Do you have a blank wall that feels boring and doesn’t contribute to the look of your home whatsoever? In that case, you have the perfect opportunity to create a gallery wall. A gallery wall is a great way to make your interior come to life. Not only does it provide interest to the space, but it also allows you to showcase paintings, posters, photographs and typography with themes that matter to you.
But confronting a blank wall isn’t easy, especially when you have such a wide choice. From contemporary art posters with minimalist themes to landscape photography, impressionist paintings, pop art collages and more – there are so many styles and techniques you can incorporate into your gallery wall. With that being said, here are some tips to help you create a collection that can make a tasteful statement as opposed to being a chaotic jumble.
Pick a Theme
First of all, consider what kind of an aesthetic you aim for. You want to pick a unifying theme that will make you content while looking at the wall. But, it’s also important that the overall style that’s captured with the gallery wall matches the rest of your interior. For instance, landscape and animal photography and contemporary art posters with geometric shapes can complement a Scandinavian interior. Black and white photography, typography and abstract paintings are ideal for contemporary spaces. Still life paintings and old portraits and photographs can blend into a vintage or traditional interior. You can also create an eclectic mix, as long as there’s a certain thing that ties them together, like for instance colour or the subjects depicted on them.
Pay Attention to the Frames
In a gallery wall, frames shouldn’t be an afterthought. If you pick frames with the same size, shape and material, your gallery wall will look too formal, and as a result just as boring as a blank wall. To add some variety mix up frames made of different materials such as metal and wood, and pick different colours and finishes. When choosing coloured frames, make sure that they complement each other. If your art allows, you can also use intermingle oval and rectangular frames. Just make sure to keep the frames simple and detail-free. A frame that’s too ornate will take away attention from the art and act as an eyesore in your collection.
Hang With Precision
Don’t start nailing before you have a good idea of how your wall will look like. Try to lay out the pieces in your collections on the floor, and see how they work together as a whole. Now that you know where each piece goes, you can start hanging them. Start with the artwork you consider to be the centrepiece in the collection, and hang it some 150 cm from the floor, so that it’s at average eye level. Then, start hanging the pieces around it, gradually moving further away from the centre.
