The following post is from Myra of My Blessed Life:
Decorating an expansive wall space can be intimidating. It is hard to decide if one large piece of artwork or a collection of smaller pieces would be a better choice. My favorite way to decorate a large empty wall is with a gallery – a collection of photos, artwork, and frames. Gallery walls create wonderful texture and dimension in a room or hallway, as well as allow your personality to shine through.
Table of Contents
1. Choose a Theme
This first step is likely the most time-consuming because you have to decide the theme for your gallery wall.
A playroom or child’s bedroom would be a perfect space to display artwork. A music room could have a gallery wall of framed vintage music. Family photos including portraits, special events, and places that you’ve vacationed are nice options for decorating a hall or living room wall.
Also, decide if you want all the frames to match in style and color. Some gallery walls feature identical frames, but my favorites are those that have a definite “collected” feel where everything isn’t matchy-matchy.
2. Shop Your House
Always shop your house, including your attic and basement, before you buy new photo frames. Don’t hesitate to add other items to your gallery walls like mirrors, plaques, and vinyl wall expressions.
3. Shop Secondhand for Extras
After you shop your house, look for frames and other items that you can integrate into a gallery wall at yard sales and thrift shops first, and then check out Target, TJMaxx or Ikea.
4. Use Paper Patterns
Using newsprint or butcher paper, trace each item and cut out the paper patterns. Don’t skip this step. It is essential to keeping your sanity during this process. Try different layouts and designs with the paper patterns to see which design you like better. Use painter’s tape to hang the paper patterns on the wall in the design you like.
5. Hang Gallery Pieces Correctly
Begin in the center of the gallery wall design and then move out on both sides. Trust me.
6. Mount Hardware Through Paper Patterns
While all the paper patterns are still hanging on the wall, check the back of each frame or item to see how it is hung – either with a nail or screws. Go ahead and make your nail holes or screw holes through the paper patterns. This tip makes hanging much easier…as long as you measure everything carefully first.
7. Use a Level
When everything is hanging in place, use a level to make sure each piece is straight. You can also use a bit of mounting putty or sticky tack behind each item. This keeps the gallery wall from looking crooked and askew.
8. Admire Your New Gallery Wall
Stand back and admire your new gallery wall. You did it! More than likely, this wall decor will bring smiles to you and your family for many years. Of course, you can always change out the images to keep the gallery wall up to date.
I would love to know, have you ever created your own gallery wall?
| Myra has a B.A. in Interior Design and is currently self-employed. When she’s not spending time with her little man, thrifting, creating, shopping or working on a project, Myra enjoys date nights with her husband and blogging at My Blessed Life. | |
