A gallery wall is a perfect way to display your favourite art, prints, and photography while showcasing your personality and curating a collection that tells a story. Whether you're highlighting personal photographs, limited-edition prints, or cherished art pieces, a gallery wall can transform any room from ordinary to extraordinary. But how do you create a cohesive, stunning gallery wall without it feeling cluttered or overwhelming?

In this guide, we’ll delve into the art of curating a gallery wall—providing useful tips, examples, and expert advice from interior designers to help you achieve a balanced, beautiful wall display. By the end of this blog, you’ll be ready to design a gallery wall that reflects your taste and seamlessly blends a mix of art styles and mediums.

Why Create a Gallery Wall?

Before we jump into the how, let’s start with the why. Gallery walls are more than just a collection of art—they’re personal expressions of style and taste. Whether you live in a small apartment or a large house, a well-curated gallery wall can add depth, interest, and personality to your space.

The Benefits of a Gallery Wall

Personalization: Every piece tells a story, making your wall a visual journey of who you are.
Flexibility: You can mix different styles, sizes, and frames to create a unique display.
Versatility: A gallery wall works in any room—from the living room to the bedroom, hallway, or even the bathroom.
Dynamic Display: You can continuously update or rearrange your gallery wall as your collection grows or as you discover new art pieces.

Step 1: Plan the Layout

The layout is the foundation of your gallery wall. A well-thought-out arrangement ensures your collection looks intentional rather than random. There are several layout options to consider, depending on the vibe you want to achieve:

Symmetrical Layout

A symmetrical gallery wall is balanced, creating a sense of order and calm. This approach works best with artwork of similar sizes and frame styles.

Perfect for: Minimalist or modern spaces where clean lines and symmetry are key.
How to achieve it: Measure your wall and divide it into even sections, placing the centerpieces at eye level. Use matching frames for a unified look.

Asymmetrical Layout

If you prefer a more eclectic or relaxed feel, an asymmetrical layout offers the flexibility to mix and match art of different sizes and mediums. This style works well in bohemian or contemporary interiors.

Perfect for: Mixing different art styles and frame types.
How to achieve it: Start with one or two larger pieces as anchors, then build around them with smaller artworks. Keep consistent spacing between the pieces for balance.

Pro Tip: Trace the shapes of your frames on paper and tape them to the wall before hanging anything. This way, you can experiment with different layouts without damaging the walls.

Gallery Grid

A grid layout, where all pieces are evenly spaced and aligned, offers a structured, formal look. It’s a great way to showcase similar types of art or photography, such as black-and-white photos or a series of limited-edition prints.

Perfect for: Offices, dining rooms, or other formal spaces.
How to achieve it: Choose frames of identical sizes and use a ruler or level to ensure precise alignment.

Example: Interior designer Emily Henderson often recommends the gallery grid for minimalist or modern interiors, as it creates a clean, uniform look that’s easy on the eyes.

Step 2: Selecting Your Art and Prints

Curating a gallery wall means choosing pieces that not only look good together but also resonate with you. The most successful gallery walls mix different types of art—paintings, photography, prints, and even textiles or mirrors.

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How to Choose Art for a Gallery Wall

Start with a Focal Piece: Choose a statement piece to anchor your gallery wall. This could be a large painting, an oversized photograph, or a favorite piece of art that sets the tone for the rest of the collection.
Mix Mediums: To create visual interest, include a variety of mediums. For example:
- Photography: Black-and-white or color photography adds depth and realism to your collection.
- Prints: Graphic art or limited-edition prints can introduce a modern, contemporary feel.
- Textiles: If you’re feeling adventurous, consider including woven tapestries or textile art to add texture.
Consider the Room’s Color Scheme: Interior designer Nate Berkus suggests choosing art that complements the room’s existing color palette. If your room is neutral, go bold with art that incorporates vibrant hues. For a more colorful room, opt for black-and-white or muted art pieces to balance the space.
Personal Touches: Incorporate personal items such as family photographs, travel souvenirs, or children’s drawings. A gallery wall should tell a story, and including personal items will make it truly unique.

