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Creating Your Own Gallery Collage

How to Hang a Gallery Wall

How to Hang a Gallery WallImage: Holly Mathis Interiors

Filling a blank wall can be a daunting task, but what better way to fill a blank space than with the things you love? By collaging items together into a cohesive statement, you create visual interest while also expressing a little bit about who you are.

A great starting point is deciding what kind of look you want to achieve.  Is it a symmetrical, traditional and classic look, or an asymmetrical, funky and abstract look?  Determining what style fits in with the space allows you to then begin to decide what you want to include in the collage and how it will be arranged.  Here are a few helpful hints to get you started.

Good Rule of Thumb:
Same Sized Images and
Same Frame Style

Creating a symmetrical configuration is a crisp and clean way to collage artwork.  This homeowner chose the same frame color and similar types of photos for a themed focal point. The large collage in this upscale dining room is a perfect choice to keep in harmony with the room’s decor.  The snow white frames mimic the crisp white trim and window treatments, while the soft beige background ties in with the sisal rug.  The floral images contribute to the botanical theme of the room, while offering a soft and feminine feature.  The configuration of five columns in four rows is well-balanced and fills the blank wall perfectly without feeling overcrowded.

 How to Hang a Gallery Wall | Symmetrical Gallery CollageImage: Elle Decor

 How to Hang a Gallery Wall | Different Sized Frames, Same Color
Image: Two and Twenty Weekends

Good Rule of Thumb:
Different Sized Images and
Same Frame Style

Here is a perfect example of cohesive asymmetry for a gallery wall.  The creator used similar white frames to outline the miscellaneous collection of inspiring artwork and personal photos.  Maintaining a unifying element throughout the collage, in this case the white frames, brings  the whole look together.

Notice how the outlets and the temperature gauges hide seamlessly among the artwork!

Good Rule of Thumb:
Same Sized Images and
Different Frame Colors

This cute nook of photos is another version of a symmetrical collage, which has the same sized frame, but in different colors to add diversity.  The border is even and the edges of each frame concise, while the varying colors create an eye catching pop.     

How to Hang a Gallery Wall | Same Frame Different ColorsImage: Pinterest
 How to Hang a Gallery Wall | Clustered Asymmetrical Gallery CollageImage: Pinterest

 Good Rule of Thumb:
Different Sized Images and
Different Frame Styles 

If you want a really eclectic collage you can mix a variety of images and objects together to achieve a clustered asymmetrical look.  This is a free flowing collage style, and the overall size is determined by the objects you choose.  What’s nice about this style is that you can add and change it with ease since there is no set arrangement.  

This clustered collage has a great variety of whimsical pieces, including painted canvases, rustic frames, and graphic block letters.  The soft and quiet colors look great against the pewter walls!    

The most important rule of thumb when creating your own gallery collage is to have fun!  This is a design project that allows you to dictate what you want to see featured on your walls.  Choose items that share memories, inspire you, motivate you, and ultimately make you happy.  It’s an opportunity to express the people, places, and things you love.

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