Sarah Baeumler’s 7 Gallery Wall Tips That Will Make Yours Look Like You Hired a Pro

Gallery walls have become quite a popular design trend in homes. Not only do they allow us to display the art pieces that mean the most to us, but they also bring so much character to any space. My favourite part of gallery walls is that no wall is ever the same; this is a chance to express your own personal style. Here are a few tips on making the best gallery wall possible.

Sarah Baeumler’s passion for design led her to join husband Bryan Baeumler on the front lines of his real estate and renovations business. Sarah and Bryan star in Home to Win and Island of Bryan.

Blue couch in basement living room with gallery wall

Darren Goldstein/DSG Photo

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Location

Before you grab the hammer and nails, it’s best to consider the physical space where your gallery wall will live. How will it benefit the room it’s in? What wall would work best? I would always suggest a large wall in an area such as a hallway or living room. This would be a wall where you have the space to hang your art, while also keeping it looking uncluttered and elegant. Deciding the location where your gallery would work best is step one in beginning your project.

Jarrett Ford

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Colour

To choose a colour scheme or not to choose a colour scheme, that is the question. Here, it’s all about personal preference. Personally, I like deciding on a colour scheme to ensure there is similarity and a uniformness throughout the art. This colour scheme can be consistent between the actual artwork and the framing.

Lauren Kolyn

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Framing

The picture frames are another important aspect in any gallery wall. While the artwork is important, the frames are what contributes to the geometrical layout. Deciding on the colour and sizing of your frames can make or break the look of the wall. First, you’ll have to answer a few questions: do you want the frames to be symmetrical? What images are you planning to use? Once you have answers to these questions, it’ll ultimately help decide what frame will work best.

White hallway with big window and three pieces of big art

Jarrett Ford

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Measure

A key factor in any gallery wall is the spacing between each piece of artwork. I would suggest keeping all images close (try starting with a two-inch space in between each hanging piece) and have the same amount of space between each piece to keep it looking uniform.

Three pieces of framed photography and memorabilia

Jarrett Ford

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Anchor

Decide whether you want to have a main anchor piece that ties the wall together. Often, this would be the largest of the pieces on the wall. While some people often decide to go for symmetry, some like to decorate their wall with various sized pieces of art. Decide what works best for your aesthetic. If you decide that you want to have an anchor piece, you’ll then have to determine how the remainder of the pieces will work around it.

Living room with grey couch and gallery wall

Lauren Miller

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Layout

Since a gallery wall is dependent on the layout, I would suggest arranging it on the floor before you begin hanging the frames. This will give you a greater sense of the overall look and allow you to make any changes before you begin hammering into the wall.

Lauren Miller

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Hang

An important step in creating a gallery wall is deciding how you want to hang it. If you’re looking to have a temporary, ever-changing wall, perhaps hanging it with adhesive strips is best. If you are hanging larger, heavier and more lasting pieces, then I would recommend using a hammer and nails.