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How to Make a Picture Frame Gallery Wall

All Posts, Illinois House, My Home

When designing a space, the best part about the remodel is the final decorating. Sure, it’s satisfying to build cabinets or watch rooms sprout up and walls transform with elaborate crown molding or wainscoting. I love to see the progress I’ve made, but the best part is always the final decorating. I get to make the space I transformed into something that feels and breathes like a real home, and I get to go shopping to do it!

I am finally ready to decorate my entry hall after having finished my wainscoting, and I knew I wanted to create a picture frame gallery. I had seen a couple different inspirations, but nothing quite like I was envisioning in my head. I also had a collection of white frames already. Still, I wanted to do something different.

How to Make a Picture Frame Gallery Wall

I found this frame in the basement and was inspired! I love everything about this frame from the colors to the weathered rustic look with the nail holes in full view. I arranged my white picture frames on the wall into a collage and then took some down, one by one, here and there, and painted them. That way I could ensure that they were placed where they looked good spatially, and I could apply color to ones that would look good thematically.

How to Make a Picture Frame Gallery Wall

It was a bit time consuming, but I’m happy with the result.

How to Make a Picture Frame Gallery Wall

One of the best pieces of advice I can give to others looking to decorate their finished spaces is everything is usually better in odds, not evens, and less is more (unless it’s not)! As you can see, even though I wanted to add some of the colors from that one frame, I stuck to just a few here and there to still give the accent time to breathe. In addition, I added texture to some, or I weathered the paint a bit. I tried to keep everything feeling cohesive, but still interesting to look at. I don’t ever want to have a room feel too busy–I just want to keep the eyes feeling wow-ed!

How to Make a Picture Frame Gallery Wall

Ultimately, you have to trust your gut and your eye when designing. It’s not really something that can be taught, you just have to know your style and then try and do your best to make it happen in your space. Don’t be afraid to play around with different layouts, colors, or patterns. Sometimes, designs may surprise you. If you start feeling frustrated or like you just can’t get it right, take a deep breath, step back from the situation, and then dive back in. Sometimes, a fresh set of eyes is the best tool.

If you’re wanting to recreate my picture frame gallery, all you need is some picture frames (hopefully cohesive, but everyone has a different style), some pictures, and some nails or picture hangers. Just play around with different layouts, and then bam! You, too, can have your very own picture frame gallery wall.

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Comments

  2. Hi there! I'm visiting from Infarrantly Creative. 🙂 I love the way you incorporated some color into those frames. They look beautiful…and my kids love to jump into my shots too. 😉 I'm your newest Follower!

  5. Sandra, I don't usually like an abundance of framed pictures, but I admit to absolutely loving yours! I'm sure it's the combination of frames and colors. There is uniformity, as well as a color story. What wonderful cohesiveness (is that a word?) Very appealing!

  6. Oh, I love it. I did a gallery hanging in our hallway this year and I'm itching to do more. We'll get a staircase when our attic addition is complete and I'm already sketching in my head. THanks for the inspiration! -shaunna 🙂

  7. Everything you do is amazing! Your wall looks so good. Do you ever participate in Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home? Her readers would love this!

  8. I have wanted to do something like this for so long! Great job, it looks wonderful and peaceful while still being interesting!

  9. By the way…I just gave you the Sunshine Award on my blog! Come over and check it out! :)-Bekah

  10. That is one of the best picture frame walls I have seen. It is gorgeous!

  14. Hey, I really love the way that looks. Love the little bit of color and I really love the moldings on the wall. Gorgeous. I think I will have to be your newest follower. Thanks for sharing.Brooke

  17. LOVE IT!!!!! – wish i had a good space to do that. I also love your molding on the walls – getting ready to do something similar in my bedroom, i have all the wood cut just waiting for some motivation!! – thanks for picsSausha @ {show & tell} – and i totally get side tracked on projects all the time – thats what gets me in trouble!

  18. That looks great, I've been wondering what to do with all our framed pictures because they can look so messy when they're just placed on cupboards etc. The colours you've used look really good together too.