Expert Insight: Interior designer Kelly Wearstler emphasizes mixing both high and low art. “Don’t be afraid to juxtapose a valuable painting with a simple poster or print,” she says. This mix of old and new creates a dynamic, layered look that adds depth and richness to your gallery wall.

Art Styles to Consider

Abstract Art: Bold, colorful abstract prints can serve as eye-catching focal points.
Geometric Prints: Clean, symmetrical lines offer a modern, minimalist touch.
Vintage Photography: Timeless black-and-white photography adds depth and history.
Hand-Drawn Sketches: Charcoal or pencil sketches add a sense of artistry and craftsmanship.
Botanical Prints: Floral or plant-themed prints can bring a touch of nature indoors, adding freshness to your gallery wall.

Step 3: Choosing Frames

The right frames can make or break your gallery wall. They should complement the artwork while contributing to the overall aesthetic. Here are some expert tips to help you choose the right frames:

Mix and Match Frames

For a more eclectic and layered look, mix different frame styles, colors, and textures. Combining wood, metal, and even acrylic frames can add depth and interest to your gallery wall.

Wooden Frames: Offer warmth and a natural feel. Great for vintage photography or nature prints.
Metal Frames: Add a sleek, modern touch, perfect for abstract art or minimalist prints.
Floating Frames: These frames create the illusion that the artwork is floating within the frame, giving a contemporary edge.

Pro Tip: While mixing frame styles is encouraged, keep some consistency in terms of color or material to avoid a chaotic look. For example, you can mix black, white, and gold frames but stick to similar widths for balance.

Uniform Frames

For a more structured, cohesive look, use frames of the same style and color. This approach works particularly well in modern or minimalist spaces where clean lines are essential.

Black Frames: Timeless and classic, black frames are versatile and pair well with almost any art style.
White Frames: White frames create a light, airy feel, making them ideal for coastal or Scandinavian-inspired interiors.
Natural Wood Frames: These frames add warmth and texture, great for boho or rustic spaces.

Step 4: Arranging the Art

Now that you’ve chosen your art, prints, and frames, it’s time to think about the arrangement. The layout should feel balanced, but don’t be afraid to embrace some asymmetry and playfulness.

Balance Is Key

Even if your gallery wall is asymmetrical, there should still be a sense of balance. For example, balance large pieces with several smaller ones, and distribute color or dark frames evenly across the wall to avoid visual heaviness in one section.

Expert Tip: Interior designer Joanna Gaines recommends spacing the pieces evenly to avoid overcrowding. “A little space between the frames gives each piece room to breathe,” she says.

Play with Size and Scale

Mixing artwork of different sizes creates visual interest. You can place one large piece at the center of the gallery wall and surround it with smaller prints and photographs. This approach creates a layered, dynamic look.

Large Pieces: Should act as the anchor or focal point of the gallery wall.
Smaller Pieces: Fill in the gaps around the larger pieces, adding variety and balance.

Step 5: Hanging Your Gallery Wall

Hanging a gallery wall can feel intimidating, but with a few simple tools and some patience, you’ll get it right.

Measure Twice, Hang Once

Before you start hammering nails into the wall, measure the space carefully and plan your arrangement. Use a measuring tape, level, and painter’s tape to ensure everything is aligned and straight.

Pro Tip: Cut out paper templates of each frame and tape them to the wall. This will allow you to visualize the arrangement and make adjustments without committing to nail holes.

Start with the Focal Piece

Always begin with your focal piece—whether that’s the largest piece or the one at the centre of the arrangement. From there, build outwards, hanging smaller pieces around it. This ensures that the gallery wall feels balanced and cohesive.

