8 Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a Gallery Wall, According to Pros

A gallery wall allows you to decorate an empty wall with minimal effort which can elevate the look of your space. However, it can end up looking messy if random artwork or photographs are thrown together.

“A gallery wall is a great way to showcase all your amazing artworks and add personality to any space,” says Tamarra Younis, the founder and interior designer at Union of Art Interiors. “However, just like with anything, if it's done wrong, instead of looking fab, it can be a real eyesore.”

Here, interior designers highlight eight mistakes to avoid when creating a gallery wall. When done correctly, the display can completely transform a room, providing a space with panache and interest. Read on for a picture-perfect setup.

Downplaying the Surrounding Decor

Make sure to consider the existing decor and color scheme of the room where the gallery wall will be located. If you have sleek, minimalist furnishings, hanging rustic or distressed wood frames can look out of place. What you put inside those frames matters too, since you want to achieve a cohesive look.

“The selected artwork should complement the overall style and aesthetic which should be curated to enhance the space,” says Mercedes Kerrison, owner of Abode Interiors in New York. 

Displaying Artwork Haphazardly

Before you reach for the hammer and nails to hang the artwork or photo frames, try to envision how the final setup will look.

“Plan the layout of your gallery wall before hanging any artwork,” Kerrison says. “I usually like to experiment with different arrangements by laying out the frames on the floor to review the color story and sizing to visualize the design.”

You’ll also want to measure the height and width of the wall space to give you a clear idea of the maximum size your gallery wall can be.

Having Sloppy and Inconsistent Spacing

Killy Scheer, principal of Scheer & Co. uses craft paper or painter's tape to simulate the composition pieces on the wall. The trial run helps with hanging the artwork too closely together.

“You don’t want the frames to touch, but you also don’t want too much space that the blank areas are distracting,” Scheer says.

Gillian Gillies, the founder and designer at Gillian Gillies Interiors recommends maintaining consistent spacing between pieces, generally with a two-inch gap. This will ensure visual balance and cohesiveness on the gallery wall.

Neglecting to Curate at Eye Level

When designing a gallery wall, consider how people will view it. The entire composition should be at eye level, which is a bit different for everyone. You also want to focus on the function of the room. If a gallery wall is in the dining room, consider how it will look when you’re at the table.

“For rooms in which sitting is the primary activity, it’s okay to hang art a little lower so it can be enjoyed while sitting down,” Scheer advises.

In the case where the gallery wall is above furniture, like a couch, make sure that the pieces are centered on the piece, regardless of where they land on the wall, notes Younis.

“Hanging artworks too high or off-center makes a room feel disjointed and unrefined,” she adds.

Overlooking the Architecture

It's important to make sure that the artwork is centered and at eye level, but you also have to consider the surrounding architectural elements such as windows and doorways.

“If the top of the frame surpasses the height of a neighboring door frame, it is likely hung too high,” Younis says. 

It might not seem like a big deal if the top of the frame is above the doorway, but you want your gallery wall to breathe between the last row and the ceiling. The same concept applies to placing frames too close to the window frames and doors as it can create a claustrophobic feeling.

Failing to Establish a Focal Point

Think of a gallery wall focal point as the central element that anchors the entire arrangement, Audrey Scheck of Audrey Scheck Design points out. A statement piece can be abstract art or a large landscape photograph. 

“This piece should immediately draw the eye and attention of any viewer, and will help in avoiding an installation that feels disorganized and cluttered,” Scheck says.

“Build the rest of your arrangement around your focal point, and test out using smaller or complementary pieces to create a well-balanced composition.”

Keeping It All Too Uniform

It makes sense that your gallery wall should look cohesive, but it shouldn’t look too predictable. 

“The goal is to include individual pieces that work together in harmony to create a unified and pleasing aesthetic,” Scheck says, who recommends incorporating a theme or a color palette.

In order to diversify, play with a variety of sizes and shapes to see what both the artwork and frames look like together.

Scheck tries to avoid matching frames, especially for large gallery walls. She sources the frames from multiple places, especially thrift and antique shops, to ensure they add character that isn’t easily replicated. 

Especially with gallery walls that have a greater number of pieces included, try to avoid using matching frames—variation here will make things more visually interesting and appealing to the eye. Consider sourcing frames from a myriad of places to ensure differentiation—you will be surprised at what kind of frames you can source from your local thrift shop or antique store. Retailers like Amazon, Target, and Wayfair are also great places to find eye-catching inexpensive picture frames.

Not Having a Color Palette

Decide on a color palette that compliments the rest of the decor. “Opt for a color scheme for your whole home or give each room its own palette,” says Annica Wallin, a creative director of Desenio, which is an online artwork retailer. 

The color should reflect the mood you’re trying to create in a room. Ask yourself, “how do I want to feel when coming home?”

To create a calming space, go tone-on-tone in natural colors. For a modern look, go for black and white art prints or let one color, such as a bright blue, take center stage. 

Lina Galvao and Erin Coren, interior designers and partners at the Curated Nest, recommend creating a unified atmosphere by selecting two to three main shades or creating clever positioning techniques. Some include designating a standout piece as the centerpiece, symmetrically arranging pieces, or using art placement to direct the viewer's gaze.