6 Tips To Go From Boring to Bold With a Gallery Wall in Your Home

There’s something eye-catching about a large gallery of photos on the walls of someone’s home. Even if the frames are filled with unfamiliar faces that you’ll probably never meet, or artwork by people you’ve never heard of, gallery walls always tend to tell a story. You look at the photos and wonder, “What beach was this photo taken at? Who’s this baby they’re holding? Where’d they find this antique mirror?” These musings can lead to great conversations, and can help you learn more about the person who made the gallery wall. If you’re thinking of adding this personal touch to your own home, these six tips can guide you in the right direction.

1. But First, Wallpaper

Understandably, there is a certain degree of hesitation in driving that first nail for your gallery through a freshly wallpapered wall, but you only live once. And the outcome is always outstanding. Tie in the color scheme of the wallpaper to the colors in your gallery for even more added drama.

2. Across the Room

Anchored by bold images, this linear lineup adds a sense of artistic order that lets the eye make a graceful sweep from left to right. Although this image depicts a more modern approach with little color, utilize the same lineup with whatever aesthetic you wish. The linear placement of the frames can also make a room seem wider.

3. Mirrors, Mirrors

No vanity to display those elegant hand mirrors you see at the flea markets? An assemblage of vintage wall mirrors and antique hand mirrors are a boudoir fantasy on this warm wall. This is an easy, light-reflecting collection to keep adding to, even once they’re up on display.

4. Shelve That Idea

Real collectors never have quite enough storage. Placing a tiered shelving unit at the center or in the vicinity of your gallery wall is a neat trick: Your artwork creates a frame for your best collectibles.

5. Music to My Eyes

Instruments often go for a song when they’re not in good working condition. Give them a second chance to shine, grouped in harmony on a wall made for music lovers.

6. Seeing Double Gallery Walls

Gallery walls don’t have to be confined to a single surface. Don’t be afraid to add decor and artwork to the adjacent walls as well. If you fear your space might look too busy and confined, go for a singular bold piece on one, rather than the gallery effect for both.

7. Not Another Plate Wall

Could it be that plate display walls have been around as long as plates themselves? Charming as they are, we always appreciate a new spin. A vintage looking mirror in the vicinity adds an element of romance and drama to these pale pink walls.

A version of this article appeared in our partner magazine, Flea Market Home & Living, in 2022.