Gallery wall design: Secrets & ideas from the experts

by Ann Hayward 07/31/2022

While designers are always coming up with new ideas for gallery walls, some tricks and guidelines remain constant. To create a great gallery wall of your own, you can consult common layouts and formulas to help keep your design cohesive and exciting. Here are some secrets to designing the perfect gallery wall:

Plan your layout

Save yourself time and energy by planning your gallery layout before you hang anything on the wall. One of the simplest ways to accomplish this is to lay everything flat on the floor. You can easily shuffle your pieces around until you find the perfect arrangement and transfer it to the wall. Alternatively, you can use collage apps and other virtual design tools to create a digital plan.

Keep colors cohesive

While it's not strictly necessary to have a specific theme for your gallery wall, the best gallery walls have a cohesive color scheme. You can build your color scheme around one particular piece, or use it as a guide for curating your collection. Sometimes all it takes is one single color in common to tie the entire gallery together.

Go big, then small

If you're stuck trying to figure out a layout, one secret is to start with the largest piece first. It doesn't need to be in the center of the gallery, but using the smaller elements to build around the largest piece is an excellent starting point. If you're going for a more formal approach and have pieces of identical sizes, choose whichever you think grabs the most attention.

Break up the grid

Formal gallery walls with perfect symmetry can be both elegant and bold. However, don't be afraid to break up the grid. Hang pictures and other pieces at different vertical heights to create a more interesting aesthetic. Using a mixture of shapes can also work wonders for making your gallery more dynamic.

About the Author

Ann Hayward

Born in Philadelphia and raised in the suburbs, Ann Hayward got her Pennsylvania real estate license at age 18 even before going to college. This second-generation real estate professional followed in the footsteps of her father and two uncles, inheriting their passion for the business. Licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia, Ann is accomplished in her career, with numerous designations including SFR, SRES, PSA, WHC, and multiunit Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP) from the National Development Council. She specializes in Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties, Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, all jurisdictions where Ann has lived and knows very well. In addition to her professional expertise, she owns and manages personal investment property, understands and has been involved in the renovation/remodeling process, and has great resources which she shares with clients. When you hire Ann to represent you, she will make your buying or selling experience an enjoyable, rewarding one. Her compassion, sensitivity to her clients’ needs, eye for detail, and ability to see the big picture when guiding you through a purchase or sale are unique assets that will ensure your success. A diverse and relevant background also gives Ann a distinct edge. For 30 years, she worked in fast-paced, high-pressure television and theatrical production, attaining the highest achievement – DGA membership as a Director, and as an award-winning staff and freelance writer. Her keen audio visual skills and design sense benefit sellers in marketing their properties, and are invaluable in helping buyers see the potential of space. A true renaissance woman, Ann was also an income tax professional and office manager for H&R Block, so she thoroughly understands the tax and financial implications of acquiring and selling real estate. Her superior organizational skills are further evidenced as owner of a downsizing/professional organizing business, Managed For You, which allows her to connect with everyone from millennials to boomers and seniors, whether for small space planning or assisting with major decluttering and transitioning. Ann holds an AB in American History from Simmons College, Boston, plus attended Robert Wagner Graduate School of Public Administration where she was a candidate for Doctorate. She additionally studied Film Direction at the American Film Institute in LA, and was a Stanford University post-graduate Professional Journalism Fellow. Personally, Ann is an avid if not very good golfer, and the co-founder of a nonprofit 501c3 organization offering educational guidance, tutoring and counseling for youngsters from elementary school through college admission. She sits on the board of trustees of a nonprofit educational film production corporation as well. (202) 494-6252 [email protected]