  19. I ABSOLUTELY ADORE this! I just love the colors and the placement. Everything doesn't have to be so linear. Love it.

  21. I agree with Jan, I'm usually not a huge fan of tons of frames, but wow, yours is simply amazing! I love all of the colors you chose and your placement is near perfect! Looks like your home should be in a magazine or something!Visiting from Toot Your Horn Tuesday, new follower! Come check out my Le Creuset pitcher giveaway… it'd match your wall! ;)-Ann Marie

  23. Brilliant! I have a wall of frames that you've inspired me to take down and paint (the frames)! I need a change!!!xoxoRobinAll Things Heart and Home

  24. WOW, now THAT'S a hallway. I REALLY love what you've done. It's a gorgeous hallway to begin with but you really brught it to life!Love it! Thanks for visitig today!Lisa

  25. As you already know I LOVE THIS!!!! Thanks for linking it up to Anything Related!~Bridgette

  26. This turned out great!I would love it if you joined my "Saturday is Crafty Day" party on April 24th! Stop by my blog for details.

  29. Beautiful! I love this. I have been wanting to do lots of frames up our stairway too.

  30. That looks really, really nice! You didn't over do it, and you didn't under do it. I think the distraction was a good one, you have to walk past that wall all the time right? It probably bugged you. Look at all your followers and comments! You go girl!

  31. I cannot emphasize enough how much I LOVE a good frame collage. The only problem (for me) now is that I can't seem to hang a lone picture anywhere, and my entire house is going to turn into a giant collage. I have a mirror collage wall, a silhouette collage wall, and a plate collage wall in the making. Yikes.

  32. Fantastic!! I love the color they add in a subtle way. I also love the way you kept going down the hall. Perfect!

  33. Love it to pieces. The colors are so fresh against the pale yellow walls, everything just pops! I love it. Marla

  35. Oh MY HECK! I love your home! I want to live next door so I can come and visit often!Fabulously done! I am so copying the colors. Would you mind sharing.

  37. This is great… My stairs aren't finished, but I have something like this in mind. I really like it. Lezlee

  39. From the first time I came to your blog, I knew you had talent!!! The last couple of weeks, I have seen more and more of that talent and creativity. I love it! I am highlighting your blog as a "BLOG TO WATCH" at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com because I believe you will have more than 1000 followers in the next couple of month (especially if you get a better/more fancy header. For some reason, bloggers love a fancy header!) I will send you the code to the button to put on your blog (if you so choose.) You've got a bright blogging future! (And I would love it if you linked this up to my Wednesday party)

  40. These are so CUTE! They are so perfectly hung. I don't know if I dare try. I think I would have a mess. I love it all. Thanks for sharing. I found you on Someday Crafts…you are definitly a "blog to watch"! I will be doing that…following right now!=)Jennie @ Cinnaberry Suite

  41. You know I love this, Sandra. Thank you so much for linking it to the Boardwalk Bragfest!

  42. I really love the colours you've used in these frames – you have really inspired me!I just wanted to let you know Ive mentioned you on my blog.~Sam

  43. WOW! This looks right out of a Pottery Barn catalog! I'm am so in love with this…you did a wonderful job! Thanks for linking up to Ta-dah Tuesday! Have a great day!

  45. Nice job with these pictures. Love how you arranged them. The colors are great.

  47. I. Love. It. I have been wanting to do something like this for a while… But you did a FABULOUS job! WOW!

  48. This is so beautiful – the colors mixed in with the white frames are just perfect.

  49. WoW – love the color choices on the frames. You did a fab job arranging them too… A-Mazing!

  53. Holy Crapola, 52 comments already!!! I just wanted to say it looks great, but would look even better if there were a few pics of me in there:)

  55. Love your frames on the wall! I am happy to have found your blog. I am your newest follower!!Love,Susan and Bentleyxxoo

  56. These are great! I love your stairs.Oh btw, my daughter does the same thing. she thinks it funny to jump in front of the camera when I'm trying to take pictures. She'll be 13 next month…Thanks for joining Get Your Craft on Thursday. Please join me next week for another great party!

  57. I love it! This is such a wonderful post. And it's always something I've dreamt of doing. It will be everlasting memories for you and your family what you have achieved on hanging up those frames in your home!Love it!

  58. This is just great!! I have picture groupings up my stairs, too! I'd save them first if there was a fire!!!!

  59. That s a fabulous friday favorite! Come link up to the party.I have a 'family wall' that I love… but it is lacking the umph that your's has. Now I know what I need to do~

  61. I just found you and I am in love with your picture wall. I can't believe what a fantastic job you did. You go girl! Now I don't just visit, I like to stay for a while, maybe see whats in your closets, and cabinets, so you got a stalker, oops I mean new follower!Can't wait to see what other wonderful things you are up to! About your header, have you checked the free blog pages like hotbiggityblog?Megan

  62. That is simply gorgeous! You are very clever. Thanks so much for sharing this great idea (and the funny picture!)Best wishes,Natasha.