Gallery Wall Inspiration from Designers

To get inspired, let’s take a look at how some top interior designers approach gallery walls:

1. Emily Henderson’s Playful Asymmetry

Emily Henderson is known for her approachable, eclectic style. She often creates gallery walls that mix different frame styles, sizes, and types of art, all while keeping the arrangement playful yet cohesive. Henderson suggests starting with the largest piece and then filling in the surrounding space with smaller works, ensuring that each piece has room to breathe.

Key Tip: Emily recommends experimenting with placement by laying all of your art pieces on the floor first to find the perfect arrangement. Once you’ve nailed down the layout, you can start transferring it to the wall.

2. Nate Berkus’s Balance of Old and New

Nate Berkus is a master at blending vintage and modern aesthetics. His approach to gallery walls reflects his belief in mixing both high-end and affordable art, allowing for a more collected and organic feel. He advises choosing pieces that are personal, such as family photographs or unique items from travel, and mixing them with modern or abstract art to create contrast.

Key Tip: Don’t be afraid to add sculptural elements to your gallery wall. Incorporating 3D objects such as small mirrors or hanging planters can add texture and dimension to the layout.

3. Kelly Wearstler’s Bold Maximalism

Kelly Wearstler, a well-known advocate for bold and maximalist design, takes gallery walls to another level by incorporating vibrant, oversized art pieces. Her gallery walls often feature a combination of colours, textures, and unexpected materials. While her style is bold, she maintains cohesion by balancing large and small pieces and keeping a consistent colour palette throughout the collection.

Key Tip: Wearstler recommends experimenting with texture. Incorporate materials like velvet, wood, or even metallics to add depth to your gallery wall. This can be done by selecting frames made from different materials or by choosing textured artwork.

4. Shea McGee’s Clean and Minimalist Style

Shea McGee, from Studio McGee, is known for her clean, airy interiors, and her gallery walls are no exception. McGee often uses a grid layout to display cohesive photography or prints, creating a modern, structured look that fits seamlessly into minimalist spaces. By sticking to neutral frames and art that share a similar tone, McGee’s gallery walls add elegance without overwhelming the space.

Key Tip: Shea advises maintaining plenty of white space around your frames to keep the gallery wall from feeling too busy. She often suggests using white or neutral-coloured mats to give the art more breathing room.

Step 6: Maintaining and Updating Your Gallery Wall

Your gallery wall is never static. It should evolve with you, whether that means adding new pieces, swapping out old ones, or updating the overall arrangement. The beauty of a gallery wall is its flexibility—allowing you to refresh your space without starting from scratch.

1. Rotating Seasonal Art

One way to keep your gallery wall fresh is by rotating artwork seasonally. In the summer, you can opt for lighter, more colourful pieces, while in the winter, moodier or darker tones might be more fitting.

Key Tip: To make the process easier, stick with a consistent frame size so you can easily swap out prints or photos throughout the year without having to rearrange the entire layout.

2. Adding New Art Over Time

As your tastes evolve or as you discover new artists and photographers, consider adding new pieces to your gallery wall. Since gallery walls are meant to tell a story, new additions should reflect your current interests or experiences.

3. Updating Frames and Mats

Refreshing your frames and mats is a great way to update the look of your gallery wall without changing the art itself. Consider switching out outdated frames for more modern options or adding new color mats to create a fresh perspective.

Conclusion: Your Gallery Wall as a Work of Art

Creating a gallery wall is a fantastic way to inject personality, creativity, and sophistication into your home. By carefully curating a mix of art, prints, and photography—and using tips from top interior designers—you can craft a display that’s uniquely yours. Whether you opt for a symmetrical layout, a playful and eclectic mix, or a bold statement wall, the most important thing is to have fun and make it a reflection of your personal taste.

So take your time, curate with care, and don’t be afraid to experiment with new styles and layouts. After all, a gallery wall is a living, evolving part of your home—one that should grow with you and your ever-changing style.

Curating a Gallery Wall: How to Mix and Match Art, Prints, and Photography