How to Create a Gallery Wall: A Step-by-Step Guide to Hanging Art

A blank wall is both a problem and an opportunity. For walls too wide to fill with a single print, the most effective solution is a gallery wall: several pieces hung together as one composition. Planned well, a gallery wall becomes the most personal corner of your home, where your favourite designs, family photos and memories become parts of the same story. In this guide we cover every step, from planning to hanging.

What is a gallery wall?

A gallery wall is a group of prints in different sizes and subjects hung on the same wall to form a composition. Inspired by museum rooms, it feels more dynamic and personal than a single large print. One of the best things about it is that you can grow it over time by adding new pieces.

Step 1: Measure the wall and the space

Start by measuring the width of the wall and of any furniture beneath it. The total width of the gallery wall should be about two-thirds of the width of the sofa or console below. On a wall with no furniture, a composition covering between half and two-thirds of the wall's width looks balanced. For detailed measurements, see our poster size guide.

Step 2: Choose a layout

Grid layout

Prints of the same size are hung in rows and columns with equal spacing, for example four or six 30x40 cm prints. It gives a modern, orderly, minimalist look and is ideal for dining rooms and hallways.

Salon (freeform) layout

Prints of different sizes are arranged organically around a larger central piece. It feels more bohemian and personal. The key is to keep the outer edges within an imaginary rectangle or oval.

Centre line layout

Prints of different sizes are hung so their horizontal centres sit on the same imaginary line. It combines the ease of a freeform layout with the order of a grid, and it is one of the easiest methods to get right.

Picture ledge layout

Mount one or two slim picture ledges on the wall and lean the prints on them. You can swap pieces whenever you like without making new holes, which also makes it a practical choice for renters.

Staircase layout

Along a staircase, prints rise on a diagonal line that follows the slope of the steps. It is the most elegant way to use a stairwell wall.

Step 3: Choose the prints

A good gallery wall balances variety and cohesion. Keep these tips in mind when choosing prints:

• Find a common thread. It can be a colour palette (such as shades of blue), a theme (the sea, Japanese art, botanicals) or a style (line drawings, typography). Our Japanese art and sea-themed collections are a great starting point for building a cohesive set.
• Pick an anchor piece. A 50x70 cm print as the focal point holds the smaller pieces around it together.
• Mix the sizes. In a freeform layout, combining 50x70, 30x40, 21x30 and 15x21 cm prints creates rhythm.
• Add a personal touch. Placing a family photo or a personalized poster among the designs makes the wall truly yours.
• Balance images with typography. Text-based posters give the eye a resting point between illustrations.

Step 4: Coordinate the frames

There are two ways to approach frames on a gallery wall:

• One colour: every frame is the same colour, so even very different prints look like a set. If this is your first gallery wall, it is the safest option.
• A controlled mix: two frame colours (for example wood and black) are spread evenly across the wall. Avoid clustering frames of the same colour together.

Our guide to choosing a poster frame explains which frame suits which interior in detail.

Step 5: Test with paper templates

The most common gallery wall mistake is hammering nails before planning. Paper templates are the easiest way to avoid it:

1. Lay the prints out on the floor in the arrangement you want and take a photo.
2. Cut paper or cardboard to the size of each print.
3. Mark the position of the hanging fixture on the back of each print on its template.
4. Stick the templates to the wall with painter's tape and look at them at different times of day for a few days.
5. When you are happy, hammer the nails straight through the marks on the templates, then tear the paper away.

Step 6: Hang with the right measurements

• Height: the centre of the composition should be about 145–150 cm from the floor.
• Distance from furniture: leave 20–25 cm between the top of the sofa or console and the lowest print.
• Spacing: leave an equal 5–8 cm between prints. Even gaps make prints of different sizes look orderly.
• Start in the middle: hang the anchor piece first, then work outwards.
• Use a spirit level: check each print after hanging it; even a few millimetres of tilt is obvious on a gallery wall.

Gallery wall ideas by room

• Living room: a symmetrical composition above the sofa, with a 50x70 in the middle and two 30x40s on each side.
• Dining room: a grid of six 30x40 kitchen-themed designs.
• Bedroom: a centre line layout of calm-toned prints above the bed.
• Hallway: a single row of 21x30s at eye level, or a memory wall of family photos.
• Study: a picture ledge with motivational and typography posters, so you can change your inspiration whenever you like.

5 common mistakes

1. Hanging too high: prints above eye level make the wall feel disconnected.
2. Uneven spacing: irregular gaps make even the most careful selection look messy.
3. Too many small pieces: a wall of only small prints with no anchor looks cluttered.
4. No common thread: prints with nothing in common in colour, theme or frame look like a pile, not a gallery.
5. Nailing before planning: the paper template method saves your wall from unnecessary holes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many prints do I need for a gallery wall?

There is no fixed number, but most gallery walls use between 3 and 9 prints. Odd numbers (3, 5, 7) usually look more balanced in a freeform layout, while 4 or 6 work well in a grid.

How far apart should prints be on a gallery wall?

Equal gaps of 5–8 cm give the most balanced result. In a wide composition of large prints, this can go up to 10 cm.

Can I mix frame colours?

Yes, but in a controlled way. Spreading two frame colours evenly across the wall looks stylish. For a first gallery wall, using one frame colour throughout is the safer choice.

What kind of prints work on a gallery wall?

Designs that share a colour palette or theme give the best result. Adding one or two personalized posters or family photos makes the wall your own.

Ready to build your gallery wall? Browse all our designs, pick a common theme and turn your blank wall into a gallery that tells your story.