If you’re like me you have a ton of pictures you’d like to display but only have so many places to set photos around the house. That’s where a gallery wall comes into play! It’s the perfect way to display pictures and other items that are special to you. Gallery walls are also a great way to use a large wall space, whether in a stairwell or other area of your home. In this step by step guide on how to create a budget friendly gallery wall you will learn all my tips and tricks…stick with me it’s super simple.
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Start by gathering your frames
I used a ton of frames I had that were all different colors, sizes and materials. I decided I wanted them to be the same color so the focus was mostly on the photos and not the frames. These frames were from places like a dollar store to WalMart to flea market finds. You don’t have to spend a ton of money on the frames. My art teacher in high school told me once the frame should never cost more than the art itself. This is super important in creating a budget friendly gallery wall. Now is also the time to grab anything else you want to incorporate on your gallery wall…a mirror, hanging candle sconce, etc,
Paint your frames for a cohesive look
I decided to try this spray paint ( I LOVE spray paint) from Target – while I really love the color I did not care for the spray paint itself. It really created a lot of cloudy fog that took forever to dissipate and I was outside. I kind of felt like more paint went into the air than onto the frames. And when you are creating a budget friendly gallery wall that’s just not cool.
Collect your favorite photos
Get your favorite photos printed to fit into the size of your frames. I chose to make all my photos black and white, but you can totally do color or sepia tone, which is also super cool. There are plenty of great deals for printing photos which you’ll want to check out so your gallery wall stays within the budget friendly type.
Do a preliminary layout
I do a preliminary layout by arranging my frames on the floor. This gives me a good idea of where I will locate them once I hang them on my gallery wall. I have chosen the wall in our stairwell for my budget friendly gallery wall.
Find your starting point
One of the most important things is making sure your first photo is level. I’m usually an eye-ball it kind of gal but not for a gallery wall…ok, ok you got me, I may have done that before but I’m a professional eye-baller so be sure to use a level, especially if you have larger frames. Level and spacing are two of the most important things in creating an amazing gallery wall.
Consistency in spacing
Be sure to keep the spacing between all of your frames and other objects the same. For simplicity I just used the thickness of the level for the distance so I had one tool and kept it simple.
I mount my frames with Command Strips – it’s simple and it works for me. Especially since most of the frames I used weren’t meant to be hung. ( I just tore the stand off the back ) It also gives you an opportunity to adjust before you really lay into them to make sure they are sticking good. This allows you to make sure your spacing, alignment and levels are correct when creating your gallery wall.
Ta-Da!
I added that round mirror I got at a thrift store to break up the frames and to reflect light in the dark stairwell. It also gives a spot to do a quick outfit check on your way down the stairs. I already had all the frames, but did update a few photos so I would have some more current pictures to display. So with the mirror (which I had but will include with the total) spray paint and couple of prints I spent under $25 on this gallery wall. Now you know how to create a budget friendly gallery wall of your own!
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