Creating a Gallery Wall

I’ve noticed a lot of gallery walls on Pinterest and on blogs and many of them have such a seemingly random collection of items that I had decided that I didn’t care for gallery walls.

But then the brass swans came to live with us and I knew that they needed a vignette to make them look at home. And THEN when I had a couple of canvas prints made from photos I took of home (North Carolina), the creating of a gallery wall seemed to happen all on its own.

 

THE BASICS:

The first step is to think about what you are starting with, or the foundation pieces. This will give you an idea of what direction to go so that the items in your gallery wall are not random and totally unrelated.

I started with what I knew I wanted and that was my 3 canvas prints which were all antique looking pictures, and of course, the brass swans which are sitting on a very rustic bench.

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GATHERING POSSIBILITIES:

Looking at your foundation pieces, decide what unifying theme they have. Mine were all in a rustic and country theme. Now to find accompanying pieces, walk around your house and see what things you already have that might fit this theme. I found numerous things that fit the theme, so I narrowed them down only taking things that would NOT undo any decor that I already had going on. Most of my pieces were in a large display cabinet that is overly full and taking a few things out actually helped it!

Most likely you can find all you need right in your home, but if not, then it’s time for a shopping trip!

 

DECIDING ON AN ARRANGEMENT:

Once you have gathered all your pieces, find a large open spot on the floor, (or on a bed works good), and lay them all out beginning with the largest pieces or your foundation pieces. I placed my three canvas prints out on the floor and then started placing all my smaller pieces around them. I realized that I had chosen three round objects so they were my next items to place, putting one in each canvas print area. Use the smallest items to fill in.

I wasn’t pleased with my first arrangement, and if you are with yours, then you have amazing skills. But if you are like me and your first attempt needs work, start moving things around. I didn’t like that my arrangement was so tall. So I took the round wreath from the top and moved it to the right side, creating a longer width AND a shorter height.

After a few more minor readjustments, I was pleased with the arrangement.

 

HANGING ON THE WALL:

Starting in the center of your grouping will ensure that you have some balance in your wall design, so the first thing that I hung was the middle canvas, which I centered above the brass swans. You should continue with your foundations pieces, which in my case are the other two canvases, one on each side of the middle one. Continue hanging your chosen items, alternating on the left and right to be sure that you have balance in your design and one side doesn’t feel heavier than the other.

My new gallery wall is in my hallway and it is difficult to get good pictures because of the narrowness of the hall.

Now that I have lived with this arrangement for a week or two, I am thinking to make a small change. The wreath on the right just seems out of place and I think I can do better. But for now it works.

Do you have a gallery wall? Now that I have one, I am considering doing another one with just pictures of our grandchildren.