The 4 Best Places In Your Home For A Gallery Wall
A gallery wall can be a beautiful addition to any space. A huge benefit is that gallery walls don't need to be made up of art pieces that are the same size or shape; they can be as eclectic or uniform as you like. The goal should be to find pieces that work together visually and complement each other in size and shape.
How do you create the perfect gallery wall? Karen Hernandez, the Museum of Modern Art manager of product development and art reproductions, says via The New York Times, "Gallery walls can be a fun way of making a very personal statement in your home," adding, "To me, the most inspiring walls are those that mix a variety of artworks representing a range of media, from photographs to drawings, mixed in with personal mementos like children's artwork or souvenirs from one's travels." Interior designer Jana Bek adds, "Don't go online and buy a ton of pieces so you can create a gallery wall at top speed," she says, "A captivating gallery wall should look and feel collected. The ensemble should be an interesting mix of genres and techniques — for instance, figures, landscapes, abstracts in the form of drawings, photography and painting. Practice patience and take joy in acquiring your finds."
Now that your creative juices are flowing with gallery wall ideas, here are four spots in your home where you can get creative with gallery walls!
1. Living room
The most obvious place to install a gallery wall is your primary living space, where it will get the most attention when entertaining or simply relaxing at home. When it comes to decorating your living room, gallery walls are a great way to add visual interest and texture. They can be as simple or as elaborate as you want, but either way, they're the perfect way to add style to your space. Gallery walls look great behind a sofa, creating a focal point for the room. They can also be used to disguise a television by creating a gallery wall surrounding a wall-mounted TV screen to deemphasize it.
While, in theory, gallery walls seem like they may be expensive, there are plenty of ways to find art at low prices. Jordan Jordan of Rejuvenation Vintage says, "Your new favorite piece might be something unexpected — art doesn't have to be fancy or expensive. It just has to speak to your heart in some way." Check out thrift stores, vintage markets, and online marketplaces to find original pieces that work with your aesthetic. When choosing frames, match the frames with the room's décor. If you have a modern or mid-century-style living room, picking out frames in those styles is ideal. You can also choose wood or metal frames in neutral colors like black or white to match any style.
2. Bathroom
If you like the idea of a gallery wall but don't have enough artwork to cover a large wall in a living or dining room, creating a smaller version in a bathroom or powder room is a great alternative. Bathrooms are a great place to display more personal pieces like family photographs, while powder rooms that are frequently used by guests benefit from more traditional artwork. When hanging art in a bathroom, avoid using high monetary or sentimental value pieces because they may be damaged by humidity.
Once you've chosen your pieces, don't feel as though you need to commit to a particular layout. Interior designer Alina Wolhardt of Wolf in Sheep Design says via Boston Magazine, "Think of your gallery wall as fluid: You can always change your pieces, add as you go, and move things around. Don't be scared to make a mistake. It's just a small nail hole that can always be patched up."
3. Stairway
If you have a staircase that is a focal point in your home, why not transform it into a gallery wall? A staircase gallery wall is a great way to add personality to your home and showcase your favorite art pieces. The space is often overlooked, but it can be easily decorated with your favorite pieces.
Gallery walls can be tricky to create in a stairwell or staircase, but they're worth the effort. When deciding where to hang the art, keep in mind that you want to create an aesthetic flow from top to bottom, so choose pieces that complement each other well. If you're using photographs or paintings, consider using complementary colors for each piece so that all of your images blend together seamlessly. Then, decide on the gallery wall's layout. Take advantage of the vertical space in your staircase by creating multiple rows of items on the wall. The more rows you add, the more items you'll be able to showcase. Design expert Steven Sabados suggests creating a consistent middle point for the artwork by measuring 60 inches from the top of each step and marking the spot with a pencil. Then, connect the dots with painter's tape. This will give you a rough outline of where the center of the gallery wall should be (via CBC).
4. Hallway
Hallways tend to be relatively boring, simply acting as a functional way to get from room to room. A gallery wall can completely transform a hallway from a utilitarian space into something visually arresting. An entryway hallway is a great place to set the tone for the décor style that will be found in the rest of your home, whereas an upstairs hallway is an excellent spot to display family photos.
So how do you actually figure out the layout? The VP at online print shop Fy!, Molly Pusey, says via Good Housekeeping, "The simplest way to tackle layout is to keep the size of your space in mind and choose a selection of small, medium and large prints. Use old wrapping paper or newspaper to cut out the size of your prints and stick to your walls, playing around with the configuration until you have found the aesthetic you are after." Time to get decorating!