Tips for Creating a Unique Gallery Wall

Introducing art into the home space is nothing new, and designers and artists alike are constantly thinking of unique ways to bring art into our living spaces.

One of the most effective ways of doing this is to curate your very own wall. Below are some tips for what to keep in mind when you start planning.

Plan your wall space

It’s important to think about how much space you want to take up. This knowledge will be particularly useful later, when sourcing your frames and the art you’re going to use.

Source your art from different places

Try to support small artists, upcoming artists, independent galleries, museums, and independent shops that stock locally-made goods. These places are also the places where you’re going to find some treasures. Finding artists who also produce art in smaller sizes is a neat trick if you’re short of space and money, as they tend to be a little cheaper.

If you like going to exhibitions and galleries, check the available leaflets, if there are any. Sometimes they open up into a poster designed by the featured artist/s.

Experiment with your frames

Colour, size, frame width, frame thickness – experiment! Your wall doesn’t have to have a theme, it just needs to reflect your tastes.

• Don’t worry about symmetry, unless that’s the look you’re going for.

• Landscape, portrait – mix it up!

• Don’t be afraid to grab a can of spray paint and upcycle an old frame.

Be prepared to be patient

If you really are looking to curate your gallery wall, you might have to be patient. Chances are, you’re not going to find all the art you want on your wall straight away. It helps to think of it as a collecting process, something that will come together in time.

Of course, if you don’t want to wait, or decide to fill the frames until you find the art you do like, there are packs of prints available online.

Themes can be restrictive, and you might end up passing on some art you really like.

Include your own art

A lot of things look good in a frame:

• old train tickets from a memorable occasion

• the one ‘arty’ photograph you took that you secretly think deserves to be seen

• your favourite vinyl

• your favourite CD or DVD

• the love letter your first girlfriend gave you and you can’t bear to throw away

• ignore the last one. But if someone did write you a really nice poem, or letter, you could potentially frame it.

• Postcards work really well too.

And don't forget the most important ingredient: fun!