how to hang a gallery wall

Hanging this gallery wall was so fun + satisfying. It pleases me to no end to sit in my favorite chair + be surrounded by mementos from my travels, work by local artists + art heroes, my own work from my college years, photos of loved ones, and of course crystals + statues + all the little flotsams + jetsums I love so dearly.

So I thought I would share some tips + tricks I’ve learned after having done this a few times now.

1. SCOPE OUT SOME INSPO.

It is so helpful to see what others have done, both on Pinterest and in some local spaces. I noticed some commonalities in the looks I was drawn to and tried to weave that into this wall.

2. GATHER MATERIALS.

More than you think you need. Gallery walls are a puzzle and it’s good to have options of items of different sizes, mediums, shapes, and orientations.

In addition to the art, you’ll need hanging supplies. Command strips are your best friend here. Unless you want a ton of holes in your wall. Seriously, these will save you. Almost everything here is hung with Command strips or Command hooks. I think I used just 4 nails in this whole wall.

And you need a level. Which conveniently comes in the pack of command strips. #notanadforcommandstrips

3. LAY IT ALL OUT.

I like to use the floor just below the wall I’m hanging and use a drop cloth in a similar shade to the wall so I can visualize what it will look like on the wall.

There’s no real method to the madness here. Just patience + playing around + not getting too attached to what makes the cut and what gets edited out. With a gallery wall, it’s not so much the individual pieces, but rather the overall vibe + cohesion I’m after.

4. HANG IT UP.

Starting from the center and moving outward. And don’t be surprised if you have to take stuff down and reposition. It’s part of the process in my opinion.

5. ADD DETAILS.

This step is optional. But I love adding crystals + antique medicine bottles + mala beads + little buddhas. Most of this I plan for in the layout, but then of course there are the little surprises.

6. SIT BACK + ENJOY THE VIEW.