configuration but these guidelines will get you started.

1. First, determine the overall width you want for the total display. Set three picture frames on the floor under your gallery wall. If the display will be mounted in the centre of the wall, place the middle one at the center of the wall first. Now set the other two down with about 4” to 6” spacing in between.
   Note: Tighter spacing between the frames will require more accuracy and precision with your installation. If you mount your picture hooks just 1/16” out of line, this will be more perceptible over a 2” space than over an 8” space.


2. Now that you’ve determined the overall width and horizontal placement of your gallery wall, measure it and note the dimension on your pad. This will be (frame width + vertical space + frame width + vertical space + frame width) = width dimension. Next, use your level and a strip of masking tape to make vertical marks just outside the left and right edge of the gallery array.


3. Assuming that the picture frames are square and that you wish to have the same horizontal spacing as the vertical spacing, the overall height of your gallery arrangement will be the same as its width (width=height). If the picture frames are rectangles and you wish to have a different spacing, then (frame height + horizontal space + frame height + horizontal space + frame height) = height dimension. Note this height dimension.


4. With your tape measure stretched out to the height dimension, determine how high on the wall you want the arrangement to be ensuring that the bottom should be well clear of the baseboard or any electrical outlets and vents near the floor. At either vertical strip of masking tape, put a pencil mark at the top and bottom of your height dimension. Using your level and a strip of masking tape, mark just above the top level line and just below the bottom level line. Now you should have a masking tape square or rectangle marking the boundaries of your arrangement.


5. Now you can determine where to fasten the picture hooks on the wall. First, measure from the middle of the top of the picture frame to the apex of the stretched picture wire. Jot down this dimension on your note pad and call this the hook height. Be sure that this is the same on all of the picture frames. This can be adjusted by either, shifting and securing the location of the wire mounts on the frame or, by lengthening or shortening the wire itself. This is a critical step to ensure a good finished look to this project.


6. On the top and bottom strips of masking tape, mark the width of each frame and the centre of each frame. On the left and right strips, mark the hook height. Measure down and using your calculations, mark where each of the frames in the top row will go with a pencil.


7. From where the top of each frame will go, measure down using frame height + horizontal space. Make another pencil mark and do it again. Then add the marks for the hook height matching the measurement you used for the top frames.


8. Hammer in your picture hooks and remove all of the masking tape. Now you can hang your picture frames on the hooks. Roll up some tack putty into a pea sized ball and stick to the back of the frames at the bottom corners. This will help keep the frames from shifting. Congratulations! You have a beautiful picture gallery.