If you’re anything like me, you absolutely can’t concentrate or get anything done in a cluttered or unorganized space. Call it OCD or whatever you want, but once I start a project, I can’t get started on anything else until I get the project complete. This year has been quite the year of transition. After years (and years) of having roommates – I’ve moved into a new place of my own and have been on a home design kick like no other. (I mean, I have truly transformed into my mom and have become an HGTV fiend!) One of my first home projects on top of my list was to create a dynamic point of interest and what better way to do that then with a chic gallery wall!
If there’s one design element that has been having a major moment in style lately, it has to be gallery walls. Whether it’s big, small or somewhere in between, creating a gallery with your favorite prints, art pieces or family photos can instantly elevate the style of any space. So to help all of you build your very own gallery wall, I put together a quick step-by-step tutorial.
What You’ll Need
As far as tools go, here’s what you’ll need to create the gallery wall of your dreams…
- Hammer
- Nails
- Level
- Tape Measurer
- Pens
- Paper (for writing down measurements)
- Blue painter’s tape
- Photo Frames
I scored most of my gallery wall frames from IKEA (on Clearance). Did you know that on the last Wednesday of the month, you can find super IKEA deals up to 75% off clearance? I’ve scored over 15 frames of all sizes for less than $50 bucks! [If you don’t know, now you know!]
Measure Before Mounting
Measure the amount of wall space you want to fill and then tape off that section on a clean floor. This allows you to space everything out the way you want in advance of securing it on the wall. Once you lock down your favorite arrangement, take a few photos for reference when you’re hanging. After experimenting with a few variations, shift things around until you find a layout that you love.
Get Ready To Hang
Once you’ve paired your frames to create the perfect layout on the floor, then it’s time to move the party to the wall. Remove the photo inserts from each frame and place them on the wall to further visualize and compose your gallery space. Start by hanging the largest piece first. If you don’t have one large piece, group two together for the illusion of a larger work. Once you’ve hung the largest piece, build off of that from the center outward with smaller pieces.
Nail It!
Once you’ve recreated your gallery composition on the wall with paper inserts, now it’s time to nail it! Using the paper inserts as a guide, hammer the small nail into the paper and into wall. (Using the paper as a guide will guarantee you get the exact composition you want.) Once the frame is secured to the wall, simply tug on the paper guide to remove and voila, your first frame is complete. Simply repeat, until all your frames are proportionately hung and just like that, your awesome gallery wall is complete!
And there you have it! A gorgeous gallery wall, ready to be filled with prints made by my favorite artists, family portraits and more! Do you have any tips or tricks to add to the list? What do you think of my gallery wall? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
