A gallery wall looks effortless when it's planned and chaotic when it isn't. Follow these steps to place frames confidently, using paper first and nails last.
Paper or newspaper, painter's tape, a pencil, a tape measure, a level, and a hammer. About an hour for a wall of five to seven frames.
Step 1. Choose your layout
| Layout | Looks like | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|
| Grid | Same-size frames in even rows | You want calm and order. Easiest to get right. |
| Row | One line at the same height | The wall is long and low: hallways, above a console or bed. |
| Salon | Mixed sizes around one anchor | You want personality and have a bigger wall. |
Step 2. Decide the size of the whole group
Treat the frames as one shape. Above furniture, that shape should be about two-thirds of the furniture's width (see how to choose the right size of art), with its centre close to 57 in (145 cm) from the floor.
Step 3. Pick a recipe
| Recipe | Frames | Group size (3 in gaps) |
|---|---|---|
| Sofa row | Three A3 side by side | 45 x 19 in |
| Statement pair | Two A1 side by side | 47 x 32 in |
| Square grid | Four A3, two by two | 29 x 41 in |
| Hallway run | Four A4 in a row | 45 x 13 in |
| Salon | One A1 anchor, two A3, two A4 | about 50 x 38 in |
Step 4. Keep the gaps equal
The space between frames is what ties them together. Use the same gap everywhere, 2 to 3 inches. Tighter looks modern and joined up, wider looks relaxed. Mixing the two is what makes a wall look accidental.
Step 5. Tie it together with one repeat
Mixed styles work when one thing repeats. Use one frame colour across the wall, or stay in one colour family, or repeat one size at least three times. Any one of these is enough.
Step 6. Plan on the floor, then on the wall
- Lay the frames on the floor in your layout and photograph it.
- Trace each frame on paper, cut the shapes out and number them.
- Tape the paper shapes to the wall with painter's tape. Step back, and move them until it looks right from across the room.
- Mark the nail position through each paper, then remove the paper.
- Hang from the centre outwards, checking each frame with a level.
Put the anchor, or the middle frame, up first. Every other frame is measured from it, so errors do not add up.
Mistakes to avoid
Starting with the nail. A wrong hole is permanent. A wrong piece of paper is not.
Spreading the frames too far apart. Gaps larger than about 4 inches make separate pictures instead of a group.
Centring the group on the wall instead of the furniture. It will look like it is drifting.
Your checklist
- Layout chosen: grid, row or salon.
- Group size is about two-thirds of the furniture.
- Centre of the group near 57 in (145 cm).
- Gaps are the same everywhere (2 to 3 in).
- One frame colour repeated.
- Paper templates taped up and approved.
Quick answers
How many frames should a gallery wall have?
Three to seven covers most walls. Fewer than three is just a pair; more than seven needs a larger wall and a firmer plan.
Can I mix frame colours?
You can, but it is a harder look to pull off. If in doubt, use one colour.
Can I plan it before I buy?
Yes. The wall builder lets you set your wall width, try grid, row and salon layouts, and see the total for the set.
Need ideas for what to hang? How to choose art for your space is the place to start.