The Ultimate Guide to Perfectly Arranging Wall Art: Tips and Tricks

Increase the visual appeal of your space with ‘The Ultimate Guide to Perfectly Arranging Wall Art: Tips and Tricks.’ Discover the art of transforming your walls into captivating showcases with expert techniques and creative ideas. From choosing the right pieces to arranging them harmoniously, this comprehensive guide will help you master the art of wall art. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned decorator, learn how to create stunning displays that enhance your home’s aesthetics. Explore the power of wall art and unlock the potential of your space. Dive into this ultimate guide and unleash your creativity with wall art!

1. Create a Focal Point

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First things first, you’ll want to decide what the focal point will be. A gallery wall is extremely personal, so there’s no hard and fast rule that can’t be broken. Maybe you want the focal point to be over the couch, behind the dining table, or perhaps an entire wall-to-wall framed art experience that covers every surface of one wall. It’s up to you to decide. 

Once you’ve decided on a focal point, start to envision how you’d like your pieces arranged. If you have multiple mismatched-sized pieces, creating a layout for them will be an art project in itself. 

2. Place All Furniture First

Before you start marking the wall off with where you want the pieces to go, you need to place all of the furniture first. You don’t want to start hanging picture frames and realize that you have a shelf, plant, or chair blocking them. Once you get the layout of the furniture down, get it all into place and make sure it’s just how you want it. 

The great thing about decorating your space is that you can always change it. So don’t worry too much about perfection. What matters is that it feels good when you set it up. You can always change it down the road if the desire strikes.

3. Decide on Your Layout

You can look up different wall decoration ideas to determine which layouts get you most excited. You can choose symmetrical or asymmetrical wall art arrangements, which we’ll discuss below, different types of frames, odd or even numbers of art pieces, different color palettes, and so much more. 

Take that vision and the pieces you’ve gathered and decide how you want them placed on the wall. For example, you could create a mock-up of sorts by laying the pieces on the ground first and move them around like puzzle pieces until you’re satisfied with the layout. 

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4. Choose a Symmetrical or Asymmetrical Arrangement

For a symmetrical arrangement, you’re usually looking at pieces similar in size, style, and subject matter. You can hang them up symmetrically, so they’re all even or in a symmetrical format. These types of gallery wall layouts look great over a fireplace or anywhere else with defined edges and borders. 

For an asymmetrical arrangement, you can let your creativity fly. Asymmetrical art is typically varied in size, subject matters, and even the types of frames and art mediums — photographs versus paintings versus cross-stitch. For asymmetrical wall art, create your mockup and place the pieces in a way that looks organic, with each piece flowing nicely into the next even though they aren’t spaced exactly evenly apart.

5. Highlight an Odd Number of Art Pieces

You can add to the aesthetic by highlighting an odd number of art pieces. This way, you can’t always keep things symmetrical unless you put them in a straight line. With an odd number of pieces, you can place them staggered, in a circle, or however feels good to you. 

There’s no exact science here, so look for wall decoration ideas that speak to you.

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6. Hang the Focal Piece at Eye Level

There’s something to be said for hanging the focal piece at eye level. Imagine the wall art pieces as one whole unit, even if there are 20 pieces. This way, you can situate the entire “piece” so that it is eye level where you can enjoy it most. 

For example, if you’re creating a gallery art wall in the dining room, perhaps you set the entire grouping slightly lower than you might in a different space. In the dining room, people are often sitting down, so “eye-level” has to adjust with the circumstance. 

7. Use a Cohesive Color Palette

Again, these aren’t hard-and-fast rules. While the use of a cohesive color palette makes for an aesthetically pleasing space, it’s not a requirement to create a really cool gallery wall. When you’re choosing your wall art, every piece doesn’t have to have the exact same colors within it. 

If possible, add some cohesion to your color palette by ensuring that every piece of artwork has at least 1 or 2 colors that are the same or similar to a couple of other pieces within the grouping. This can help pull everything together in a beautiful way.

8. Hone in on an Art Style

If you’ve decided to forgo the cohesive color palette, it might be worthwhile to explore artwork with a similar art style. The subject matter can be completely different if there is some similarity across the images. This could be the style of the art, the textures, and designs used, or even a specific artist who has a distinct style. 

