The Ultimate Guide to Curating a Gallery Wall: How to Make a Gallery Wall That’s Stylish and Personal

The Ultimate Guide to Curating a Gallery Wall: How to Make a Gallery Wall That’s Stylish and Personal

A gallery wall isn’t just about covering an empty wall with frames. It’s your chance to mix art, memories, and personality into an amazing display that feels uniquely you. It doesn't matter if they're bold art prints, quirky treasures, or meaningful family photos. This guide will help you curate a gallery wall that will transform a blank wall into something the family will admire everyday.

Table of Contents

Enough with the introduction, here’s how to make a gallery wall in your home that’s both easy to set up and enjoyable to look at every day!

1. Build Your Collection

Start with one hero piece the showstopper that will anchor your gallery wall art. It might be a striking painting, a set of family photos, or even a bold black-and-white shot. This becomes your eye-catcher, and the rest of your art pieces will work around it.

Styling tip: Mix different types of art for variety paintings, sketches, framed art, or even something unframed. A mix of art styles creates a stylish gallery that feels authentic.

2. Decide on Your Gallery Wall Layout

Before you start hanging art, spread your frames out on the floor. Play with the arrangement until you find a flow you like. Keep in mind the width of each piece and the spacing between them. Too tight and it feels crowded, too loose and it loses impact.

And please, seriously. Don’t worry too much about a perfect grid. A little imbalance adds character. Try mixing different sizes of frames, and experiment with both vertical and horizontal positioning. This adds rhythm and energy to your gallery wall look.

3. Use Smart Templates (We’ve Done the Hard Work!)

Here’s where the real magic happens. To save time (and avoid extra holes in the plaster), cut out paper templates the same size as your frames. Stick them to the wall to map out your design. Even better, we’ve created three ready-to-go gallery wall ideas in our Mulbury Gift Boxes:

  • Val’s Pick – romantic balance for those who love softer tones.
  • Gerry’s Favourites – eclectic and playful, with plenty of personality.
  • Mulbury Essentials – timeless and perfect for minimal small spaces.

Blend old with new. Place vintage photos alongside modern artwork, or a sculpture with bold prints. These contrasts create focus and highlight your style and personality.

4. Make the Measures

Now it’s time to grab your measuring tape. Mark out exactly where your nails or screws should go. A handy trick: nail right through the paper templates. And don’t forget to use a spirit level to keep everything straight.

Think beyond the flat wall. Add a mini shelf for small objects or larger pieces to break up the rhythm. This creates dimension in your art display.

5. Yay! It's Time to Hang the Frames!

With your plan in place, swap out the paper for the real thing. Use a reliable hanger for heavier frames, step back, and admire your new creation.

A gallery wall in your home looks best when it’s not too uniform. Mix different frame styles, try varied tones and intensity, and experiment with styles and colours to give your wall that curated, layered feel.

Styling Your Gallery Wall Like a Pro

To really elevate your wall decor, here are a few finishing touches:

  • Combine wall art with sculptural or 3D items (the cherry on top to make it look like an actual gallery wall)
  • Work a balance of colour palette and a mix of bold shades with calmer neutrals
  • Include black-and-white pieces to break up colour blocks
  • Mix new and vintage for a timeless look (just don't overdo it)

Remember that even affordable art can transform your space when combined thoughtfully.

Final Thoughts

Designing a gallery wall is part planning, part play. With the right gallery wall layout, careful measuring tape work, and a splash of imagination, you can create a gallery wall that reflects your unique style and personality.

Whether it’s a small photo wall or a dramatic gallery wall in your home, it’s all about experimenting, balancing spacing, and celebrating your collection of artworks.

So grab your frames, measure your wall space, line up your templates, and make your gallery wall a feature worth admiring.

How Mulbury can help you with your high-quality picture frame and photo frame needs

At Mulbury, we’re passionate about what we do. We take pride in our craftsmanship and our commitment to sustainability. By choosing us to transform your timber into a beautiful frame, you're not just getting a product—you're preserving a piece of history and creating something that will be cherished for years to come.

  • An extensive range of recycled timber styles to suit your home
  • Custom picture framing
  • Excellent customer service to help you select the perfect frame
  • Installation of your art
  • Shipping around Australia
  • High quality frames to last a lifetime

Get in touch - we'd love to help you!

To make an enquiry, please head to our Shadow Box Frame page, Custom Framing Page or Floating Frame Page and fill out the form or head straight to our standard size picture frames.

Prefer to pick up the phone? Call us on 03 9532 3424

Email: hello@mulbury.com.au

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