Frame galleries, a group of frames in close proximity to each other on a wall, are a great way to have art in your home that truly reflects your personality, as well as your family’s history. If you’ve been tempted to try this art arrangement but have been a little overwhelmed, fear not. It is easier than it looks. The gallery can be made up of photographs, artworks or mirrors. For a truly personalised touch, use a mixture of all three and create a theme or colour pattern.
The first step is to choose the space or wall that the gallery will be featured in. Living areas are popular, as are hallways but galleries can feature in any room in the house, from bedrooms to play rooms, and even in bathrooms. In fact the bathroom is a great area to have a frame gallery, as both you and your guests spend much time staring at blank walls! Any area that has a large amount of bare wall space is fine. By adding a gallery wall to a hallway, you can enhance and decorate a functional area. The number of frames you use in each gallery will vary on the space available. Usually three or four is the minimum number of frames needed to create a theme or pattern.
Black and white colour patterns are popular for their contemporary feel and simplicity. Think about the theme you want to create and what would suit the room. Once you have decided one the room and the theme you can start selecting the items that will go in the frames. If you have a sentimentally important or overly large piece, put this in the middle and work your way outward. Arrange the frames on the floor, preferably directly below the wall you intend to hang them on. Make sure you figure the pattern out before you start putting holes in the wall!
When you are happy with the pattern of the frames, measure each frame carefully and mark in pencil on the wall roughly where it will fit. Try not to have too much space between each frame to avoid bare space, about 1-2 inches is a good amount. The style of galleries can vary greatly. For beginners, a circular or square shape is easy to assemble. Once you gain confidence you can experiment with as many different patterns as you desire.
For beginners, having frames of different sizes but similar colour patterns will help keep things looking uniform. For bold photos or artworks try simple frames. Frames that are opposite to the wall colour will pop out, which is great if you are going for this look, if not keep frames matte and bland in colour.
Once you have assembled your gallery, it is time to stand back and admire! Your gallery can be a focal point of the room and will give you a talking point with guests. The photos and art in the frames should have some meaning to you, but they do not all need to be sentimental pieces. As with all decorating, focus on what you like, as you are the one who will be living with it. Also there is no reason your gallery needs to be stationary. Once in a while take a few minutes to update the frames or move them around to keep your home looking fresh.
