15 tips for a gallery wall at home
Got a blank wall calling for attention? Time for a real art wall! In this blog, we share fifteen ways to create a beautiful art collage on your wall. Inspired by one of these ideas? Measure everything carefully, apply our handy tips, and test it first with paper. Here's the most important tip: never hang a collage on instinct alone. Measure twice, hang once - a cliché, but so true. With proper preparation, you'll create an art wall you'll enjoy for years.
1. Duo Artwork
Stronger Together
Two works side by side give a beautiful twist to your wall. And the possibilities are endless! Play with colors by choosing works in similar tones but with different designs. Or go for classic duos like Oopjen and Marten. Two works by the same artist? Then you know they'll match perfectly. Also beautiful: a typographic print combined with a photograph. Varied, yet harmonious together.
Do's for the perfect duo: Consider the two works as one whole. Therefore, hang them just a few centimeters apart. Preferably choose the same dimensions for a sleek effect. Add up the widths, including the space between, and follow our basic rules for the right size.
2. Triple the Pleasure
Three works create dynamics, an odd number adds tension. How do you keep it clear? Choose one theme, one color, or one artist. Or mix it up? Then give one work the leading role. This way you emphasize your favorite while creating more body. The result: playful without being busy.
Follow the same rules as with the perfect duo, but now calculate with a third work. Don't hang them too far apart, or you'll lose unity. Test it first with paper on the wall to see if it works.
3. Just Like in the Museum
Recognise that gallery feeling where photos hang large and perfectly aligned? You can create that at home too! Choose works of the same height and hang them at equal heights. For a true gallery effect, choose a dark background, think dark blue or charcoal. Did you know the Rijksmuseum also uses dark walls? This makes the artwork stand out more and gives it a classic character.
Build your gallery from the center outward. Balance your works and ensure the central center line sits at 145 cm height. Always maintain the same distance between works. How many centimeters exactly? That depends on your space. Feel free to contact us for advice.
4. Perfection
Perfectly Aligned
Want to hang multiple works but love clean lines? Then the perfectly aligned collage is for you. All works are the same size and together form one aligned whole. Make it as large or small as you like. Think black and white vintage photos, a rainbow of colors, or a collection of portraits from your travel destinations. A timeline of your adventures! ArtFrame™ is ideal for this, you can easily swap your art after each new trip.
Scroll through our collection and choose works that complement each other in the same size. Create a grid with 5-10 cm between frames. Draw out the grid and calculate it in proportion to your wall. This way you know exactly which sizes you need.
5. Just Like in the Movies
One Work in the Spotlight
Give one work the spotlight and start there. Build a nice composition around it: straight up, left, right, or diagonally down. Dare to experiment. First lay out the whole thing on the floor so you can see exactly which works fit together.
Dare to use contrasting materials. Think, for example, of different coloured frames alternating with canvas.
6. The TV as Artwork
For many people, a switched-off TV is an eyesore, such a large black surface that draws all attention. The solution? Incorporate your TV into an art wall. This way the practical becomes a beautiful addition to your interior. Want to go all out? Check out Samsung's The Frame, on which you can display artworks. The TV's design is already a work of art in itself.
Create a cozy corner with a mix of works and decoration. Create a picture, it's the wall you look at most! Maintain the same distance between works for a calm whole. Alternate art with a lamp or vase for a playful effect.
7. Just Like Piet Did
The Mondrian Look
Love abstract art? Then you love Piet Mondrian, the pioneer of abstract and non-figurative art. You know his geometric work with characteristic horizontal and vertical lines, an inspiration for designers and architects. Use it as inspiration for your own art wall too!
8. Shelf It
An ideal way to create a nice art wall: work with shelves. It breaks up the whole beautifully and you can effortlessly swap decoration. The shelves themselves largely determine the look, so decide beforehand what style you want. Want to focus on the art? Then choose shelves in the color of your wall, white shelves with a white wall, for example. Dare to be bold? Go for a bright color and incorporate it into the art on your shelf. Everything then blends beautifully and the shelves become part of your artwork.
9. A Nod to the Past
Vintage Look
Create a playful mix with artworks you already have, found somewhere, or received as gifts. Add new works you've fallen in love with. The idea of the vintage look? Everything has its own shape and maintains it on the wall. By hanging varied pieces, each work comes into its own as a small eye-catcher. Ensure sufficient distance so nothing hangs in each other's 'shadow'. Complete the look with plants and vintage furniture for a nice retro atmosphere.
10. Contemporary Mix
Modern
Here it's about an aligned mix of diverse works. Despite different styles, colours, or artists, you create a whole by hanging them in a cohesive pattern. This look is easy to expand in height or width, ideal for filling that specific wall. It differs from the vintage look through clean lines and works hung closer together for a more modern feel.
11. Along the Line
Draw a horizontal center line and hang works at the top and bottom next to each other. This gives a clean base with playful finishing. The line connects the works and makes a statement on your wall. Have a tall narrow wall? Try a vertical line, super original and your space seems even taller.
Do: Go for odd numbers! This often has a nicer effect than even numbers.
12. The Perfect Staircase
The staircase wall calls for a gallery wall, a blank wall that wants to be filled! You pass it daily and the steps provide a perfect starting point for neatly aligned art. But what's the right height? Measure 145 cm from the floor, that's where the center of your artwork goes. Then measure 145 cm from every third step, draw a diagonal line, and you're ready to hang!
Also check out our staircase collection full of our stylists' favorites. Nice idea: hang photos of abandoned staircases above your stairs. No idea what that looks like? Let our staircase collection surprise you.
13. On a Journey
Spiral
Choose the spiral look and you choose dynamics. The spiral movement gives the feeling that your works are alive. This look is also beautiful for symbolism lovers, a spiral represents life, letting go, deepening, and the journey. Choose personal works that fit your life and you have your own journey on the wall.
14. Herringbone Pattern
Chevron
Chevron not only sounds chic, it gives your wall a classic look. The herringbone pattern is timeless and atmospheric, you see it in many interiors. Not only on floors, but also excellent to incorporate in your art wall. The zigzag pattern is actually a horizontal line, but just a bit different. A real eye-catcher!
15. The Art Heroes look
Spotted us at the vtwonen & design fair? Then you've seen this look. The Werk aan de Muur look mixes artworks with beautiful wall decoration. By painting the decoration in the same color as the wall, it blends beautifully without becoming busy. You get atmospheric decoration with a homey feel, while the emphasis remains on the art. A fun application that calls for creativity and a day of fun crafting.
Is this your look? Share your creation on Instagram with #ArtHeroes and inspire us!
