The Gallery Wall

Have lots of art, or want to collect art, and not sure how to display it all.  There are several styles of display, and all of them are right, just decide from looking at these pictures, which style appeals to you the most.   Also consider your space for hanging, and the type of pictures: large wall, curved wall, around a corner, up a stairway, family photos, traditional or contemporary art, kid's art, all the same size art, travel art, or irregular sized art.  

see individual pictures for atttibutes

Most important, a "Gallery Wall" creates a dramatic space anywhere you use one, it can become a focal point as important as a fireplace or a large window.

Pottery Barn, one of different styles available

Could this get any easier?  I love these, no more telling your husband hanger, "a little higher, no I mean lower, now left, no, my left......This is Pottery Barn's innovative hanging shelving for displaying art.  Hanger can install these, and leave you to rearrange as you have time.
You can interchange the art with something else any time you want, without extra holes in the wall.

One of my design clients used these to display pictures of the most recent trip they went on, so that they could revisit the the trip each time they passed the wall.  This setup comes in dark and light, and while you are visiting PB online, look at the cubby hole shelving as well.  This would be great for "things" in your collections.

Actress Amanda Peet's Home in Domino Magazine Dec 2008

          
 Isn't this a stunning wall created by Designer Nathan Turner.  Careful attention was paid to the size of the art so that it would lay well on the curved wall.  This would be an "Expert DIYer" project, but so very worth the impact it would give your foyer.

West Elm

 This is a great looking wall.  The same white color frames keep the contemporary look, and the art stays within a neutral palate.  Same color frames is always looks well done, even if the frames are real traditional style, such as all gold frames.  West Elm is a good online source for art and other ideas, as well as great furniture.

from ClassyClutter.net

 This is such a cute look, dressy but not formal.  Hanging the coordinated look around a corner makes this galley wall even more dramatic.  The gold is the follow through that pulls the collection together.  Notice  the items without frame still include the gold coloring.

Up to Date Interiors

Great tips from Kathy, over at Up to Date Interios, click on her collage above to see another point of view on hanging collective art for a Gallery Wall.

Mark Lund Photograhy

 Color is the connecting element in this wall.  A dramatic lime green wall is just the right balance for the multi-colored frames.  Most of the art is in black and white, and can be easily seen and appreciated because of the lack of color in it.

brandsushi.com

Here are some layout styles to get you started with planning your own Gallery Wall.  There are several ways to begin:
             
 1.  Clear a space on your floor that is larger than the wall space you will use.
 2.  Begin in the middle and either centered or slightly left  with the largest piece of art.
 3.  Start surround the largest piece and work out to the outside edges of your frames.
 4.  You can stay strictly square, by using something laid out in the size of your area you
      will cover, does not matter at all to have less or more space between the pictures.
 5.  You can have a less constructed look if you allow the outside pieces to fall beyond the
      edges of your rectangle.  This is actually my favorite style, your wall can evolve and
      spread as you add art pieces as you acquire them.
 6.  Do not over worry this.  If there is an element to tie this together, color, style, or frames:
      it will look coordinated.

Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn shows us a nice arrangement, keeping it mostly straight edges, in a rectangle.
Are you starting to have a favorite look yet?

Jones Design Company

This homeowner was actually trying to block multiple switches on this wall.  She did a great job creating a Gallery Wall to do so.  All the "Ls" look collected, but were probably created for this wall, a very innovative idea.  Of course, I should mention, that the homeowner is a very talented graphic artist, so we are probably appreciating "her own art".  It looks great.  Click on Jones Design above to see some of her graphic design offerings.

Simply Seleta

This art layout makes this little bathroom look very rich.

Elle Decor

Above, this is from Jones Design Company, they actually started hanging the Typography L's to hide
the thermastat on the wall.  Look how great it turned out.



Below, this is one of my all time favorite art displays.  Featured on Elle Decor Not too many people give such presentation to their hallways, but look at the drama of it all.  You could do this also with any color frame and black and white family photos and have the same interesting look.  Great drama gallery wall.

Survival of the Classiest tumblr

Just in case you are still wanting to see lots of well done Gallery Walls, take a look at all my favorites on my Pinterest Board - Art Collections.