Personalize Your Living Space with a Custom Gallery Wall

A gallery wall is an excellent way to truly personalize your living space. It's an extension of your style and personality and a unique expression that can infuse color and movement into a room. They let us express our creativity and allow the art-lovers among us to showcase our collections in groups so we can get more pieces on the walls.

From a "thrown together" collection to a very formal space, your gallery wall is one of the only décor items in your home that can grow with you! A great gallery wall can be just pictures, whether they're art or photos, but it can be so much more!

Start with your favorite images, which can include photographs, drawings, or art. You can add personal items that you cherish as well as three dimensional objects like a wall hanging or a clock. The possibilities are endless and uniquely yours!

With a little practice and a discerning eye, creating an eclectic, chic, personal statement with your gallery wall is no trouble at all! Here are some tips and tricks to go beyond the standard framed images to make a bold design statement!

7 Basic Gallery Wall Layouts

How you layout your gallery can have as significant an impact as the images and materials you choose to display. Like anything interior design related, the success of a project is in the planning. Following a few simple guidelines can help you pull together the perfect layout to create a cohesive, fun, and ultimately aesthetically beautiful display. 

To start, here are the 7 basic gallery wall layouts... 

1.   Symmetrical

If you value order, the straight clean lines of this layout are sure to soothe the soul. This more formal look's rhythm works equally well in a traditional setting or a more modern room. The success in this layout lies in carefully measuring and hanging the artwork to ensure perfect spacing.

2.   Square Layout

In this layout, all of the artwork is arranged so that the outline creates a square or rectangle. This layout requires careful planning and is a tricky design. Adding a single new piece to this type of collection can compromise the layout.

3.   Top Aligned

This layout gives your design a definitive straight edge at the top of your display. It naturally leads the eye and makes sure you see each piece along the way.

4.   Bottom Aligned

This is the opposite of the top aligned gallery wall. This layout ends in a solid horizontal line, creating a place for your eye to rest.

5.   The Horizontal or Vertical Split Layout

This layout offers the most freedom if you want to build on your collection. It's a well-balanced arrangement that can expand either to the top or bottom while maintaining the constant horizontal or vertical line as the start point.

6.   Corner Layout

If you have a smaller room, this is a great layout. If you have limited space on one wall, just take the design to the adjacent one!

7.   The Random Layout

This is a trendy layout, but like the symmetrical layout, it can be challenging to master. It looks spontaneous, but it works because careful planning goes into arranging the pieces. For a successful random form, make sure that the vertical or horizontal midlines of pieces line up to adjacent artwork or that the collection centers around a single piece.

These seven layout ideas can help you design the perfect gallery wall to fit into your interior design. Next, we'll explore some ideas to help inspire you!

Unleash Your Creativity

Your gallery wall doesn't have to just exhibit photographs or paintings. You can let your creativity guide your design. Your wall can showcase treasured objects like your grandmother's favorite hat or your collection of antique Limoges porcelain plates. You can organize your gallery around color, a common theme, or combine mixed media like mirrors, metal wall art, or any items you would like to showcase.

Unless you live in a museum, chances are you'll always have some items you'll need to work around, like your television, cable box, and wires, for example. But by building a gallery wall around it, even your television can be incorporated into your design.

Creating an eclectic gallery wall is the perfect way to incorporate a variety of dimensions. Everything doesn't need to sit flat against the wall. You can combine sconces with candles, small vases, and floating shelves into your design to add a 3D element while having the space better reflect your personal style.

You can even bring in more rustic elements like unfinished wooden frames, vintage mirrors, or pressed flowers to balance the television's modern feel. The simple colors of rustic elements help to keep the impact of the design under control.

Think Local...

At Toulmin Kitchen & Bath, we love working with local artists and vendors when creating our designs. Here in Tuscaloosa, we're blessed to have a thriving artist community and gallery scene to draw from. When designing a gallery wall, we often suggest to our clients visit local studios to look for a central piece to create around. We'll often recommend a visit to the Downtown Tuscaloosa arts district during First Friday.

First Friday takes place on the first Friday of each month. Local galleries and artist studios, along with other businesses and restaurants, are open in the evening. Galleries on the Art Walk include The Arts Council and the University of Alabama Galleries at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, Lorrie Lane Studios, and the Art Garage.

Whatever style of art moves you, you'll find it in Tuscaloosa. From the original landscape-inspired abstract paintings of Stephanie Kirkland to the improvisational realist paintings of artist Lorrie Lane, there’s something for everyone on First Friday!

Creating a gallery wall is one great way to personalize your home and show off your style. By planning your approach, taking the time to choose the elements that have meaning to you, and unleashing your creativity, you can add impact to your home design. The possibilities are truly endless!

If you're planning a home remodeling project and live in the West Central Alabama area, give the design experts at Toulmin Kitchen & Bath a call at (205) 366-0807. We're happy to answer any questions you may have. Let us help you design the perfect space to meet your aesthetic and functional needs.