Gallery walls…the crème de la crème of curated art. The beautiful, elusive art collections that you see splattered across glossy magazines, in the popular feed on Pinterest, and in the best Instagram photos. What is the secret to creating a truly fabulous gallery wall? Read on for all the secrets…

Source: Emily Henderson

What is about gallery walls that calls to the art lover in all of us?  The very best gallery walls are gorgeous collections of art gathered over time; however, it is possible to curate a gallery wall without inheriting a fabulous art collection or spending thousands of dollars on high-end art. Here are my top tips for gallery art styling on a budget.

Frames and Sizes

Choose a variety of art sizes, but keep it consistent.  It is important to choose 3-5 different art sizes when selecting art for your gallery wall.  This helps achieve a curated look without looking too symmetrical.  Keep things consistent by repeating each size at least twice throughout the collection.

Mix and match when it comes to frames.  I always include at least (2) different frame styles when creating a gallery wall.  This creates and eclectic look and eliminates the dreaded “matchy matchy” vibe.

Source:  Monique Mchugh

Place your art a consistent distance apart.  Art placement is so important when it comes to gallery walls.  I recommend spacing your art at least 3″ apart but no more than 4″.  To ensure that you are correctly spacing your art, don’t be afraid to bust out the painter’s tape and a ruler!  This is a no-fail trick that works every time! 🙂

Styles and Color

Shake it up.  The best gallery walls are those that have a wide range of media.  Include an abstract or two, some photography, watercolors, and some typography.  Having a mix of different art styles, again, gives a curated look of a collection created over time.

Pick a color scheme. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, and it largely depends on your color scheme and design style, but it’s definitely a factor worth considering.  While I love a funky, colorful gallery wall, there’s something to be said for picking a color palette and sticking to it. Monochromatic art collections in shades of gray, tan, and black and white make a powerful and bold modern statement.  Likewise, the same impact can be achieved by a contemporary color palette of fuchsia, teal, and green.  Whatever color palette floats your boat, try to pick art that falls within that color range.  With that said, don’t be afraid to incorporate an extra color or two if you find a piece of art and fall in love with it!

Source:  The Chriselle Factor

Last but not least, HAVE FUN!!! Picking out art for a gallery wall can be a daunting experience, so don’t let yourself get too caught up in following all the “rules.”  The beautiful thing about art is that when is speaks to you, you know, so follow that gut feeling when a piece just feels right.

Disclaimer:  This post may contain affiliate links to products that I love so that I can continue sending out design inspiration and positive energy.  Thanks for the support and love. Namaste!