Hamilton Herald Masthead

Editorial


Front Page - Friday, June 5, 2015

Creating a gallery wall


Do It Yourself



April Sherrill

Creating a gallery wall in your home is a unique way to show off your personality while highlighting art and photos that are important to you. The addition of a gallery wall can add visual interest and punch instantly to any space. There are many different ways to create a display with use of frames, textures, sizes, and colors. 

You can also add more interest by placing mirrors, art, monograms, or any other items you choose between photos to break up repetition. Try pairing items with completely different style and design to create a more eclectic look. For instance, clean, simple lines on a few frames, a vintage mirror, and some rustic pieces could complete a gallery wall. The options are limitless to your home and taste.

Items needed to create the perfect gallery wall are: hammer, paper, scissors, level, painter’s tape, tape measure, hooks and nails, pencil, and art or items of choice. When starting the planning process use one to two large pieces to anchor the gallery. Make sure you off-center the large pieces so there is no true focal point. Play with scale and color. Some people like to stick to a color story and build around it; it can be multi-colored, and vary in sizes and orientation of the art. Do not forget to add in small pieces and three-dimensional items.

Keep at least 1.5 to 3 inches of space between each piece of art, and allow at least 6 to 7 inches of space between the couch and first frame. While the sizes of the individual elements do not need to be uniform, the space as an entirety should be. Figuring out how large the entire gallery as a whole will be and taping it off should be a first priority. 

First, lay the artwork on the ground to determine the desired layout. After you get an idea of the layout, make sure it will fit into the desired space. Once the placement and layout is completed, gather the paper to use to trace around the items. Using paper templates of the exact pieces will allow you to completely figure everything out from the beginning so you will only have to hammer once. Don’t forget to make note of which cutout goes with each item.

Locate the hanger of each particular piece and measure from the top edge to center point of the hanging device. Make a mark on the cutout where the nail or hook will catch. Tape the cutouts to the wall using the painter’s tap mimicking the arrangement you created on the floor. 

After you have determined the final placement of everything, use the mark you made for the nail or hook and hammer it into place. Afterwards remove the cutout and hang your art. This will guarantee perfect placement. 

Lastly, have fun! Remember, the whole point is to add your personality into your home, so make sure that it shines. In the end, go with your gut, your eyes won’t lie on what looks right.

April Sherrill is a staff writer for the Hamilton County Herald. Contact her at april@dailydata.com.   

Creating a gallery wall in your home is a unique way to show off your personality while highlighting art and photos that are important to you. The addition of a gallery wall can add visual interest and punch instantly to any space. There are many different ways to create a display with use of frames, textures, sizes, and colors. 

You can also add more interest by placing mirrors, art, monograms, or any other items you choose between photos to break up repetition. Try pairing items with completely different style and design to create a more eclectic look. For instance, clean, simple lines on a few frames, a vintage mirror, and some rustic pieces could complete a gallery wall. The options are limitless to your home and taste.

Items needed to create the perfect gallery wall are: hammer, paper, scissors, level, painter’s tape, tape measure, hooks and nails, pencil, and art or items of choice. When starting the planning process use one to two large pieces to anchor the gallery. Make sure you off-center the large pieces so there is no true focal point. Play with scale and color. Some people like to stick to a color story and build around it; it can be multi-colored, and vary in sizes and orientation of the art. Do not forget to add in small pieces and three-dimensional items.

Keep at least 1.5 to 3 inches of space between each piece of art, and allow at least 6 to 7 inches of space between the couch and first frame. While the sizes of the individual elements do not need to be uniform, the space as an entirety should be. Figuring out how large the entire gallery as a whole will be and taping it off should be a first priority. 

First, lay the artwork on the ground to determine the desired layout. After you get an idea of the layout, make sure it will fit into the desired space. Once the placement and layout is completed, gather the paper to use to trace around the items. Using paper templates of the exact pieces will allow you to completely figure everything out from the beginning so you will only have to hammer once. Don’t forget to make note of which cutout goes with each item.

Locate the hanger of each particular piece and measure from the top edge to center point of the hanging device. Make a mark on the cutout where the nail or hook will catch. Tape the cutouts to the wall using the painter’s tap mimicking the arrangement you created on the floor. 

After you have determined the final placement of everything, use the mark you made for the nail or hook and hammer it into place. Afterwards remove the cutout and hang your art. This will guarantee perfect placement. 

Lastly, have fun! Remember, the whole point is to add your personality into your home, so make sure that it shines. In the end, go with your gut, your eyes won’t lie on what looks right.

April Sherrill is a staff writer for the Hamilton County Herald. Contact her at april@dailydata.com.   v