Sarah Baeumler’s 7 Gallery Wall Tips That Will Make Yours Look Like You Hired a Pro

Before you grab the hammer and nails, it’s best to consider the physical space where your gallery wall will live. How will it benefit the room it’s in? What wall would work best? I would always suggest a large wall in an area such as a hallway or living room. This would be a wall where you have the space to hang your art, while also keeping it looking uncluttered and elegant. Deciding the location where your gallery would work best is step one in beginning your project.

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To choose a colour scheme or not to choose a colour scheme, that is the question. Here, it’s all about personal preference. Personally, I like deciding on a colour scheme to ensure there is similarity and a uniformness throughout the art. This colour scheme can be consistent between the actual artwork and the framing.

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The picture frames are another important aspect in any gallery wall. While the artwork is important, the frames are what contributes to the geometrical layout. Deciding on the colour and sizing of your frames can make or break the look of the wall. First, you’ll have to answer a few questions: do you want the frames to be symmetrical? What images are you planning to use? Once you have answers to these questions, it’ll ultimately help decide what frame will work best.

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A key factor in any gallery wall is the spacing between each piece of artwork. I would suggest keeping all images close (try starting with a two-inch space in between each hanging piece) and have the same amount of space between each piece to keep it looking uniform.

Decide whether you want to have a main anchor piece that ties the wall together. Often, this would be the largest of the pieces on the wall. While some people often decide to go for symmetry, some like to decorate their wall with various sized pieces of art. Decide what works best for your aesthetic. If you decide that you want to have an anchor piece, you’ll then have to determine how the remainder of the pieces will work around it.

Since a gallery wall is dependent on the layout, I would suggest arranging it on the floor before you begin hanging the frames. This will give you a greater sense of the overall look and allow you to make any changes before you begin hammering into the wall.

An important step in creating a gallery wall is deciding how you want to hang it. If you’re looking to have a temporary, ever-changing wall, perhaps hanging it with adhesive strips is best. If you are hanging larger, heavier and more lasting pieces, then I would recommend using a hammer and nails.

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