When you live in an apartment with lots of blank and boring walls, one of the best ways to add interest, color and personality to your space is through art! A single piece of art often isn’t enough to make an impact in a room; however, a collection of frames hung in an intentional arrangement can be instantly transformative. A gallery of frames is indeed a great way to fill up an empty wall, but it can also be overwhelming to assemble and tricky to get just right. Take your blank walls from boring to beautiful using these five tips for creating the perfect gallery wall no matter your budget, space or taste!
1. Pick a Palette
If your walls are neutral and you’re looking for a totally temporary way to add pizzazz and color, art is a great solution. Whether it’s through colorful paintings, photographs, frames, mats or accessories, don’t hesitate to use the walls to establish or enhance a room’s color scheme. That said, don’t just put anything and everything on the wall. Take cues from the room’s other elements (i.e., pillows, rugs, bedding) to help narrow down a specific color palette for your gallery wall. Don’t have a color scheme? Pick a few colors (two to five) that work well together and add pieces that use a combination of those colors. By sticking to a distinct color scheme, your gallery wall will instantly feel well-collected and intentionally designed.
2. Unify Your Frames
Framing, especially custom framing, can be a costly endeavor. To keep your budget in check, shop thrift stores and estate sales for solid, classic frames. To keep your collection from looking kitschy, use paint and mats to unify mismatched frames. Simplifying your frames not only makes for a more cohesive arrangement but also allows you to play up the art and photographs in the frames!
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3. Add Some Variety
A collection of frames is a great way to fill a wall, but to add even more interest and balance out all the hard edges and glass surfaces, consider adding in decorative items to your display. Wall accessories, metal or wood sculptures and other non-framed items will give that “collected over time” feel to a gallery wall, even if everything is brand new!
4. Pick the Right Arrangement
The hardest part of installing a gallery wall is determining the final arrangement. Both symmetrical and asymmetrical arrangements are pleasing to the eye, so take cues from both your space and your items to decide which way to go. A set of identical frames often look best hung in a uniform arrangement, while a collection of mismatched frames and unique items look better hung in a staggered display. When deciding, also take into account the amount of wall space you have in relation to the number of items. Space out items to fill a bigger wall or offset items to fill in tighter spots. Before you put any nails in the wall, however, measure and space everything out on the floor (or on the wall using templates) to make sure everything is balanced and spaced right.
5. Ground It
In order for your art display to not float randomly on an expanse of wall, consider grounding it with a piece of furniture. A console table, desk, dresser, couch or a set of bookshelves are all good candidates, but anything can work as long as the size and scale are right for your space and the wall above it. Placing something beneath your gallery wall balances it out and helps the entire display feel more natural and intentional in a space.
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Assembling a gallery wall that looks and feels balanced, cohesive and well-designed can take time and practice, but don’t let that keep you from hanging things on your wall! Combine some of your favorite wall art with these smart strategies and you’ll be well on your way to a more exciting and inviting apartment space! And if you need even more creative ways to add color with paint, check out these ideas here!