53 Gallery Wall Ideas To Make The Most Of Your Space

By Hallie Milstein

Hallie Milstein

A blank wall in your home is a world of opportunity just waiting to be filled. Deciding how exactly to fill that space is the tricky part. Might we suggest a gallery wall? No matter which room in your house you’re looking to spruce up, a gallery wall will do the trick. From bedrooms to dining rooms, living rooms, kitchens, and even bathrooms, a gallery wall is a stellar way to instantly add character. This bit of decor always hits a charming home run. We’ve rounded up our favorite gallery wall ideas to inspire your blank wall upgrade.

Gallery Wall Guidelines

One thing we love about a gallery wall is that there are virtually no rules. If you’re displaying more than a couple bits of wall decor in a cluster together, then you’ve already met the minimum quota. From there, the decorating potential is near limitless. Cater your gallery wall to your space and personality by choosing what decor you plan to hang and arranging it accordingly. The most abstract of gallery walls may be art of mixed subjects and mediums displayed in mismatched frames in a seemingly random yet artful composition. A more orderly gallery wall might be a single, coordinated style of art displayed in a neat, linear fashion. Another gallery wall may mix family photos with gorgeous paintings and have sculptural art thrown in there to boot. There’s no rulebook in the gallery wall game, but some guidance can be helpful. Look to the following ideas for inspiration.

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Pair With Shiplap

Simple Shiplap Den Gallery Wall — Photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo

Like gallery walls, shiplap has boomed into popularity over the last few years. We’ve found that paired together, the two make for a stunning display. Arranging a gallery wall on top of shiplap guarantees that interesting shapes will emerge from the art intersecting with the paneling.

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Go Whimsical

Budget Decorating Ideas: Create a Gallery Wall with Art — Photo by: Laurey W. Glenn, Styling by: Anne Turner Carroll

Create a fun and funky display with fantasy-inspired art. Bright colors and eccentric subjects can create whimsy but also be balanced out by more serious or moody motifs depending on the overall effect you seek.

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Hang Plates

plate gallery wall — photography: HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; STYLING: MARY BETH WETZEL

Ditch the art completely and take this opportunity to show off some of your prized china. Decorate your wall with spare dishes or dinnerware that’s just too precious to eat off of. Here’s how.

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Climb The Stairs

Shiplap Gallery Stair Wall — Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Take cues from the space when arranging your art. Gallery walls look especially darling when slanted to suit a staircase. This way, those climbing to the next level can do so with a view.

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Consider Cluttercore

Credenza and Gallery Wall with greenery for Christmas — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Page Mullins

With a cluttercore philosophy, more is more. Take a maximalist approach and fill the space with as much as you can that suits your fancy.

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Focus On Single Subject

Cater your gallery wall to match your interests by choosing a subject to span across all the art. This bird lover’s gallery is as lovely as can be and adds a hefty dose of personality.

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Create A Display

Use Picture Molding — Photo: Justin Bernhaut,

Rather than installing frames with a nail into the wall, take a different hanging approach and let your art dangle at different, intentional heights. A hanging strategy like this one can be renter-friendly with the help of peel-and-stick hooks.

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Round A Corner

Don’t let the wall ending determine your gallery’s borders. Cut corners and create continuity by making your gallery wall from two connected walls.

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Frame Family Photos

Small Space Foyer with Magnolia Garland — Laurey W. Glenn

Having family photos around turns a house into a home by instilling the personality of those who live there. Surround yourself with such tender moments in a stylish way by organizing them into a stunning gallery.

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Form A Grid

2019 Idea House Stair Gallery Wall — Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Liz Strong

Rather than an assortment of art hung in no particular order, create an orderly figuration. A grid arrangement like this one is clean and sophisticated while still enabling you to show off as much art as you please.

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Form A Chain

2019 Idea House Living Room Gallery Wall — Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Liz Strong

Work in additional interest with small but meaningful details. The elegant rod and chains connecting these portraits take the whole look to the next level.

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Make It Personal

Jenny Keenan Designed Home for her Parents in Mount Pleasant, SC — Marili Forastieri; Styling: Barbara Schmidt

Start your gallery wall by hanging art and photographs with sentimental value, then add to it with meaningful pieces you pick up through the years. A gallery wall doesn’t have to be a one and done.

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Work A Blank Space

After: Neutral Update Living Room — Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Play with the white space of your gallery wall composition by placing some pieces closer to others. It’s much easier to hang this way and the effect will be interesting on the eyes.

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Get A Little Matchy

Soulful Historic Dining Room — Photo: Jonny Valiant

Install a series of matching pieces for a more coordinated look. These all feature the same subject and style though vary slightly for a compelling overall display.

