THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CREATING A GALLERY WALL

"Old Meets Bold" A bold, colourful gallery wall layered with modernist and vintage inspired prints. Proof that maximalism and curated chaos can still feel elegant. Click on the image to visit our OLD MEETS BOLD curated gallery wall collection.

FROM BEGINNER TO BOLD

Creating a gallery wall is one of the easiest ways to transform a blank wall into a space with personality, colour, and story. Whether you’re a total beginner or already a maximalist at heart, this guide will walk you through everything - from choosing artwork to hanging it with confidence (and zero measuring-tape meltdowns).

Why Gallery Walls Work So Well

Gallery walls instantly:

• Add depth and interest to a room

• Bring together colours already in your décor

• Make smaller rooms feel styled and intentional

• Help you express your personality through art

Whether you love symmetry, controlled chaos, or rebellious colour explosions - there’s a layout for you.

A modern industrial corner brought to life with a bold rebellious gallery wall in rich oranges and blacks. Click the image to visit our THE BRIGHT SIDE curated gallery wall collection

Choose Your Artwork

Start With a Theme (Even a Loose One)

You don’t need a strict theme - just something to tie the pieces together. For example:

• A colour palette

• A mix of modern + vintage

• A collection from the same artist

• Bold graphic shapes

• https://www.privilegedprints.com/the-bright-side-curated-gallery-wall Maximalist colour

Our curated collections already do this work for you - everything is designed to blend beautifully. Click HERE to see our curated gallery wall collections.

Mix Sizes for Impact

The secret to a gallery wall that looks professional? Large anchor pieces paired with smaller supporting pieces.

A good mix might include:

• 1-2 A2 “hero” prints

• 2-4 mid-sizes (A3 / 40×40)

• Smaller accents (A4 / A5 / 30×30)

This creates instant balance.

Browse our curated collections to see this balance in action."

The “Artful Pairing” gallery wall layout - a simple but striking grid-style arrangement built around two A2 anchors.

Plan Your Layout

Start at Eye Level

Your centre point should sit around 145–150cm from the floor. This puts your artwork where people naturally look.

Choose a Layout Style

Here are some popular layout archetypes (use whichever feels like “you”):

• The Artful Pairing

• The Gentle Ascent

• The Grand Gallery Spread

• The Left-Leaning Statement

• The Balanced Cluster

• The Up-Down Harmony (Cross Layout)

• The Soft Stagger

• The Double Anchor Cross

• The Gallery Spine

(If you’re using our curated collections, each one includes a recommended layout.)

Planning a gallery wall using paper templates in a grid layout before hanging the real art.

Use Paper Templates

Before you start hammering like a possessed art director:

1. Lay your frames on the floor

2. Draw around them on paper

3. Tape the templates to your wall

4. Shift them around until it feels right

(This trick saves so much frustration.)

Spacing: Get It Right (Without Going Mad)

You don’t need pixel-perfect precision. But you do need consistency.

Aim for:👉 1-2 finger-widths between each frame

Finger widths feel natural, relaxed, and far less clinical than exact centimetres.

And remember:Trust your eye more than your tape measure. If it looks right… it is right.

A bold pink gallery wall styled above a vintage desk, mixing pop-art prints, typography and playful décor.

Choose Your Frames

Mismatched Frames = Personality

Unless you’re deliberately going sleek and modern, avoid matchy-matchy. A mix of:

• woods

• blacks

• subtle colours

• thin vs thick borders

…The best gallery walls look eclectic, like you've collected the art over the years (even if you bought it all last week.)

Match the Vibe of the Room

• Warm rooms → oak or walnut

• Bold rooms → black, white, or colour-pop frames

• Modern rooms → slim metal or black frames

• Vintage rooms → chunky, ornate wood

Your art will tell you what it wants - you’ll feel it.

Hang Your Wall With Confidence

The Anchor Rule

Start with your biggest print(s). Get those in position first. Everything else radiates out.

Balance the Weight

If one side feels visually “heavy,” add a larger frame on the opposite side or raise one slightly. This is where instinct kicks in.

Avoid the Two Biggest Mistakes

1. Hanging artwork too high

2. Spacing pieces too far apart

A gallery wall should feel like a single unit - not a constellation.

How to Choose the Right Gallery Wall for Your Room

Above a Sofa

Choose a layout that spans ⅔ the width of the sofa. This keeps proportions looking intentional.

Hallways

Slimmer, linear layouts like:

• The Gallery Spine

• The Gentle Ascent

• The Artful Pairing

Don't worry - we've included visual examples of all these layouts at the end of the page.

Bedrooms

Soft, calming arrangements with fewer pieces or shapes that mirror the headboard.

Dining Rooms

Bold pieces work beautifully here - people sit and actually look at them.

A modern eclectic gallery wall mixing classical portraits, bold typography and vibrant abstracts for a rebellious, curated look. Click the image to visit our ART ANARCHY Curated Gallery Wall Collection

Adding Personality (The Fun Bit)

Here’s where you can get playful:

• Add a single quote or typographic print

• Mix in one bold colour pop

• Include something quirky

• Play with symmetry and asymmetry

A gallery wall should feel like you - not like a showroom.

Troubleshooting Common Gallery Wall Problems

“It feels unbalanced.” Shift a larger print to the opposite side.

“It looks too sparse.” Reduce spacing or add 1-2 small prints.

“It looks too crowded.” Increase spacing slightly or remove one print (less is sometimes more).

“My frames keep tilting.” Use blu-tac on the bottom corners - works like magic.

Where to Begin (If You’re Feeling Overwhelmed)

You can absolutely build a beautiful gallery wall from scratch…but curated sets make it so much easier.

Each curated collection:

• Includes a professionally designed layout

• Has artwork that already works together

• Comes in sizes balanced for visual impact

• Saves hours of trial and error

Just pick your favourite set → follow the layout → pour a coffee → enjoy.

Visit our Curated Gallery Wall Collections by clicking HERE

But, if you're feeling brave and want to curate your own gallery wall (or add your own art prints to a complete gallery wall bundle), lay it out on the floor. Move them around until you're happy with the balance of it.

Final Thoughts

A gallery wall doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to feel like you.

Start with a centre point. Mix sizes.Keep the spacing consistent. Play until it clicks. And above all - have fun with it.

Your home deserves bold art. And you deserve the joy of creating something uniquely yours.

Ready to Create Your Gallery Wall?

Skip the guesswork and start with a professionally curated collection. Each set includes:

Artwork designed to work together

Recommended layout guide

Sizes balanced for visual impact

Museum-quality, sustainable prints

Shop All Curated Collections | Browse by Style

THE RULE BREAKERS : Modern Rebels, Fierce Expression

£132.00

Buy Now

CANDY POP : Sweet Colours, Playful Attitude

£90.00

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RED ROOM REBELS : Red Hues, Rebel Hearts

£142.00

Buy Now