In this post: So you have a large wall that’s just begging for some art, eh? I’ve got you covered! Here’s how to make a gallery wall – without making unnecessary holes in the wall.
When faced with a large expanse of wall space in a room, a gallery wall is such a great decorating element to use. Here’s how to make a gallery wall in your house with your own DIY gallery wall templates.
Finally decorate your own home – with confidence!
You’re so much closer to a beautifully-decorated home than you think. You just need a little help to get there!
Table of Contents
Why a gallery wall?
Gallery walls are a fairly inexpensive way to fill up a large blank piece of wall real estate. Not only can you stylishly share family photos, but other artwork can be mixed together. And if you keep the frames in a cohesive style or color a gallery wall can make for a very impressive statement wall.
We have used gallery walls in several rooms and spaces over the years as I worked out our own decorating style.
How do I create a gallery wall on a budget?
If you either collect frames over time or go thrift shopping for them, you can save a great deal over buying all new frames.
You can also paint frames that you don’t love the color of for a more cohesive look.
What should be included?
Gallery walls can include:
- family photos
- art prints
- sketches
- kid’s artwork
- architectural elements and artifacts
- tv’s (an arrangement of art around a tv tends to help it blend in)
- postcards
- vacation mementos
- grandma’s china
- jewelry
- game pieces
- and just about anything you can dream up!
If you’re looking for budget artwork, you can always download and print free printables or very reasonably priced digital downloads.
How to Put Together Your Own Gallery Wall – The Easy Way!
Supplies
- framed photos and artwork
- hammer
- nails
- screws
- screwdriver
- brown kraft paper
- painter’s tape or masking tape
Instructions
01. Prepare your wall space
To start you need a big blank space. Which you likely have if you’re here working on this project. 😉
02. Collect your framed photos and artwork
You can use family photos, art prints, silhouettes and other mementos. Gather up what you think you want to include in your gallery wall.
03. Make your own templates
Trace each frame onto a roll of brown Kraft paper, labelling each one with the art, the frame colour (so you don’t have all black on one side or anything) and the orientation (portrait or landscape).
04. Arrange (and rearrange) your kraft paper templates
Using painter’s tape, arrange each paper frame template on the wall starting with all the large frames first, filling in the spaces with smaller frames.
Make necessary adjustments with the kraft paper templates (because they’re so much easier to move) until you’re happy with the arrangement. Plus they leave far fewer holes in the wall!
05. Measure for hangers
For each frame, measure the location of the hanger on the back. Then measure and mark the coordinating hanger onto the coordinating paper frame.
06. Affix your hanger
You can do this right through the paper frame template in the marked location to the wall.
07. Hang your frames
Removing each paper template one by one, hanging the frame, and repeat for all frames. 
Have you ever hung a gallery wall? Do you have any more questions that I didn’t answer here before you start your own?