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Use Fun Frames

Fresh Spin — William Abranowicz, Writer: Steele Thomas Marcoux

In addition to the subject and style of the art, get creative with a variety of frames. Mix and match some classic, simple frames with more decorative, ornamental ones.

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Fit The Space

Arrange your artwork in a way that’s complementary to your space. Even though there are no laws in the gallery wall playbook, the intention is to accentuate and flatter your home, so taking cues from the architecture is always a good rule of thumb. Consider paneling, molding, and any other structures as guides for your art alignment.

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Mix And Match

Living Room with Gallery Wall — Joy the Baker

From photos to illustrations, clocks to frames, and round pieces to angular ones, use a variety of shapes, colors, and features in your gallery wall. Put together, it’s sure to unite gorgeously.

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Showcase Pressed Botanicals

Ashley Gilbreath Mobile, AL Home with Botanical Gallery Wall in Stairway

A pressed botanical gallery wall is a stunning way to embrace natural beauty in the home. Designer Ashley Gilbreath shows us how to create the look.

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Frame To Frame

Lighten Up with White — Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Position frames close together, or even touching, to create the illusion of one large piece of art. In reality, you’ve got a stunning gallery wall you’ll love.

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Create A Nook

Mini Wall Galleries — Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Small spaces can have gallery walls too. Add different sized art to fit any given wall, instantly adding character to even your most compact nooks and crannies.

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Go Monotone

Alaina Ralph Blue Den — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong

For a more cohesive gallery wall, stick to a strict color scheme when choosing your art. Don’t just pull a color out of a hat, though. Take care that your chosen color works with the overall palette of the room.

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Lean On The Landscapes

Twin Jenny Lind Beds with Plaid Rug, Trunk, and Gallery Wall — Michael J. Lee; Interior Design: Sabbe Interior Design

Landscapes are always a beautiful choice for artwork. Choose a mountain view, sandy beach, rolling plain, or sweeping cityscape depending on what kind of scenery brings you joy.

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Highlight Vintage

Vignette Wall with Paintings in Gold and Wood Frames — Paige Rumore

This attractive gallery wall includes old-timey mementos that make it more sentimental. Here, you can see old postcards and vintage memorabilia framed among larger pieces of art.

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Sneak In A TV

This strategy works especially well if you have a Frame TV. One of those will be able to blend into the gallery wall and can add to the art display with the screen saver of your choosing.

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Be A Little Different

Rather than numerous prints of the same exact piece of art, hang a set that includes slight variation from piece to piece. This way, your gallery wall will be complementary and cohesive without being stagnant.

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Mix With Other Art In The Room

Farrow & Ball's Pointing (No. 2003) — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Although it’s sure to be dazzling, your gallery wall needs to not be the only piece of art in the room. Include works of similar styles on other walls to complete the look.

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Get In Formation

Ideas for Southern Homes: Pine-Plank Walls — Photo: Erica George Dines

Choose an arrangement for your gallery wall that is more connected than a scattered display but less rigid than a grid. This stunning diamond shape plays with frames of different dimensions.

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Match Frames

Matching frames across the wall is a way to tie all the art together. Using this approach, art with different subjects or mediums suddenly becomes cohesive. Take this opportunity also to match with other materials in the room. For example, if you want wooden frames, match the stain color to other wood tones in the space.

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Opt For Black And White

Black and White Photo Gallery Wall Bedroom — Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

If when gathering family photos to create a gallery wall you feel like all of the contrasting colors are just too chaotic for you, a black-and-white filter is an easy fix. Printing all of your photos in grayscale makes them instantly more cohesive and upscale.

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Work The Bathroom

There are no limitations about where gallery walls can be hung stylishly. We even adore them in the bathroom.

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Make A Statement

KEX Design + Build's KV Harper New Orleans Shotgun House Living Room with Pink Sofa — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lisa Tudor/FT45

Hang a gallery to light up a brightly painted statement wall. This addition will help the wall make even more of an impression in the room.

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Be Whimsical

Holly Williams Colonial House Remodel in Nashville, TN Kids' Playroom — Annie Schlechter; Styling: Matthew Gleason

Create a gallery wall as a fashionable way to exhibit artwork for your tots. A display like this one in a children’s bedroom or playroom can include cheerful pieces and inspiring quotes, in addition to their best original crayon art.

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Show Off Antiques

Blue and Yellow Living Room in Florida Cracker Style Home — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Barbara Schmidt

We love having antiques in our homes, and the walls are no exception. Hang an assortment of heirlooms or antiques to bring character and charm to the whole room.

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Don’t Forget Over The Sofa

Lauren Liess 2016 Idea House Bedroom Seating Area with Gallery Wall — Mary Katherine Morris

When in doubt, above the couch is a stellar spot for a gallery wall. Use this location to show off your favorite decor rather than just a single stand-alone piece.

