You may have noticed in my office makeover that I have a gallery wall above my desk. Let me just confess now that it’s something I’ve wanted to do for years (literally years here folks) but just now finally got around to doing. If you’ve been coveting gallery wall images on Pinterest but have yet to hang any art, don’t worry– you are certainly not alone. Here are my 5 tips for actually hanging a gallery wall!
1. I cannot stress this enough– but buy or make a hang and level tool. It will save you hours of exact measuring and loads of kleenex from wiping your tears. Each frame is likely to hang differently and this tool helps cut out any second guessing or unwanted holes in your wall. Absolutely worth the investment (around $10 if you buy).
2. Try to collect a majority of your art at the same time. One of the main reasons I’ve put off hanging a gallery wall is because I would buy random pieces of art without thinking about how they would look together on the wall. I decided to bite the bullet and just go for it. I bought all my art from Minted. Because they’re a market place for independent designers, I didn’t have to worry about having too much of the same style or person’s work. Plus they shipped it to me, framed and all.
3. When buying your art, I suggest making a digital mock up before checking out. This way, you can see how the pieces fit together and what sizes you need to order. This comes in handy, especially if you’re ordering from multiple sources (or if you already have prints you want to incorporate). For reference, my mockup is above and the real thing below.
4. Once you have your art, and you’re ready to hang, you’ll want to map it out on the wall. This is a step I really wanted to skip, but it’s so important when it comes to getting the correct placement, for both in between each print and in relation to your ceiling, walls, and other furniture. Trace the outline of your frame on paper (kraft or wrapping paper is large enough), cut out and tape in place. I recommend using a tacky tape if you plan on having it up for more than an hour before hanging (no washi here folks, no matter how cute it is).
5. Leave the prints up as you go. You should be careful that you don’t knock them down while hammering in the nail for the others, but it’s great to double check everything as you go, instead of redoing it all at the end.
So that’s that! I know it seems like a lot of work (trust me, it’s why I put it off for so long), but it’s honestly worth it. Do you have a gallery wall in your home? I’d love to know your tips and tricks!
