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jillianfree

Help with gallery wall

7 years ago
I have a very large gallery wall/hallway connecting main rooms in my home. I need advice re placement/size of artwork. I’d prefer not to go buy large scale pieces just to fill space. I have many pieces I love but having trouble incorporating it all together. I’m willing to change out frames and add a piece or two. I just don’t want the space to look cluttered. There are two pillars dividing the wall. The left wall measures 14’ w x 8 ‘ h total with a pillar dividing into two sections. Right side is about 8 ft. Between the pillars. Note - there will be sconces added next to the couch. I’ve added photos of the space and of some pieces I have. Any advice greatly appreciated!

Comments (17)

  • 7 years ago

    You could do all similar frames and keep it symetrical.

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  • 7 years ago

    Well, I am a huge no to gallery walls. That, to me, is such a dated concept that rarely looks good in the real world by real/non decorating people. Your's will most likely not end up looking like what others will post here from online photos that were professionally done. Another reason I would not do a gallery wall in your space is because (and no offense) your house already looks like a hodgepodge of mismatched stuff. It looks like you just use what you have instead of thoughtfully planning out and decorating the room. So a gallery wall of even more mismatched, uneven stuff is really just going to add to the issues that are already going on.

  • 7 years ago
    Wow cpaul. Harsh. Ok OP here’s the thing....you could do a gallery wall but it looks like the scale and quantity of what you have on hand won’t be enough to make a ‘statement’ or simply do what you’re aiming for. You either need about three times what you have or consider just a large map, a triptych of significant scale or large wall hanging to fill that wall a bit more. Lastly, maybe a soft accent paint with nothing on it might be a consideration.
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I like the idea of larger art. It looks more restful to the eye. Or this idea which is pretty cool...




  • 7 years ago

    I think a symmetrical gallery such as kulrn's second and third photos would look amazing in your space.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Nice space.


    Heres one same frames but different sizes. I'm getting ready to put together mine as well. Imo the key is you use stuff you already have and love. You don't go out and buy 20 pieces at homegoods.




  • 7 years ago
    I think most of the pieces you’ve laid out are too small for an effective gallery in that spot. Consider buying one or more wall calendars with photos you love (e.g., Ansel Adams), put in consistent frames and mix a few of your larger pieces in. I think there are lots of articles and videos on how to do an effective gallery. And your house looks nice to me
  • 7 years ago
    Hi Jillian. I agree with some other comments about the frames. Usually having all one color give it that “organized chaos” look. The good thing, a can of black spray paint easily fixes that!!
  • 7 years ago

    Hmm, to me your stuff already looks like a collection, you can lay out some pieces on the floor to get groupings before you hang. I find it helps to start with the pivotal piece, the one with the strongest composition, the one you love most. If you are trying to keep the spacing consistent, get a scrap of wood or similar to help you plot everything out. I don’t really seeing it going into a grid unless all the frames are the same. Salon style art display has been around for eons.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I agree it's nice if you can use what you have. Awhile back I went through old issues I have of Cook's Illustrated thinking I might frame several of their front or back cover illustrations. I ended up using the back covers for a grouping on a wall in our kitchen. The frames and matting are all identical. I don't have a photo of the wall right now, but I do have this of one of the framed prints. Fun project using what I already had and liked.



  • 7 years ago
    Go with your picture gallery. I have prints collected from travels and have had framed. They mean more than somebody else’s “artwork”. I started on one end and kept adding over time. I wish I could take a picture. I love it and isn’t that what counts? Who cares what cpaul thinks.
  • 7 years ago

    When I did a gallery wall once I cut out small pieces to scale of graph paper and laid them out on a table to find the best layout. It was easier to move around than life size. Once I narrowed it down then I laid the big ones on the floor.

    To hang them I traced and cut the sizes out of plain butcher paper and taped on the wall. I saw someone online use the backside of wrapping paper with grids to line them up.

  • 7 years ago

    Also I take pictures of the different layouts. It makes it easier to see them side by side.

  • 7 years ago

    I like homes that are interesting rather than " designer perfect". For that reason I really like gallery walls. You have the perfect space for one. It is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the variety of your artwork. I would begin in the middle and add to it as the art presents itself. Different frames add to the charm.

  • 7 years ago

    Hi, Jillian, art and gallery walls are my thing. You have the makings for one and I don't think your pieces are too small. I also don't think you need to reframe anything since your frames are pretty consistent--plain black or metal with no gorp.


    Hard to tell how large they are from your photos, but consider adding one large canvas--about 1 1/2 time the size of your largest frame--somewhere near the center.


    After you get your arrangement, forget about the columns, center the whole thing on the wall from its left end to the door opening.

  • 7 years ago

    In a dilemma here, one houzzer made photocopies of each piece, with frames, (you could patch together a larger piece from several papers if needed) and then used these photocopies to arrange and rearrange the gallery wall. When it was perfect, I think it was super easy to just hang the real thing right over!