If you have some empty walls staring back at you, and you’re ready to make your house feel more like home, try a gallery wall. It's an easy, stylish way to add personality, color, and charm to any space. Whether you want a polished, symmetrical look or an eclectic, collected-over-time vibe, a gallery wall is the perfect DIY project to showcase your favorite art, photos, and memories.
What to Include in a Gallery Wall
A great gallery wall isn’t just about framed photos—it’s about mixing textures, shapes, and styles. If you're looking for inspiration, think about these categories:
Artwork & Prints: Mix classic paintings, modern prints, and personal sketches.
Personal Photos: Black-and-white or color, candid shots or posed—photos add warmth and nostalgia.
Mirrors & Clocks: A well-placed mirror adds depth, and a clock can be both stylish and practical.
Textiles & 3D Pieces: Woven hangings, shadow boxes, or small decorative objects break up the monotony of framed prints.
Shelves & Small Plants: A floating shelf with tiny succulents can bring a fresh, dynamic touch.
How to Hang Stuff Safely
The last thing you want is your beautiful gallery wall crashing down in the middle of the night. Heavy pieces need anchors or wall screws, while lighter frames can be secured with adhesive strips. Our Gallery Wall Kit comes with all the hardware you need to hang on most standard walls. It includes 20, 50, and 75 lb hanging hooks as well as all-purpose 1.5 in hanging nails. If you're hanging something much heavier consider using wall anchors and installing it using your wall's studs.
Shop the Gallery Wall Kit
Best Places for a Gallery Wall
Wondering where a gallery wall will have the biggest impact? Here are some of the best spots:
Above a Sofa or Bed: Adds character and a focal point to living and sleeping areas.
Hallways & Staircases: Perfect for filling long, empty walls.
Entryways: Create an inviting first impression with meaningful artwork.
Around a TV: Helps the TV blend into the decor instead of standing out.
Extra Tips for a Stunning Gallery Wall
Sticking to a color scheme keeps things looking intentional, even with mixed styles, while varying frame sizes and shapes adds depth and interest. Leaving about 2-3 inches of even spacing between pieces ensures balance, and most importantly, don’t overthink it—your gallery wall should reflect your personality, so if you love it, it’s perfect!
How to Layout a Gallery Wall
Before you start hammering nails into your wall, take some time to plan your layout. Here’s how:
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Pick Your Wall: Choose a space that needs a little extra personality—above a sofa, along a hallway, or even around a TV.
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Use the Grid-Lined Template from the Gallery Wall Kit: This makes it easy to measure inches and feet. Line your frames up with each other using these guides.
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Decide How You'll Use The Template: The template can be used in two ways. As a whole — design your layout and then hang the entire template up. This is best when hanging complex gallery walls, many frames, or when creating a uniform layout. Or you can use it as cutouts. With fewer frames or if you'd like to experiment with your layout on the wall you'll trace each frame and cut them out.
If you’re using it as a whole:
- Trace each frame on the template.
- Hang your template on the wall.
- Check that it's level.
- Use tape to mark each mounting hole on the back of your frame and your template Then place the tape on your template and mark the two installation locations!
- Choose the right hardware for your art.
- Measure the distance between the top of frame and mounting location. Now find this same distance on your template. Do this for each frame.
- Install your hardware for each frame!
- Gently remove your template, leaving only the hardware behind.
- Hang your frames up and double check they're leveled.
If you’re using the templates as cutouts, follow the same steps, but tracing each frame, cut it out and place them on the wall.
Hanging a gallery wall is an easy, high-impact way to personalize your home. It’s easier than you might think and with careful planning can be done in an afternoon. Once you get your gallery wall up, make sure to tag us in your final project @character.home.
