It makes sense to use walls to display a collection of pictures and objects if you want to make significant improvements in your home décor. The planning and design can be a little daunting because there are several choices that can add a modern look to a room. All you have to do is choose the best one for you.
Many homeowners think of gallery walls as a luxurious afterthought that should be dealt with long after the final coat of paint has dried. However, given how much creativity you can bring to gallery art walls, we believe that it should not be relegated to the sidelines. They are an affordable means of adding beautiful color palettes and different textures that could otherwise cost you a fortune when applied to the entire room. In fact, by focusing on the gallery wall, you might just end up getting ideas for the overall interior décor.
This article will help you decide how to decorate a gallery wall. By reading ahead, learn some interior designer secrets that help you nail your gallery wall décor, or you can just contact our award-winning interior designers to help you).
Setting up the Gallery Wall
The gallery wall should look as relevant to the room as possible, and that requires planning to get the right look. The first step would be to identify a wall that will go well with a collection of artwork. It is obvious that you shouldn’t go for small nooks and crannies and narrow walls that don’t catch visitors’ attention. Instead, choose large, empty walls where it may difficult to fit traditional pieces of artwork.
Another good option is to settle for the very first wall people see when they first enter a room.
The Style of Home Decor
The next step is to choose your preferred style to decorate a gallery wall. Take a good look around the room. Is the room contemporary, coastal, or traditional? Do you feature neutrals, bright pops of colors, or multiple textures? Does the room need a focal point or does it just need a simple area to hang pictures? Balancing the needs of the room with the type and placement of the photos or artwork will guide you towards the perfect arrangement.
The final step is to decide how much space you are willing to allocate to the wall. Some interior décor ideas require the use of the entire wall, while others make do with just a few square feet of space. It is also important to evaluate the type of space available; the two primary options include horizontal and vertical spaces.
Decorating the Gallery Wall
Once you have decided the wall, space, and required style, it is time to choose between different artwork collections. There are several gallery wall ideas that include hanging photographs, objects, paintings, dishes, baskets, vinyl album covers, and empty antique frames to provide the much needed contrast to the wall’s overall color.
Planning the Layout
It is a hassle to experiment between different style choices to decorate a gallery wall. A better and less tiresome option is to lay out your entire collection within a specified outline on the floor until you’re satisfied with the arrangement. Take a picture of the setup and jot down the distances between all the art pieces. Use them as a benchmark to lay out the items on the wall with the same spacing. Refer to the picture and your notes every time you lose track. You can also check out our Tips to Choosing and Hanging Artwork to get additional guidance.
Do You Hate Nails?
Nails have a way of distorting the color and shape of whichever walls they are strapped onto. It is true that they offer unparalleled protection for artwork collection by keeping them protected from the onslaught of gravitational forces and rough usage. The bottom line is: all those little holes in the wall don’t bode well with the room’s furnishings and décor.
Fortunately, there are several useful alternatives that help get the job done without taking away from the overall experience. Let’s discuss them one by one:
Picture Hanging Strips
These strips come with adhesives that are sturdy enough to hold onto picture frames. They come with hook-and-loop fasteners that make removing and replacing an easy task. Contrast this with permanent arrangement forced upon by nails.
Using Floating Shelves
For users who love to rotate items within their gallery, they can use floating shelves. Although they do require nails, you won’t be using as many. The best part about floating shelves is that they can add their own little flair to your gallery wall, sprucing things up while providing adequate storing space and protection to your artwork. You can also consistently change the arrangement of your photos without having to repair, redesign, and rehang your artwork.
Museum Gallery Hanging System
Now this is a little advanced and requires quite a bit of capital investment, but the solution could be just what your wall needs. Museum gallery hanging systems are set up using steel cables that hang from a rigid structure on the roof of a room. These gallery systems are flexible and convenient, making it easy to switch old pieces out for new ones, which allows you to experiment to your heart’s content without undoing all your hard work.
Now that you’ve chosen the wall, picked out your photos or artwork, arranged them, and hung them with ease, sit back and take a look at your handiwork. You’ve just created a beautiful display of your memories and fine taste, while adding to the overall decor of your home.
