Adding wall decor to a house is a way to instantly make a place feel like home, and nothing achieves that personal, meaningful effect more than hanging a gallery wall of family pictures. Admittedly, hanging large groupings of art or photographs on the wall can be daunting, so today I am sharing photos of my new family gallery wall above our stairs, plus 6 of my best tips for hanging a gallery wall that is sure to impress.
Having just moved into our new home, I knew one of my first orders of business was to hang pictures on our bare, lonely walls. With four children, we have an impressive collection of precious family photos and portraits that we have accumulated over the years, and I have always dreamed of having them all displayed over our staircase. My dream has now come to fruition!
This was a project that did take me a number of hours to complete, but I am so pleased with how it turned out. I love how the photos are arranged in a way that I will easily be able to add more frames to the grouping as needed (read my tips below for more on that).
The best part of all, though, is that this grouping that constitutes so many priceless memories is now a focal point in our new home, visible from our living room and kitchen, too!
Now that I’ve shared my own gallery wall with you, I’m going to pass along some of the tips I learned along the way so that you can create one in your own home!
1. Don’t worry if your frames aren’t an exact match.
Having acquired many picture frames from many different places over the years, I have an eclectic collection of mismatched frames. Replacing the frames with an entirely new set of matching frames would be a sizable investment, to say the least! Having frames that don’t all match gives the grouping a collected, organic feel that mirrors the way a family grows and changes over time.If, however, you would rather stick to one basic color scheme, consider painting mismatched frames the same color (spray paint works well) to have the same collected feel with a more uniform color palette.
2. Lay the frames out on the floor first.
When deciding the overall placement of a wall, arrange the frames first on the floor before you ever drive the first nail into the wall. When you have achieved a look you like, snap a quick photo to refer to as you hang the frames on the wall. An alternative to this that I have used before is to trace the frames onto wrapping paper, and then hang and arrange those templates on the wall until you find a look that you like best. (For a large grouping like my staircase gallery wall, I felt the tracing step for all of those frames would be too tedious.)
3. Start at the center and work your way out.
When hanging a particularly large grouping like this one, start at the center (which I did with the large family portrait at the center of my grouping) and then work to the left and right. This will ensure the frames are evenly distributed over the entire surface of the wall, and it will allow you to grow to add additional frames to the left and right sides of the grouping when needed (refer to #5 below).
4. When hanging over the stairs, follow the angle of the staircase.
To give an over-the-stairs grouping a sense of movement, hang the frames so that they form an angle that follows the upward angle of the staircase itself.
5. Allow room to grow.
If you plan to add photos to a gallery wall over time (which is usually the case with a family photo gallery wall), hang the frames in such a way that you can add more frames to the grouping over time. The best way to do this is to allow room to grow up (hanging additional photos above the grouping) and out (hanging new additions to the left or right of the current grouping).
6. Add picture-hanging wire to the back of every frame.
Many wall photo frames come outfitted with two hangers situated at either side of the back of the frame. Anyone who has ever tried to hang a frame with that setup can attest that leveling one out is nearly impossible! Save yourself the hassle of trying to do so by adding a wire hanger to the back of each frame. (I share details for how to do so in this post here.) That minimal investment of time will preserve your sanity, and it will save you from peppering your walls with misplaced nail holes!
Thanks so much for stopping in!
Amy @ Positively Splendid
Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you’ll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.
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FAQs
'Gallery walls are not necessarily going out of style, but the way that they are now displayed in your home has evolved,' agrees designer Luis Carmona, founder of VERDE Interior Design. 'The days of matching photo frames are gone and the era of a more eclectic aesthetic has arrived. '
What is the website that helps arrange pictures on a wall? ›
Design Your Wall
PictureThat let's you easily see photos, prints, wall art and other wall decor right on your walls at home. Using Apple's ARKit and Google's ARCore we bring you this magical experience known as Augmented/Mixed Reality.
How do you arrange 5 pictures on a wall? ›
The simplest solution is to arrange the five pictures in a row. Especially if you have several pictures of the same size, the pictures look particularly harmonious when hanging in rows. The symmetry comes into its own when all five pictures are hung up at the same height and at a distance from each other.
Is a gallery wall out of style? ›
After centuries as a staple approach for displaying multi-piece collections, designers don't expect gallery walls to ever truly go out of style. "The appeal lies in the opportunity to tell a story through art, which is why I love incorporating them into designs," says Low.
Is Brass out of style 2024? ›
“Brass accents are one of my favorite trends of 2024,” Sirna explains.
What color should gallery walls be? ›
Go Neutral
You want your art to be the focal point of the wall, so it's best to avoid trendy colors like Pantone's Color of the Year selection (this year it's a vibrant Living Coral). Paint your walls a soft neutral instead--try Benjamin Moore's Color of the Year; a soothing warm taupe called Metropolitan.
Do gallery walls look cluttered? ›
Most of the designers cited similar reasons for ditching the trend, but Los Angeles-based designer Katie Hodges put it best when she told us gallery walls "tend to look cluttered, can completely overwhelm a space, or even detract from the architecture of or furnishings in the room."
Where is the best place to hang a gallery wall? ›
“If you don't have one large wall, gallery walls can be hung around windows, around doors, above bed heads, above and around fireplaces or even around cabinets in a kitchen.” Just be sure to consider exposure to moisture.
How do you arrange wall decor? ›
Hang the largest, most prominent pieces first, either in the center or near the bottom of the arrangement, to create a focal point. Then, add smaller pieces, working outward. The arrangement can be expanded over time as your collection grows. To keep it cohesive, try to repeat a certain color or style at least once.
How do you arrange gallery wall frames? ›
Use a ruler to guide your placement. Aim for 3–6 inches between each piece of wall art and around all sides of the frames. Arrange larger art with more space between frames, and group smaller artwork closer together. Also, leave plenty of space between the frames, trim, and molding, so the gallery has room to breathe.
When you hang multiple pieces in a group, visual balance is key. "In a group arrangement, keep heavy pieces to the bottom and left," says Crisolo. "It balances the weight of the items because the eye starts on the left. If you have an even arrangement, put the heaviest piece in the middle."
How many walls in a room should have pictures? ›
The key to any successful interior design is balance. That means when it comes to hanging pictures, no, you don't need to fill every wall space with pictures. Empty wall space can be used as a crucial design element to enhance your décor.
What is the formula for hanging pictures? ›
Use this formula: Divide the height of the frame by two; from that number, subtract the distance from the top of the frame to the hanging hardware; add this number to 57, 58, 59, or 60, depending on where in the range you want to land.
Are gallery walls timeless? ›
Gallery walls, like hardwood floors or marble accents, are timeless and will never go out of style. But pulling a gallery wall of your own together might feel a little daunting at first.
Do artists still need galleries? ›
Galleries work with two main goals: providing clients with access to art and providing artists with the exposure they need to sell it. However, as mentioned above, artists can now work alone since doing this type of business isn't now exclusive to galleries.
Can you have too many gallery walls in your home? ›
But, what's the trick to keeping your walls from looking cluttered? When rooms are open to one another—like our entry and living room, for example—I think you can still do more than one gallery wall. The trick is to make them feel and look completely different so they're not competing with each other.
What is the new trend in wall painting? ›
Warm colours are at the core
Gone are the days of grey hues and Hamptons Blue. Warm undertones-based paints are catching the attention, including peach, brown, 'dirty' reds and burnt orange. Experts are considering Brown as the overarching interior base.
