DIY Photo Gallery Wall

Adding a gallery wall can be the perfect way to show off a variety of photographs to make a large impact on your wall. As this type of arrangement uses several pieces of art, and multiple frames it is important to consider balance and unity in the frames and photographs you select. For example you may wish to only use one color of frame, or have a similar theme in the type of art hung such as black and white photography.

Once the frames and photographs have been selected, determining how to arrange a gallery wall can seem to be the most overwhelming part. Here are a few useful tips on how to hang and arrange your gallery wall so that you will get the layout right the first time.

DIY Photo Gallery Wall: Outer Aligned Gallery

To create a central aligned or grid layout gallery wall determine how wide you wish your gallery wall to be and start by masking the area with painters tape. In this layout the exterior frames should all align on the right, left, top and bottom to form a box shape. Once the box shape has been created with the frames continue positioning frames in the middle. When using a variety of photograph frame sizes it is not necessary to maintain consistent spacing between the frames to maintain the unity of the gallery wall.

Note: This type of gallery wall requires the most attention to details when hanging the frames as the frames should be in perfect alignment on the four sides of the gallery wall.

DIY Photo Gallery Wall: Central Aligned Gallery

For a centrally aligned gallery wall begin by marking the central line with a pencil or painter's tape that is around 57 inches from the floor. The easiest option is to have all the frames line up in a row so that the center of each frame is at 57 inches. Another option is to have two rows of frames that align above and blow the central line where the top row would have the base of the frames touch the center line, and the bottom row would have the top of the frames touch the center line.

DIY Photo Gallery Wall: Ledge Gallery

A ledge gallery wall uses a wall shelf as the base of the gallery, so that all the frames are aligned at the bottom. With this type of gallery wall begin by hanging either one shelf, or several shelves equally spaced and sized directly on top of each other. Afterwards place photograph frames on each shelf so that the frames are layered with the larger photographs in the back and the smaller frames being placed in front.

 

As none of the frames are attached to the wall this allows the frames to easily be moved or interchanged as needed. Likewise it adds the flexibility to easily add more frames later.

For a random gallery wall that does not have any obvious alignment patterns begin by determining the center of the gallery wall and hang a large frame there. Next begin positioning frames to go all the way around the center frame. To expand the size of the gallery wall, proceed to hang another group of frames that go around the exterior of the existing frames. To help promote the random feeling of the gallery wall use a wide variety of frame sizes or shapes, but maintain some element of unity such as the theme of the gallery so that the arrangement still makes visual sense.

Once you have determined the layout you wish to use for your gallery wall it is time to start hanging your frames. Begin by using newspaper or large pieces of paper to trace each frame and cut out the shape. Position the frame cut outs on the wall using painter's tape to hold the cut outs in place until you have determined how to arrange your gallery wall.

Once you have figured out the layout either measure how far down the hook is on the back of the frame and hammer a nail through directly through the paper into the wall.

Tear off the paper and hang your frame on the hook. An alternative option is to remove the paper cut out and place a dab of toothpaste on the back of the frame where the hook should go. Place the frame against the wall, and then hammer a nail where the toothpaste left a mark on the wall. Using a damp cloth clean off the toothpaste and hang the frame on the wall. Continue either process of hanging the photo frames until your gallery wall is complete.