How To Hang A Gallery Wall - Tips and Tricks

A gallery wall is a great way to  liven up a living room, bedroom, staircase or entrance hall. Show off a collection of art that is not uniform in size, shape or subject matter in a creative and stylish way. Or, create a gallery wall with similar-looking pieces for a uniform effect.

The joy of a gallery wall is that you are able to show off unusual pieces. A framed cloth or family heirloom can be hung alongside your prized art. 

There are a number of steps you can follow to make the process as simple, artistic and safe as possible. We’ve laid out those steps for you and provided some tips for hanging a gallery wall to get the most out of your space.

How To Hang A Gallery Wall

Knowing how to hang a gallery wall can seem daunting when you are standing in front of your empty space. Once you have identified the wall you want to decorate, the fun of choosing your pieces begins.

Step 1: Gather Your Art

Identify the pieces you wish to hang. Some gallery walls stick to a uniform design, size and subject matter. Others use a variety of sizes and items to create a diverse mix of artwork. You can choose to assemble a collection of similar designs with identical frames, such as family photographs or watercolour botanicals. 

Alternatively, you can select a variety of pieces and frame them with similar but not quite identical frames. For example, you can stick to metallic frames or light-coloured woods. 

Lastly, you can choose to keep everything different, from the frames to the art itself. 

A tip for hanging this type of gallery wall is to remember you don’t have to stick with flat items. Using a small shelf between your framed pieces will allow you to display three-dimensional pieces.

Step 2: Arranging Your Gallery Wall

Layout your art on the floor or a bed to get a feel of where you want each piece. This way, you can try out different arrangements easily.

Or, you can also take photos of each piece and cut them out so that they are smaller than the originals but still in proportion. This way you space them out on a large piece of paper to try different options.

For different sized collections, you can start with the largest piece in the middle of the wall. Or, ensure your bottom row - even if the pieces are different sizes - lines up evenly at the bottom. This will work well if you have a couch, table or flat sideboard up against the same wall. You can also line up the top of your frames. 

For uniform gallery walls, you must pay careful attention to how to space the pictures on a wall. How far apart should pictures be on a gallery wall will vary according to the size of your pieces, and the width of your wall. 

Measure the gaps between your gallery wall and the corners of the room, ends of the wall, windows or doors, floors and ceilings to avoid the wall becoming overcrowded. A gallery wall up a staircase must take into account the bannister.

Step 3: Hang your art

The best solution is to hire a professional picture hanging service to hang your gallery wall. This way you can be assured of the quality and safety of the work. Professional art hanging services will also be able to advise you on the spacing and arrangement of your wall. Once your wall is complete, you can clean up any mess and dust before you move your furniture back.

Gallery Wall Hanging Tips

  • Make smaller pieces pop with bigger, chunkier frames.

  • Avoid using too many of the same or similar frames if your gallery wall is mixed.

  • Keep your centre picture at eye level, roughly 1,6 metres high but this might vary depending on your space.

  • Mark where any furniture usually rests against the wall. This will help keep your gallery wall well-spaced above your furniture.

  • Get some perspective. Take a few steps back from the wall, stand in different corners, sit down, walk around.

How far apart should pictures be on a gallery wall?

This will vary according to the size of your pictures, the size of your wall and the number of pieces you are hanging. For a uniform collection, a general rule of thumb is that gaps between your pieces should be no smaller than 4cm. 

Generally, the larger the pieces, the larger the gap.

Even if your collection is diverse, try to keep the space between your pictures somewhat uniform so that placement looks purposeful.

What are the do’s and don’ts of hanging a gallery wall?

  • Don’t make any irreversible moves before you are confident in your layout. No drilling or nailing until you're sure.

  • Do admit when you need help. Professional picture hangers will be an asset.

  • Don’t limit yourself. For example, consider using a small shelf if your item can’t be framed.Do think out of the box.

  • Don’t crowd your space or your artworks.

  • Do consider mixed collections. A gallery wall is the perfect place to show off a tapestry from your travels, ceramic painted plates, small decorative mirrors, African masks, or religious ornaments.

Can you have more than one gallery wall in a room?

Unless you are decorating a banquet hall, it is not recommended to have more than one gallery wall in a room. Your space will be overcrowded and the impact of your collection will be lost.

If you simply can’t whittle your collection down, why not have an ever changing gallery wall? Switch up your collection as and when you feel like a change.

Choosing A Picture Hanging Service

For the best ideas on how to hang a gallery wall, Seido Art Services operating in London and surrounding areas will use their expertise and skill to ensure your collection looks tasteful, and stays safe so that you can best admire your art.

Read our article about how to hang art above your bed!

Will ODonnell