Inspiration: Gorgeous Gallery Walls
By Jane Blanchard
A gallery wall can be used to display a lifetime of collected art and portraits or display photographs from a single day. A gallery wall can be symmetrical with all matching frames, asymmetrical with a mix of frames in various sizes and finishes or some mixture of the two. If you’re looking for inspiration to kick start your gallery wall, we’ve got just what you need.
Symmetrical vs. Asymmetrical
A symmetrical gallery wall display will read more formal. If the formal look is what you’re going for, use identical frames arranged in a symmetrical shape. This would look especially wonderful in modern, minimal, transitional or even vintage decor.
Perhaps you’d prefer to mix it up with a collection of your favorite pieces and family photographs. If you’d like a more casual look to your gallery wall, mix up the sizes, shapes and finishes of your frames and artwork. However, make sure that all your pieces have at least one thing in common in order to keep the gallery wall looking cohesive. Perhaps you keep all the photos in a similar color palette, or maintain the same frame color, but mix up the sizes and shapes. It’s also great to keep some regularity with the size of the frames, don’t have 20 different styles or sizes, but mix and match with three or four different sizes.
Or maybe, you truly want to harness the super eclectic vibe. Go for it! Here is some inspiration if you need the courage to make the leap. Look how gorgeous these eclectic gallery walls are! (View Album)
A gallery wall can also fall somewhere in between.
This has a mix of frame sizes, but maintains similar color palette in the artwork and a symmetrical layout.
Tips & Tricks
Obviously if you’re going for the formal symmetrical look your gallery wall will have a cohesive look. But for those who are looking to mix it up, make sure to retain some cohesive elements such as color palette or some attribute of the frames themselves (color, size, finish, or shape).
Trace each of your pieces onto paper, cut out the template and tape the templates onto your wall. This will allow you to visualize what the finished product will look like. You can move the templates around until you’re satisfied with the final product, without creating a bunch of extra holes in the wall.
For more design tips and tricks, please go to Modernize.com.
Links for images used:
Traditional Dining Room by Corona Artists & Artisans Allison Cosmos
Contemporary Dining Room by Dundas Photographers K West Images, Interior and Garden Photography
Modern Living Room by Springfield Interior Designers & Decorators Heather Freeman Design Co.
Traditional Family Room by Mississauga Interior Designers & Decorators Elizabeth Metcalfe Interiors & Design Inc.
Eclectic Living Room by Other Metro Media & Bloggers Adrienne DeRosa
Eclectic Bedroom by New York Architects & Building Designers
Transitional Hall by Boston Photographers Mary Prince Photography
Eclectic Living Room by Greenville Interior Designers & Decorators Linda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris Home