  63. I love your picture wall…especially the colors you chose to paint the frames.

  64. Yes i finally found someone like me who likes covering walls with frames … unfortunately my house isn't as big as yours … I need to add walls!!!"Bravo" for your walls, colors are very beautiful Have a nice dayAlexandrine

  65. Those look amazing! You did a great job. I love the black and whites and never thought about doing a frame theme. Gorgeous.

  66. This is a WOW project!! I can't wait to feature this and send my readers your way!

  67. This is my first time visiting. Saw your project on UCreate. I absolutely love the colors? Would you mind sharing? Your hallway looks fantastic!

  68. Awe! I love it! You did great. You are very creative. 🙂 My first visit!Adin Bhttp://itssewtasticmama.blogspot.com/2010/04/green-bag-ladys-40th-earth-day-freebie.html

  69. This looks so amazing!! I'm gonna have to follow so I don't miss any of your great idea.

  72. I love the use of the colors in your frames! You did a great job and it is quite a striking statement!

  73. I just love this!Thanks for linking up to Saturday is Crafty Day @ along for the ride! Hope to see you back next week!

  75. Just found this from Remodelaholic and I LOVE it. I want to copy every thing about it. :-)I also noticed the wall color. I love that it's very slightly butter yellow. What color is that?

  76. I LOVE these frames! I've been wanting to do my stairway for a while! Inspiration!PS–I became a follower.

  78. Your frames look great! Looking forward to seeing your next project!

  79. I have been here at this post about three more times now as I try to figure out what color frames to do. And how to arrange them. You did a beautiful job! I'm only about an hour away, can you run on over and help me decide? :)Londen

  80. You have no idea how much I love this!!! You know how they say "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?" Consider yourself flattered, because I am going to be distracted for awhile, just like you! Gorgeous.

  81. GORGEOUS!! Emailing this post's link faster than I can think – every I know will want to see this!!ps -c me via The Inspired Romm, someone ought to let her know your name, but hen again, why not just let her call you awesome!? 😉

  82. This is absolutely amazing. You've inspired me. I'm making a sort of family tree wall in our living room, and I'm going to try using different colors like this for my frames. It all just flows so beautifully together!

  85. Can I just say that I LOVE this post?!These colors would go perfectly in my living room, and I've been looking for ideas to inspire me with my photo wall. My frames are all stained wood but they are boring…thanks for the inspiration!!!

  86. I just found your blog after googling photo walls. Love how this came out. You have a beautiful home and you are so handy!! I am a new follower and hope to learn more from you as you buy your next home.

  87. WOW! I love that they all match (color wise) but they are all different frames totally adds character and I Think you have just inspired me to do something similar 😀 We have SO MANY photos and we have been trying to get the same frames for every photo – hassle AND it's not looking the best… I LOVE this idea and am going to use it (maybe with diff colors) if we ever get into a house 😀

  89. Wow, your gallery wall is incredible! I love the combination of colors and the distressed frames. I’m going to be doing my own photo wall soon and am searching for inspiration. Thanks for sharing!

  90. I love your photo displays! I have a similar foyer and have been meaning to do this to mine. you have totally inspired me! Love the way you mixed the colors of the frames and the size and patterns you used, fantastic!

  91. It looks absolutely fantastic. My goal is to get our picture frames hung over Christmas break. They have been sitting there and waiting for SO long…

  93. I love your blog! I just started reading it a couple of months ago. Is there any way to see the pictures of your frames? I bookmarked this page, and now the pictures are gone. Loved what you did with the frames!

  94. Let me start by saying i loooove your page! you are such an inspiration!I searched the FAQs page following the link above for paint colors used on these frames- love the way this turned out!! But… I can not find the list of colors – please help 🙂

    • Hi Melissa, sorry about the broken link. I lost a lot of content when my blog broke a few months ago. 🙁

  95. LOVE your staircase gallery wall. Just saw it again on a HOUZZ ideabook, and it reminded me that I never sent a compliment your way. Beautifully curated, with a great mix of matted and non-matted, and a simply splendid use of color. Gorgeous!!!

    (Your wainscoting is beyond fantastic, too.)

  96. Wow! You are incredible, love your designs and tutorials! They give me so much information and inspiration as I am a do it myselfer as well. Thank you!!! You are awesome!!! Michelle

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