Gallery walls get a bad rap sometimes. Sure, they’re an elegant way to display multiple pieces of art, mirrors, heirlooms, and more, but… they take some work. You need to find the right items to go together and place them just so in order to create the desired effect. Add to that the occasional need to so some real measuring of walls and actual math, and… you can see why they scare some people off.
To make things a bit easier, we Chairish maximalists have just launched gallery wall sets featuring pieces from our Print Shop, so you can find incredible art that our curators have selected to work together. These pieces from diverse artists are designed to look exquisite together, in any room in the home. Below, see some of our new sets and get some tips for creating gallery walls in different spaces. Whether you’re dressing up a dining room or trying to create a Zen-style bedroom, we’ve got ideas (as always). And for more incredible exclusive art, be sure to shop everything available in the Chairish Print Shop.
Build Around a Focal Point
It may sound counterintuitive for designs that feature multiple pieces, but gallery walls work best when they have a focal point for the eye to rest on. Start with one central element and build around that, with other items that are complementary. You can even select art that appears to flow from piece to piece, as in the example above.
An Eclectic Mix of Styles
Just as with fashion, you shouldn’t limit yourself to something matchy-matchy when putting together a gallery wall. Of course it’s visually pleasing to have elements that speak to each other, as in the blue and aqua hues above, but it’s great to diversify. Photography, watercolors, and word art can come together to produce something that speaks cohesively and is greater than the sum of its parts.
Add Drama & Height
If you’re blessed with high ceilings — and, oh, a second floor — use it. Let a gallery wall ascend to the ceiling and dress up spaces that sometimes play second fiddle, like staircases. This is an opportunity to use quite a few pieces of art in an expressive, angular way, without adhering to a rigid sense of symmetry that you might feel yourself drawn to in a typical room.
Play with Shapes & Perspective
Similarly, gallery walls provide an opportunity to break expectations when it comes to symmetry of styles. Create visual variation by using art with orientations that are vertical, horizontal, or square and enable each piece to shine on its own and as a unit. It’s a great way to bring together diverse art with different perspectives and create something unified.
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Pick a Palette
Some spaces are best served by a unified color scheme, depending on what you want to achieve. If you’d like to create a serene, relaxing bedroom, consider selecting art with a cohesive palette, like serene blues and greens or calming creams and whites. This can ensure a room that’s stylish and restful at the same time.
Keep Away the Clutter
There’s such a thing as too much of a good thing. Don’t overdo it with gallery walls and avoid the temptation to put just one more thing up (cue the Coco Chanel advice about removing one article of clothing before leaving the house). This is particularly true when it comes to spaces that might naturally tend to become cluttered, like console tables or desks.
