Gallery walls are a beautiful feature of any home. It’s a striking feature and can showcase your personality and taste. But, it can be a big undertaking. There’s a lot to consider when putting together your art and it may seem intimidating to create a gallery. Luckily, there are simple ways to break it down. So let’s go over selecting your art and building your gallery!
When selecting pieces for your gallery, you want to have a common theme among the artwork. This ensures a cohesive flow and look. While there are many ways you can group art, some are easier than others. Some of the easiest themes to pick out are a common color, a common subject, or a common material.
Picking a common color is the easiest way to select your gallery paintings. Essentially, your paintings will be mainly one color such as red. Color is one of the first things we observe and process, so seeing a common color will help your eye travel through the gallery. You can keep it general, or get as specific a color as you want.
You can also choose a common subject for your paintings. This can include featuring: portraits, landscapes, animals, etc. Again, you can keep the category wide or get as specific as a certain type of animal. This theme allows the most variety in looks, while still keeping the paintings related.
Finally, you can choose paintings made with the same medium. You can use all watercolor paintings, all oil, all pencil, etc. Paintings in the same medium will have a similar look to them. This creates a cohesive look, even if the subjects are different.
Another thing to keep in mind is the size and shape you select. You’ll want a good mix of large and small paintings with different orientations. You should pick your favorite 1 or 2 paintings to be the largest. Generally a size 18” x 24” or larger. Next, pick out 2-3 small paintings that are 9” x 12” or smaller. The rest of your pieces will fall in between these sizes and make the main part of the gallery. For orientation, you should have a fairly even split of portrait and landscape positioning. The differing heights can help lead the eye and create flow for your gallery.
Finally, it’s time to decide on your layout! There are many designs and setups to pick from which can mostly be divided into two categories: ordered and eclectic. The ordered category has layouts designed on a grid system. Your art is set up in rows and columns and will generally feel more balanced because of this. These designs fit well in more modern-styled homes or minimal layouts.
On the other hand, eclectic layouts place paintings in relation to the other paintings. It focuses on the paintings and their relationship to each other as opposed to the display space. These displays have a loose and sometimes messy feel to them. They add more personality to a room and pull attention.
Overall, building a gallery wall of art in your home can be a fun and exciting project that allows you to showcase your personal style and add a unique touch to your living space. You can create a stunning collection of artwork that truly reflects your personality and enhances t your home. Remember to take it step by step, and reference our tips when needed!
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