There’s a lot that can go into creating an art wall, so give yourself room to explore and create and shift things around as life flows and your inspiration shifts. 

9. Consider Mixing and Matching Frames

A super fun way to add an element of texture and playfulness is through different types of frames. If you frame all of your art pieces, look for ones that are big and small, different colors, different textures, and even different thicknesses. Some frames may even make a statement of their own while adding to the cohesiveness of your space. 

Mixing and matching frames make for a dynamic art wall full of depth and uniqueness — traits that make each of your pieces shine rather than detract.

10. Add Other Elements to Your Gallery Wall

A gallery wall can be more than framed paintings, prints art, and photographs. Add some texture and eye-catching depth to your wall art by adding in other elements. You can incorporate mirrors, baskets, charms, different mobile options, lights, and even tapestries. Your imagination is the limit. 

When you’re looking for different wall decoration ideas, make sure to research how to best mount them to the wall to protect the walls themselves as well as your art piece. 

11. Layer Art on a Shelf 

If you want to bypass the wall, you can create a statement art space by layering different pieces of art on a shelf or bookcase. For example, there are ways to strategically place massive frames at the back of a bookshelf, so it looks like it’s attached to the wall, and then add in different types of pottery, plants, framed wall art, and more onto the shelf itself. You could even hang a tapestry or piece of art above the shelf and then layer art below it. 

Don’t be afraid to personalize your spaces with photographs and objects unique to your interests and personality. That’s the fun part about creating your own art wall!

12. Use Your Level

It might take a little extra effort to use a level to ensure your wall art is hung evenly, but it is well worth the effort. If you aren’t a perfectionist yourself, you’ll likely have a friend who visits, and they’ll be frozen until they can fix that crooked frame. An easy way to make sure everything is straight and exactly where you want it is by measuring, leveling it off, and then using painter’s tape to mark the placement. 

When you use tape (that is safe for walls and won’t rip the paint off), you can make sure all of your lines are straight, and you can see a kind of rough draft of what the finished project will like as far as the placement of each piece. 

13. Know Your Wall Material

There’s nothing more defeating than hanging up your wall art and then watching it crash down as it breaks the drywall off. If you’re in a rental, the idea is quite alarming. That’s why it’s essential to know what kind of wall material you’re working with. Drywall will have different needs than concrete or brick walls when you’re hanging picture frames. 
Once you’ve framed your canvas art, poster art, or other types of wall art, you can take the necessary precautions to ensure you’re hanging everything up safely and effectively. It might be worthwhile corralling a friend who is handy and has some tools like a stud-finder.

14. Use the Proper Hardware

Once you know what type of wall material you’re working with, you can then purchase the proper hardware to ensure everything stays snug in the wall (and not crashing down on your floor). For example, you might need wall anchors, different types of bolts, or adhesive that protects rented walls from nail holes. 

When choosing your hardware, you need to look at the wall material and the weight of the piece. If you have a heavy-duty mirror, you’re going to need to take some extra steps to secure it to the wall. If it’s a small photo or even a wall charm, a simple pushpin might do the trick. 

15. Be Patient

Creating a masterpiece takes time, and that’s just what you’re doing. Be patient with the process and with yourself as you collect your wall pieces and figure out how you want to display them. Nothing is set in stone — unless your walls are made of stone — so take your time and enjoy the process.

If you need some inspiration, check out some of these wall art ideas to help upgrade your space. If you’re ready to start shopping for some awesome pieces to adorn your gallery wall, Redbubble has gorgeous posters, metal prints, art prints, and so much more. You can even frame a puzzle to turn it into art!

Mastering the art of arranging wall art can truly transform the look and feel of your living spaces. By following the tips and tricks outlined in this article, you now have the knowledge and confidence to curate your collection and create visually stunning displays. Remember, arranging wall art is a creative process that allows you to express your personality and style. Don’t be afraid to experiment, play with different arrangements, and trust your instincts. Whether you opt for a gallery wall, a focal point, or a mix of styles, let your imagination guide you. So go ahead, embark on this artistic journey, and turn your walls into captivating works of art that inspire and delight.