arteetPlanning a gallery wall without guessing
A gallery wall fails for one reason: it is planned on the wall instead of on the floor. Lay it out first, then hang.
Step 1: choose the anchor
Pick the piece the wall is about — usually the largest. Everything else supports it. If all the pieces are the same size, the wall becomes a grid; that is fine, but decide deliberately rather than by accident.
Step 2: lay it out on the floor
Trace each frame on paper, cut it out, and arrange the paper on the floor in the exact pattern you want. Photograph it from above. Adjust the gaps to 5–7 cm; consistent gaps matter more than perfect alignment.
Step 3: find the centre line
Mark the centre of the furniture the wall sits above — not the centre of the wall, unless the furniture is centred too. Tape the paper to the wall around that line. Live with it for a day before drilling.
Step 4: hang from the middle out
Hang the anchor piece first, level it, then work outward. Two hooks per frame, 10–15 cm apart. Keep the centre of the whole group at 145 cm from the floor where possible.
Layouts that work
- Salon (tight grid): 6–9 pieces, equal gaps, mixed sizes — best over a sofa.
- Column: three stacked pieces in a narrow space, such as between windows.
- Diagonal: two large and three small, stepping up — risky, but works with a strong anchor.
- Single statement: one large piece, no group. Often the best answer.
Buying for a wall? Start with a collection so the palette is already resolved, and read the 57-inch rule before you drill.
