Gallery Wall Ideas with Easy-to-Use Templates
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Whether it’s a single big blank wall or an entire room, the possibilities for creating a beautiful family photo gallery wall are endless. From choosing the right frames and layout to selecting the perfect pictures and accessories, this guide will help you create a stunning photo wall that will bring your home decor to life. From expensive full-service setups to affordable DIY options and everything in between!
What is a photo gallery wall?
A family photo gallery is a great way to transform any room into an inviting and personalized space. It is a collection of memories hung on your walls that you can enjoy every day instead of an album that collects dust on a shelf.
Get creative and add artwork and other visual elements that can be arranged in different patterns to create an eye-catching display. With the right combination of photos and decorations, you can add an extra dimension to your home decor and make it look more interesting.
Affordable DIY gallery wall kit
The frames you choose for your photo gallery wall can make or break the entire display. There are plenty of options on the market but this Camden Reed kit from Amazon will give you plenty of bang for your buck. It is inexpensive, comes in different finishes, includes multiple templates to create various looks, and no measuring is needed!
How to hang a gallery wall with a template
#1 – Decide on a gallery wall style. These frames can be hung vertically or horizontally or separated to create your very own look.
#2 – Cut along the dotted lines around each pair of frames.
#3 – Hang each template with painter’s tape and use a level or laser to make sure your lines are straight.
#4 – Align the template arrows if needed then hammer nails into the marked spots on the templates.
#5 – Pull the paper template off the wall with the nails in place.
#6 – Hang the frames on the nails and enjoy your gallery wall!
DIY Gallery Wall Kits
PROS
- affordable
- can swap photos easily if you like to change things up
CONS
- single nail – may require frequent adjusting
- will need to have photos printed
This particular brand offers so many options and configurations! If you like a dramatic look, the black mats you see below will certainly create drama in your space.
Full-service gallery wall kits
Alternatively, you can use a full-service option like Framebridge. You can pick from several gallery walls and placements but this service includes the printing and framing of your photos. Or you can send original photos and artwork for framing.
Then you receive all the framed photos with a large paper template. As you can see below, I attached the template to my wall with tape at the corners and made sure it was level.
Yes, this service is pricey but good-quality frames are not cheap. If you were to add up the cost of all the frames and the hassle of printing, archival quality framing, coming up with a design, measuring, templating, and hanging, the cost of this gallery wall kit might make more sense.
Full-Service Gallery Wall Kits
PROS
- archival quality frames
- uses two nails for stability – no adjusting
- upload pics and they do the rest
CONS
- expensive
- not able to swap photos
Types of gallery layouts
There are many different ways in which you can create a show-stopping gallery wall depending on the space and setting. I like to distinguish between two major types – geometric and organic.
Geometric – A geometric photo gallery is one whose outlines are constrained within a geometric shape – rectangle or square. Usually, the frame selection is uniform, of the same color and size, arranged like a grid.
There are also geometric galleries, like the one below, that have different-sized frames but still fit the outline of the arrangement. This layout is a little more visually interesting.
Organic – An organic gallery is one whose outline cannot be contained in a specific geometric form. These gallery walls usually incorporate different styles and sizes of frames. They are free-flowing and do not form a grid.
Selecting photos for a family gallery
Creating a family photo gallery wall is like creating a work of art. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But if you would like to have a more traditional-looking gallery wall, I would frame photos from the same photoshoot. The composition will appear purposeful and uniform if the photos have the same color story.
But if you want to display photos that were taken at different times, I recommend converting them to black and white. This will give them the gallery collection style that is so appealing.
Oversized mat frames | Woven door cabinet | Table lamp | Woven baskets
Tools needed to hang picture frames
Typically, the only tools you would need to hang your gallery frames are nails, a hammer, and a level. You don’t even need a tape measure if you’re using a ready-made template!
Other decorative elements
Styling up your photo gallery wall with other decorative elements can be an exciting way to add a personal touch to your home. With the right home decor accessories, you can create a unique look that reflects your style and personality.
Whether you’re looking for something classic or contemporary, there are endless options to choose from. I added a vintage bench and a large vase below my photo gallery wall. The colorful vintage rug picks up the gold tones of the frames.
Gallery Wall Kit | Bench | Vase | Rug | Woven cabinet | Oversized mat frames | Lamps
These gallery walls transformed our finished basement into a warm, welcoming, and personalized space.
