Walls need a refresh?
Are you feeling uninspired by your surroundings? If it's been a while since your space had an update and you want to come home excited to be home, a gallery wall is a brilliant way to showcase your creativity, personal style, and cherished memories. With the right planning and execution, you can transform a blank wall into a captivating display of art, photographs, and decorative pieces! In this post, I'll guide you through the process of creating a gallery wall that looks visually stunning... sooo let's dive in and learn how to create a gallery wall that will leave a lasting impression on both you and your guests!
1) Define Your Theme and Style: Before you start hanging artwork, it's essential to decide on a theme or style that suits your taste and complements your space. Consider elements like colour schemes, subject matter, or even specific artists or periods. Having a clear theme will help you curate a cohesive collection that tells a story through your wall. You can have a play with colour pallets for free on Adobe Color. If you find yourself stuck, a cool solution is to find a photograph you like the colour scheme of, or use 1 piece of art work you know you want to hang, and then upload it to Adobe Color and it will pull a colour scheme for you from the image itself and then you can select the rest of your pieces in line with that colour scheme!
2) Choose the Right Wall: Selecting the perfect wall for your gallery is crucial. Opt for a prominent, well-lit area that serves as a focal point in your room. Ensure that the walls dimensions and proportions accommodate the size and layout of your artwork. It's also important to keep in mind any existing furniture or architectural features that could influence the arrangement.
3) Gather Your Art and Decor Pieces: Now comes the exciting part, collecting the artwork and decorative items that will grace your gallery wall. Explore your personal collection, visit local art galleries, or browse online platforms to find pieces that align with your chosen theme. Mix and match different sizes, mediums, and textures to create visual interest.
4) Plan the Layout: Before picking up the hammer, plan the layout of your gallery wall. Lay out your artwork on the floor or use a digital tool such as procreate, canva or photoshop to experiment with different arrangements. Aim for a balanced composition, considering the size, color, and shape of each piece. Don't be afraid to play around with various configurations until you find the one that pleases your eye.
5) Install Your Gallery Wall: Once you have a finalised layout, it's time to install your gallery wall. Use a spirit level!! +a measuring tape and pencil to mark the positions of the hooks or nails... don't think you can skip this part and go by eye, you'll be so annoyed with yourself if you have to fill in a bunch of holes because you put them in just slightly out from where they needed to be...! Start with the center or focal point of your arrangement and work outward, maintaining the overall balance. If you're uncertain about hammering directly into the wall, consider using adhesive hooks or picture hanging strips- they're actually surprisingly sturdy, use more for larger pieces and obviously consider the weight of the item being hung- larger heavier items will probably need a hook or nail.
6) Add Lighting: To enhance the visual impact of your gallery wall, incorporate proper lighting. Consider installing track lights, picture lights, or wall sconces that can highlight specific pieces or provide overall illumination, or of course some tasteful white fairy lights or string lights can also look lovely and draw attention to pieces. Experiment with different light placement, angles and intensities to create the desired ambiance.
7) Maintain and Refresh: Regularly dust and clean your artwork to keep it looking its best. Additionally, don't be afraid to refresh your gallery wall periodically by swapping out pieces or rearranging the layout. This allows you to infuse new life into your display and keep it relevant and engaging and something that brings you joy everyday.
Below you can find an example of one of my original fine art pieces Twist of Ivy, paired with my minimalist Oscar Wilde art print. Note the colour scheme matches the room perfectly and the minimalism of the quote art print plus the realism of the ivy pair really well with the room's plants, cabinet and chair.
Like this? The original Ivy painting is for sale along with the Oscar Wilde print.
Creating a captivating gallery wall requires careful planning, a keen eye for design, and a touch of creativity. By following this step-by-step guide, you can curate a stunning gallery wall that perfectly reflects your personal style. I highly recommend checking out pinterest for design inspiration and creating a mood board. You can do this digitally using the free website/app Miro which basically acts like an online pinboard (if you haven't discovered it yet honestly it's amazing) -they have a free profile option which is perfect for planning creative projects!
So, get ready to transform your wall into a captivating display of art and decor that will both impress your guests and bring you a tonne of joy and inspiration each day! Happy designing!
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