Mid Century Modern Gallery Wall Ideas
A mid century modern gallery wall works best with bold, simple shapes in a small, warm palette: burnt orange, charcoal and sand, with one cool accent such as teal. Keep the frames in teak, walnut or oak, hang the prints close together with even gaps of about 5 cm, and let one or two larger posters do the talking.
Below is a ready-matched set of four Bauhaus exhibition posters built from the same half-circle shapes, with sizes, a layout you can copy and the mistakes to avoid.
The set: Asymmetric four: two A2 and a stacked pair of A4
About 115 cm wide in total with 5 cm gaps. Centre it above a sideboard or sofa.
- Forma Vivida IIIA2· £38.00
- Armonia Audace IA2· £38.00
- Armonia Audace IIA4· £16.00
- Simmetria BauhausA4· £16.00
Multi-buy savings apply automatically at checkout.
Prints for this look
The colour palette
Why these four posters belong together
All four come from one series of Bauhaus exhibition posters. Each is built from the same simple unit, a half circle, stacked and flipped into different patterns, with clean poster type at the top or bottom. The two A2 prints carry the main palette of burnt orange, charcoal and sand. The A4 pair adds a little teal and mustard, which keeps the wall lively without breaking the scheme.
It is the graphic, geometric side of mid century design, and it sits well with walnut sideboards, leather chairs, rattan and plants. For a wider choice, see our mid century art and Bauhaus prints.
How to hang it
- Start above the furniture. This layout suits the wall above a sideboard, credenza or small sofa. Leave 15 to 25 cm between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frames.
- Hang the two A2 posters side by side, with the left edge of the group a little in from the end of the furniture. Keep the gap between them about 5 cm.
- Stack the two A4 prints to the right, with the same gap between them and the A2. Two stacked A4 prints come out almost exactly as tall as an A2, so the top and bottom edges line up.
- Check the balance. The group is deliberately off-centre, so put a lamp, plant or vase on the furniture at the A4 end to even things up.
The centre of the group should sit around 145 to 150 cm from the floor. Test other layouts in the gallery wall planner.
Mid century gallery wall mistakes to avoid
- Too many colours. Mid century style relies on a tight palette. Pick two or three main colours and repeat them.
- Mixing eras at random. Retro posters next to modern photography and botanical prints quickly looks muddled. Keep to one series or one design language.
- Heavy, ornate frames. Slim teak, walnut or oak frames suit the clean lines. Gilded or carved frames fight with them.
- Leaving the furniture out. A mid century wall looks best when the art, the sideboard and a lamp work together as one picture.
Sizes at a glance
| Size | Centimetres | Inches | Works for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 21 x 29.7 | 8.3 x 11.7 | Shelves, desks, small gaps, sets of 3 |
| A3 | 29.7 x 42 | 11.7 x 16.5 | Hallways, side walls, pairs |
| A2 | 42 x 59.4 | 16.5 x 23.4 | Above a sideboard or small sofa, the anchor of a gallery wall |
| A1 | 59.4 x 84.1 | 23.4 x 33.1 | Above a standard sofa or bed |
| A0 | 84.1 x 118.9 | 33.1 x 46.8 | Large walls, open-plan rooms, statement pieces |
All our A sizes fit standard off-the-shelf frames, and every print is made to order on museum-grade matte paper.
Multi-buy savings apply automatically when you order more than one print.
