I love a good gallery wall–when done correctly, it is a gorgeous way to display the things that matter most—family portraits, unforgettable trips, treasured heirlooms. The best gallery walls look effortless, but the truth is that they often take a lot of planning and inspiration. Here are my ten tips to help you build that perfect wall display.
1. Kids Artwork: Are your kids bringing home eighty pieces of artwork per week? Sure, you can’t keep every piece of paper the mini Picasso’s bring home, but every Mama saves the truly top notch finger paintings. Rather than just stuffing those masterpieces in the junk drawer or plastering the fridge with them, display your future Rembrandt’s artwork as part of your gallery wall.
A cable system with hooks to display works by your mini Picasso.
Artwork display cabinet.
2. Chalk Art: This is an awesome trend that I don’t see going anywhere any time soon. Here are a couple ways to integrate chalk paint into your gallery wall:
Love the notes added to this arrangement!
Such a cute idea to draw your own frames!
A hanging chalkbaord sign means you can change your message all year long–think about changing it with the seasons and holidays.
3. Keep It Simple: Create an elegant and timeless look by going with all one color and style of frame. Think simple, classic and warm a la Pottery Barn, or perhaps sleek and modern. IKEA is a fantastic place to pick up matching frames in different sizes.
A great use of Ikea’s “Ribba” frames.
Love the clean, all-white look. Great for making vibrant color photos pop!
4. Step Up Your Frame Game: The gallery walls I really drool over are those which use a diversity of frames. Introduce different frame widths, sizes and materials. Mix skinny metal frames with some thick, wooden ones and even throw in a gilded antique piece—anything goes! This principle applies beyond frames—have your images printed in different mediums. I offer metal prints, canvases, image blocks, matte prints, float wraps and standouts to all my photography clients.
Using an old windowpane as a frame adds character.
These guys really brought it to the frame game.
5. Rotating Gallery: Having trouble with commitment? Use a corkboard and pin images on—this way you can switch out snapshots anytime.
6. No Hammer, No Problem: Lean framed photos against a wall and rejoice in the laze factor.
7. Go Big or Go Home: Choose an anchor piece—one image that’s a bit larger, bold or more colorful than the rest and give it a more prominent frame and placement.
8. Printables a Plenty: Add some ABC’s to the mix. There are so many printable freebies on the Internet. If you have Photoshop or similar software, you can even make your own printables with the perfect sayings, fonts and layout. Dafont.com is a great resource for DIY graphic designers looking to personalize their printables.
9. Dimension: Move past the 2D realm and bring a little pop to your gallery wall with dimension. I am currently crushing on all things Joanna Gaines from HGTV’s “Fixer Upper,” and she has some crush-worthy design elements in her shop, Magnolia Market, that would look fantastic as part of a gallery setup.
10. Don’t Rush It: The best gallery walls can take weeks (or even years!) to produce, especially if you really want your wall to reflect on your family’s personality and style. Collect items on vacation; look for pieces in thrift stores that you can re-purpose (everyone loves a distressing and spray paint project); or integrate trinkets that have become part of your family lore over time (your daughter’s first pair of ballet shoes; an imprint of your pets paw; a map of where you and your husband met; your family initials or crest).
Maps from a favorite family vacation spot make a personal touch.
Most of all in this process—have fun! It doesn’t have to be done overnight. Most gallery walls will take planning and purpose, but the process doesn’t have to be a pain. Create a look-book of ideas and start collecting treasures over time. The whole idea of a gallery wall in your home is to be a reflection of your style and personality, so the biggest tip of all is just to let that part of you shine and don’t stress if your gallery wall looks a little different from something you’ve seen online! Need some extra inspiration–check out my wall display board on Pinterest!
Have a gallery wall at home or working on one? Tag me on Instagram so I can take a peek! @hparkerphotography
H. Parker Photography specializes in newborn, baby and child photography in Trophy Club, Texas and surrounding areas including but not limited to Dallas, Ft Worth and Roanoke.
