Gallery wall ideas

A gallery wall fails for one of two reasons: the gaps are wrong, or nothing ties the frames together. Both are fixable before you put a single hole in the wall.

You need fewer prints than you think. Five to seven is a wall. Three is a neat run above a sofa.

Pick a layout

• Grid - same size, same frames, even gaps. The easiest to get right and the hardest to get wrong.
• Salon hang - mixed sizes around one large anchor print, gaps kept even.
• Straight line - three or four frames at one height, good for hallways.
• Staircase - follow the angle of the stairs, not the ceiling line.

Spacing and height

• 5-8cm between frames. Wider and it stops reading as one piece.
• Keep the whole arrangement centred on about 150cm, not each frame individually.
• Above a sofa, the group should be roughly two thirds the width of the sofa.
• Lay it out on the floor first, photograph it, then transfer to the wall.

Tying it together

• One shared frame colour does more than one shared subject.
• Or one shared subject - all music lyrics, all one artist - with mixed frames.
• Repeat a colour from the room in at least two of the prints.
• Mounts create breathing room when the prints themselves are busy.

Cheap ways to fill a wall

• A6 postcards in clip frames cost a fraction of large prints and fill the edges.
• Mix a couple of A3s with several A4s rather than buying all large.
• Charity shop frames, spray painted one colour, look intentional.
• Leave a gap and add to it over a year - a wall built slowly looks better.

Shop posters and prints

How to write it so it lands

• Even gaps matter more than matching art.
• Lay the whole thing out on the floor and photograph it first.
• Postcards in clip frames are the cheapest way to fill the edges.

Where to shop next

• How to hang prints without damage
• Print sizes explained
• Prints as gifts
• Postcards to send instead of a text
• Shop posters and prints
• Shop postcards
• Posters guide
• Postcards guide
• Funny wall art
• Kitchen wall art
• All guides
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas

Frequently asked questions

How many prints do I need for a gallery wall?

Five to seven for a full wall, or three in a straight line above a sofa or in a hallway. More than about nine and the arrangement starts fighting the room.

How much space should be between frames?

Between 5 and 8cm, kept consistent. Even gaps are what make mixed sizes look deliberate rather than accidental.

Can I mix print sizes on a gallery wall?

Yes, and it usually looks better than a grid. Anchor it with one larger print, arrange the smaller ones around it, and keep the gaps even throughout.