Gallery Wall Tips and Tricks
Who doesn't love a great wall of artistically displayed art and photography? When doing a gallery wall, the trick to making it look like a "collection" is to have a unifying element. For example, all the art or photographs have a bit of red in them. Frames can serve this "unifying" function as well. If the frames are colorful or vary widely from each other, print the photos all in black and white. If frames are all different colors and the photos or art are also colorful, it can look a bit campy or childish (however, great for a child's space!). Likewise, if you have a compilation of different types of paintings, drawings and photographs, make sure the frames are similar. They don't need to be the same, however. For example, if they are all gold, keep the finish similar, but have different sizes, thicknesses and some with large mats and others with no mats at all.
I'd like to take a moment to give a shout out to the West Elm Gallery Frame. I love these so much. I used the antique silver with the linen mats and black frames with white mats. The silver works with a variety of metallics since it is antiqued. They also have great gold, white and mirrored finishes. My clients will hang colorful pictures of their family here. This works because, although the frames are different, they are simple, and thoughtfully hung in a zigzag pattern and in variety of sizes. These are beautiful to hang (come with a paper guide you can tape to the wall and hammer nails directly into) and look great in traditional and modern design alike! Whoop!
West Elm Gallery Frame silver and black gallery wall
What a difference, right?!
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Other Designer Picture Hanging Notes and Tips:
1. If you are hanging a picture on the wall, you do not need the table top arm on the back. It will make your art stick out oddly from the wall. Remove it. Most can be removed with a smidgen of elbow grease and pliers.
2. You will never worry about crooked pictures again if you use a level and this putty.
3. Rules were made to be broken. Peruse Pinterest or other sites for galleries you like, figure out what you like about them, why they work and copy that!
What gallery ideas and tips do you love right now?