Art is a fantastic way to add life and personality to your home. Use these easy tips to create a gallery wall that will uplift and inspire
Creating a gallery wall has become one of the most popular home decor trends over the past several years. It is the perfect solution for the indecisive among us, allowing you to embrace a myriad of different art pieces and styles in your home.
So, how exactly should you create the gallery wall of your dreams? Whether you’re mixing and matching different artworks or playing around with cherished photographs, displaying them all together in a striking display is easier than you think.
To help you out, we’ve pulled together six gallery wall ideas to display photographs and artworks that you’re sure to get hung up on.
6 gallery wall ideas and tips for an artful display
Decide on your location:
Your gallery wall needn’t cover just one wall – if you have an empty-looking corner in your living room or bedroom, art will bring it to life. Otherwise, if you’re renting and aren’t allowed to put things nails in the walls you can still create a gallery-style art display on a sideboard. mix up the frame sizes to create interest. Gallery walls on stairwells and hallways also provide interest to typically mundane areas of your home.
Consider a theme:
A theme could tie your wall together. Whether it be colour, subject matter, medium or technique, a central theme creates a sense of cohesion. Many people stick to black-and-white photographs or bright prints. Otherwise, consider a common thread to run through your artwork. Whether it be a colour or artistic technique, this will create a greater sense of balance.
Use a variety of sizes:
Take your largest piece of art, and use it as the centrepiece. Then hang your variety of prints around this to create interest and shape.
While botanical prints aren’t anything new, they are a great option for bringing the outside in, especially if you aren’t a massive indoor plant fan. A gallery wall dedicated to foliage will certainly add impact and create a feeling of lushness and vibrancy.
Decide on a layout before putting any holes in the wall:
It may help to lay all your pieces on the ground first, so you can move them around until you find the best arrangement. Alternatively, make paper templates of the frames and move them about the wall on Blu-Tack. Once you’ve settled on the configuration, replace the pieces of paper with the pictures, one at a time.
Mix up your frames:
When it comes to choosing the frames for your artwork, a subtle mix of colours and materials helps an arrangement look more organic. Artworks on stretched canvas don’t have to be framed, but this will help them last longer.
For a casual, contemporary look, prop a print or two on a sideboard or stand some on the floor.
Where to buy and frame art prints
There is art out there for every budget and framing is pretty affordable too, especially if you stick to standard sizes.
Our marketplace, Shop Your Home and Garden has numerous art prints for the interior design enthusiast, by incredibly talented local artists and photographers. Stores including Freedom, The Warehouse and Farmers also sell wall art, which usually is sold frame intact.
However, you could also consider hanging and framing other things, such as souvenirs or menus from your favourite restaurant. Hanging plates are also coming back into fashion, using tools such as hanger discs from Spotlight.
Words & styling by: Vanessa Nouwens. Photography by: Wendy Fenwick.
Shop our favourite art prints for a gallery wall
1. Port Chalmers Art Print
from $49.00 at Shop Your Home and Garden
Best for: A black-and-white themed gallery wall
Artfully showing off the hidden gem of Dunedin, this print of Port Chalmers will add a sense of nostalgia to those who love the cherished maritime village.
Key features:
- Available in sizes A4, A3, A2 and A1
- Framing is available in white, black or natural
- Printed on fine art paper
2. Elora Framed Artwork
$94.95 at Freedom
Best for: Adding texture and dimension to a gallery wall
This abstract piece by Freedom blends paper and linen in a way that would complement the textures of a living or bedroom. It’s a testament to contemporary design, but a piece that could act as the hero piece of your gallery, or work wondrously on its own.
Key features:
- Size: 50 x 50 cm
- Can be hung in two different directions
- Framed in oak
3. Cardrona in Snow Artwork
$450.00 at Shop Your Home and Garden
Best for: Adding a bright palette to your space
Featuring an abstract representation of the Cardrona ski field, this artwork will bring the slopes to you. Despite depicting a winter setting, the bright blue sky is a reminder of sunny days ahead, giving a sense of warmth all year round.
Key features:
- Size: 50 x 50 cm
- Signed on reverse by the artist
- Stretched canvas and ready to hang
4. Natures Abode Lemons Framed Print
$65.00 at Spotlight
Best for: Sending you to a Mediterranean daydream
Bring the botanical accents into your space with this dreamy art print from Spotlight. The pops of yellow will instantly brighten any space.
Key features:
- Size: 55 x 55 cm
- Encased in black MDF frame
Related articles:
- Wanaka artist Agate Rubene walks us through a day in her life
- Local photographers Alex and Sony turn wanderlust into art
- 7 New Zealand artists worthy of adding to your art collection