Guide

How to Create a Gallery Wall: Step-by-Step Guide

A gallery wall is one of the most versatile ways to use art in a home. The challenge is making it look considered, not chaotic. This guide walks through the full process: measuring, choosing a layout, selecting sizes, planning, and hanging.

Planning Your Gallery Wall

Step 1 — Measure Your Wall. Before selecting prints, measure the wall space. Note width, height, and any constraints (windows, switches, shelving). For above a sofa, the arrangement should span roughly two-thirds the sofa’s width.

Step 2 — Choose Your Layout. Symmetrical grid: Same-size frames in a regular pattern. Asymmetric salon-style: Mixed sizes around a central anchor — the most popular style. Horizontal row: Three to five prints at eye height. Staircase: Staggered heights following the stair line.

Step 3 — Select Your Poster Sizes. A reliable combination: 1 × 50×70 cm + 2 × 30×40 cm + 2–4 × 21×30 cm. For grids, use one size throughout. See our Poster Sizes Guide.

Step 4 — Choose a Theme. Unify your gallery wall with a shared colour palette, shared frame colour, or shared subject family — botanical, landscape, or abstract.

Hanging Your Gallery Wall

Step 5 — Plan Before Hanging. Paper template method: Cut paper to your frame sizes. Tape to the wall. Adjust until it looks right. Replace with real frames. Digital method: Use our Gallery Wall Planner to test arrangements on screen before picking up a hammer.

Step 6 — Hang Your Gallery Wall. Start from the centre and work outward. Maintain 10–15 cm spacing between frames. Level every frame as you go. Common mistakes: Hanging too high (aim for ~145 cm from floor to centre), spacing frames too far apart, and mixing too many frame styles.

Step 7 — Final Check. Step back. Take a photo — it reveals imbalances you can’t see up close. Live with it for a day before making adjustments.