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Be Bright And Colorful

Colorful Charleston Living Room Art on Walls — Laurey W. Glenn

Embrace color in your gallery wall and don’t stop at just one hue. Choose a bold palette like pastels or primary colors so that each piece of art is playfully bright yet they all work together.

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Set A Focal Point

Amy Berry Designed Dallas House Neutral Family Room — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Jenny O’Connor

Organize your gallery wall around one main piece meant to catch the eye. Here, coordinated art frames an opulent mirror.

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Choose Panels

Turnball Park House Plan Living Room — Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Matthew Gleason

Rather than a wide-reaching display, create a gallery panel out of just a few pieces of art. You can even have multiple art columns throughout the room.

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Take Cues From The Coast

ixed with older found items. Madegoods console (new) custom made stools (new) thrifted chairs, box, lion, shell mirror and alabaster lamps with new custom colored shades. Also mixing some more modern art, handmade marble paper by Hayden paints with intaglios and abstract art by holly graham — Dustin peck photography; Design by Anne Pearson Design

No matter your proximity to the beach, decor with coastal inspiration like seashells or nautical motifs will always be lovely. Here, coastal imagery is mixed with abstract art in neutral, earthy color schemes.

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Celebrate Symmetry

Julia Engel of Gal Meets Glam Charleston, SC Home Blue and White Bedroom — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lizzie Cullen Cox

Arrange your gallery to be a mirror image of itself—either in art or in formation. While asymmetry can be interesting, symmetry will always be pleasing to the eyes.

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Give It A Shelf Life

Instead of hanging your art, let it rest on a shelf. We love this method because there’s no need to bother with a level tool!

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Show Off A Collection

2. A Formal(ish) Dining Room — Maura McEvoy Photography

If you have a collection that you’re proud of, a gallery wall is an ideal way to show it off. Rather than keeping their oyster plates stowed away, this homeowner turned their collection into wall art.

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Combine Materials

Neutral Guest Room with nautical accessories — Ebonee Mashae

Don’t stop at framed art. Think outside the box and hang other attractive bits of decor too. This will enhance the overall display by incorporating texture and new, intriguing shapes.

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Make It Tiny

Whitney McGregor Greenville, SC Home Entry — Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Lizzie Cox

A gallery wall does not need to be the centerpiece of your decorations. Instead of taking up the whole room, a gallery wall can be just as lovely as a minuscule display. It’s the details that really make a space, after all.

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Match Metals

Laura Kay Bathroom — HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ STYLING BY: HOLLY SMITH

When choosing frames for your gallery art, we love taking inspiration from other metallics in the room like hardware. By matching your metals, you’re tying in multiple elements of the space.

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Be Reflective

Mirror Wall in Kiawah King Bedroom — Denman Bennett Images

We can’t get enough of this exhibit wall made with mirrors. Skip traditional art altogether and hang a selection of mirrors for a gorgeous gallery.

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Play With Size

How To Hang a Gallery Wall — Kelli Boyd Photography

Use pieces big and small for a dynamic, catered display. Be sure to plan out your arrangement with these assorted-sized pieces of art before fastening them to the wall.

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Remember Anything Can Be Art

Display collections on the wall — Laura Good/HGTV

Take a cue from Erin and Ben Napier and swap out traditional, framed art for a unique set of whatever you please. Here, the gallery wall delivers big on texture while forgoing the expected route.

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Remind Yourself Of Travels

Curated Living Room — Photo: J. Savage Gibson; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Decorate your home with reminders of your happy places or souvenirs from your travels. A gallery wall is an ideal spot to display these meaningful landscapes or bits of memorabilia.

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Dress Up A Dark Wall

Alabama Cabin Kitchen with Black Walls and Natural Wood Island Table — Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kiera Coffee

In addition to dressing up plain, white spaces, a gallery can be just as good-looking on a darkly painted wall. The trick here is choosing art in colors that will complement the shade of paint.

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Mix Media

Whitney McGregor Greenville, SC Dining Room — Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Lizzie Cox

The beauty of a gallery wall is often in its disorder. There’s no rule against mixing photographs with paintings, illustrations, or sculptural art. In fact, it’s encouraged.

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Play With Pattern

Decorative Wall Plates — Laurey W. Glenn

Create fun patterns with details on the plates and their arrangement on the wall. The edges of this china form a checkerboard-like pattern. Alternate two different sets of objects for a similar effect.

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Frame A Mirror

Norman Askins Gothic Foyer — Helen Norman

Come home to a welcoming entry full of interesting details. Tiles and plates frame an oversized entryway mirror and continue the color scheme of the ginger jar collection.

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Framed Collage

Use a room’s architectural details to display a collection of plates, art, or other objects. Wall moulding provides a canvas to work within and frames the complete collage.

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