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If staying home is getting to you like it is to me, it might be a good time to create a gallery wall. I do like seeing them on Instagram or Pinterest – it seems like a lot of work, but in doing my research for this blog post, it doesn’t have to be!
If you read my post last week, you know I’m rather into finding ways to Frenchify my living area, and this week we’re delving into gallery walls which was a HUGE thing back in the old days. You can sort of see it here.
The first step in figuring out a gallery wall is to decide where you want it. Normally you see them behind a couch in the living room. I also think you can put one anywhere – the kitchen, the bathroom, a bedroom as a headboard. The possibilities are endless. For this post, I’ve recreated it in a living room and bathroom.
Next on the list is to decide what theme you want to go with – if you want a theme at all. Some people are all theme based, like all the photos must have red in them, or they’re all doors of France, but a theme can also be as easy as family pictures or your favorite trip.
After you’ve decided on the theme for your gallery wall, you’ll want to figure out what size frames you want. I like the idea of a big frame (24X35 3/4) surrounded by smaller sizes. If you’re unsure of what sizes you might want, there are places where you can order a set where they take all the guesswork out for you.
Once you receive the frames it’s a good idea to lay out how you’d like the frames to hang. Some people lay them out on the floor so they can see how it will look. Some put painters tape on the walls to see it in the space. This post has great advice on hanging your gallery wall.
These frames are all from Ikea and range in sizes. They’re all from the same line, the KNOPPÄNG one – which I think is a good idea in order to keep them looking like a set. As you can see from above, I went with a theme of Parisian doors. (If you like any of these, some are on my etsy shop – shamless plug.) One thing I did here was overlap two frames. I was thinking it could be pushed even more here, but I held off – I mean I didn’t want to get too crazy. Here are the sizes I used – 24×35 3/4, 16×20, 12×16, 9×9.
Here is the same couch area with a different set of frames and way of laying them out.
Here again I’ve gone with a theme – Paris, of course! These are all my own pictures. The frames this time are a set from Amazon. The very cool thing about this set is that it gives you ideas on ways to hang your pictures in your space so you don’t even have to think about it. According to the site, here are the specifics:
- Seven black decorative frames with removable contrasting white mats. Frame finishes available in: Black/Walnut/White
- Frame sizes included in kit: (1) 12×16 frame with mat for 8×10 image display (2) 8×10 frames with mat for 5×7 image display (4) 6×8 frames with mat for 4×6 image display
I was once told that you should always go with an odd number whenever you’re doing interior decorating. It’s more pleasing to the eye. That’s probably why this set has 7 frames.
Here’s a bonus look at how I might style a bathroom. I love the idea of using old fashion images and making everything sort of vintage.
In this group I chose frames that are acrylic so they don’t get gross and moldy from the water and humidity. I chose the following sizes and they’re also from Amazon; 11×14, 8.5×11, 5×7. The pinup like women in the frames are from Etsy, the Snowbird Vintage shop. I think they’re pretty darn cool, actually. There are a ton to choose from as well. I like the idea of playing with textures here in the bathroom as well, that’s why the old soap ad is there. Last is the strange little face hanging on the wall. Why did I choose this? There are only 4 items on the wall, and if we’re keeping with the idea of odds ruling the aesthetic, I needed to add another element. I toyed with the idea of a wire sculpture hanging there, but it didn’t seem to mesh with the overall vintage vibe. Some could say this face doesn’t really scream vintage but it blends in with the rest of the bathroom vibe.
Things might be sorta meh right now, but sprucing up your house might take your mind off things. The great thing about this is that you can even change out your pictures if you get tired of the original ones you chose. The possibilities are endless!
