How to create a gallery wall

A gallery wall is probably the best way to express your personality and elevate your space. It's also an excellent way to take up empty space and add interest on a large wall, making the room feel fully inhabited, fun and welcoming. Starting one might seem overwhelming, after all, you're about to start sticking holes in your walls, but remember there's no such thing as right or wrong when it comes to your picture wall.

The colour palette

The very first thing to consider is the colour palette. Think about your personal style, which colours best represent your space, or even what colours your space is lacking. If you lean towards neutrals, opt for pieces with earthy tones to bring in colour without too much of a shock, think ochres, forest greens and rusts. We suggest starting with your largest picture or brightest colour, then adding as you go, selecting pieces that work best with the scheme.

How to select your artwork

Remember what I said about art being personal? That's really the key. When you look at a piece, you should feel what's looking back at you, if it doesn't give you all the feels, it's unlikely to show much of your personality. Is there a book you love? Tear out the front page of your favourite chapter and frame it. You've got art. Artwork doesn't have to be expensive or gallery-grade, posters are a great place to start, as are antique fairs where you might score a bargain.

Size matters

When it comes to gallery walls, proportions are everything. Hang that large piece of artwork first, it helps you visualise how the space will look and lets you place your other pieces around it. And don't think a small room means small art: depending on the height of the room and natural light, a gallery wall with large pieces will make the room feel bigger, not smaller.

Prone to monotone

If all those varying sizes make you nervous, going monotone works particularly well, especially for photographs. Our favourite space for this is a staircase, using fun family photos up and down the walls (mantelpiece photos are OUT; family portraits on stairs are IN). It's also a lovely trick for rooms that can feel chaotic, like kids' rooms, bringing a sense of order.

Hanging tips

Arrange your frames on the floor first, using the largest piece as your starting point, you can adjust the design much more easily this way and save yourself the headache of moving things after the holes are hammered. If you have time, cut out paper the same size as your frames and tape them to the wall with soft masking tape that won't mark the paint. For a non-permanent solution, non-trace drywall hooks or command strips are your best friend.