Have you ever wanted to display your favorite artwork on a gallery wall?
While it might be a little pricey, or even not possible, these 8 tips can help ease the pain:
1. Hang your gallery art first. To make sure the hook goes in properly and will stay put, start by hanging other items first. If you have shelves or cabinets that are sturdy enough to hold the weight of your chosen pieces, begin by installing them on those surfaces before hanging any artwork using wire hangers at eye-level.
2. Choose artwork that is easy to hang and remove if necessary. Choose a painting or print with a wire hanger or hardware already attached. This will make it easy for you to remove the art easily in case your wall eventually needs to be moved.
3. A clean wall will look better than an old wall. If you’re hung pictures before, you’ll know that dust will build up along the edges of the frames, causing unwanted shadows and streaks on your art.
4. Choose the right frame color. Darker frames will absorb more light, and can cause your wall to look too “heavy”. Choosing a lighter color for your frames will help keep your walls looking light and airy, even if there are multiple framed pictures on the wall.
5. Hang within your budget. Figure out how much you can spend and make sure to do an at home estimate first. This will give you an idea of the average price of a gallery wall, and when it’s time to order all of your pieces, you’ll know what to expect in terms of cost.
6. Add space for future growth. If this is a gallery wall that will be around for a while, then leave space for future additions. Consider adding an extra strip of wall above or below your pictures for future art.
7. Mount your art flat against the wall rather than at an angle, allowing you to fit more art on the same surface area. This can be accomplished by either hanging your art on hooks with smaller spacers, or by adding a “backer board” to the wall.
8. Pre-hang artwork to provide a tight fit against the wall. This will help ensure that your artwork stays in place and won’t move, even during heavy winds or earthquakes.
