Creating a Gallery Wall Tips
Your home is a reflection of who you are. Whether you’re into art or not, hanging paintings and pictures is a good way to adorn bare walls. A great way to showcase your personal style is to create a “gallery wall”. It adds character to any room and is sure to become a cohesive and stunning visual masterpiece.
What is a Gallery Wall?
As the name suggests, a gallery wall is a curated collection of photos, artwork and decorative pieces that are arranged in a particular way. It usually features a mix of frames in different sizes along with various types of artwork. It could literally be anything you love. For instance, paintings, photographs, posters, pictures or even embellished textiles. If you want to blend a traditional aesthetic with a contemporary one, a textile-frame gallery wall is a winner.
Creating and organising a gallery wall might seem pretty basic. It’s a no-brainer, right? However, it’s not as easy as it looks. Transforming a plain space into a captivating focal point is an art, and our students pursuing interior design and decoration courses are here to tell you exactly how you can arrange art like a pro.
How to Create a Gallery Wall?
Choose a Theme or Gallery Wall Style
You cannot randomly select frames and prints. First you need to decide a theme or style that complements your space. Do you want your gallery wall to be a collection of family photos, vintage art, modern pieces, or travel memories? Once you’ve decided a theme, you need to select a style. A lot of people go in for sleek frames with simple black-and-white prints. That’s a minimalist style. If you’re looking for a boho style, an eclectic mix of frame styles also works. Think of unique colours and textures. The route you take entirely depends upon your aesthetic.
Create a Layout
Before placing the frames directly on the wall, it may be a good idea to map it out on the floor. Decide what you want as your focal point. You can move things around based on how it’s looking. You can even take a photo of the final arrangement to see how it would look on the wall.
Vertical or Horizontal Layout
The orientation of the gallery wall can dramatically impact its effect. A vertical layout looks good in a room that has a high ceiling as the eye is usually drawn upward and makes the space look taller. On the contrary, horizontal layouts are perfect for long hallways and above sofas. Before deciding on the arrangement, consider your overall space. If you’re feeling confused, you can even go in for a mix of both horizontal as well as vertical.
Choose the Right Artwork
A common mistake a lot of people make is that they mix different artworks and photos together. Honestly, it doesn’t really look the best. For example, you can’t mix abstract paintings with personal mementos. The idea of a gallery wall is to create a curated look rather than a cluttered look. Between every element, there should be balance. The different categories of artwork you can consider are – photography, illustrations, abstract paintings, typography, and travel mementos. Invest in high-quality artwork that adds a sophisticated touch to your home décor.
Use a Consistent Frame Style
The frames you choose also play an important role in the overall aesthetic of your gallery wall. As far as possible, stick to a consistent colour palette. Consider all black, gold or wooden frames. Sleek frames can definitely make the artwork look more polished. You can even use varying sizes to create depth and visual interest.
Use a Measure Tape
If you’re doing up the gallery wall yourself, a measuring tape would come handy. You will have to keep measuring the space between the frames so that it looks uniform. Instead of getting nails, you can even get picture hanging hooks. Ensure there is consistent space between every frame. Typically 2-3 inches works. The focal point of your gallery wall should be at eye level. If you’re worried about drilling holes into your wall, command strips are also a great alternative. The work wonders for lightweight frames.
Mix Textures
While paintings, pictures and photographs are great, you can even consider mixing 2D art with 3D pieces. Think sculptures, decorative objects or even plants. This adds to the visual interest. The whole point of a gallery wall is to add depth and variety to the wall.
Consider Lighting
Lastly, the most important thing you need to consider for a gallery wall is lighting. It can make all the difference on how your gallery wall is perceived. A few lighting options you can consider are picture lights, track lights or even accent lamps.
Conclusion
A well-curated gallery wall can completely transform your space. It can add character and personality to any room. With the above tips, you can be more thoughtful about your arrangement. No matter what aesthetic you choose, the key is to make the gallery wall a true reflection of your personality. Hence, get creative and happy decorating!
You too can become an interior design pro by choosing our 1-year Interior Design course in Bangalore. We teach students how to communicate their design knowledge both verbally as well as visually.
