Gallery Wall Ideas: Layouts, Spacing and Sets
A gallery wall works when it has one shared thread, even gaps of 5 to 8 cm, and an overall shape about two thirds the width of the furniture below. The thread can be a colour, a frame style or a theme. Plan the layout on the floor or with paper templates before you put a single nail in the wall.
Below: the main gallery wall layouts, how to make one step by step, the mistakes to avoid, and ready-matched prints to build from.
Prints for this look
Gallery wall layouts: grid, salon and more
- Grid. Prints of the same size in neat rows and columns, such as a two by three grid of A3 prints. Calm, modern and the easiest to measure. It suits symmetrical rooms and long walls above a sideboard.
- Salon style. Mixed sizes and orientations hung close together, the classic relaxed gallery wall. Keep the outer edge of the whole group roughly rectangular so it reads as one shape.
- Anchor and satellites. One larger A2 or A1 print in the middle, with A3 and A4 prints balanced around it. The easiest mixed layout to get right.
- Line layout. Prints of different heights lined up along one horizontal line, either their bottom edges or their centres. Tidy, but more relaxed than a grid.
Grids suit minimal rooms; salon walls suit eclectic ones. If you are unsure, start with an anchor and satellites.
How to make a gallery wall, step by step
- Choose the thread. Pick prints from one series, or repeat two or three colours across every piece. Matching frames help too.
- Pick the anchor. One larger print gives the eye a place to start.
- Lay it out on the floor. Arrange the prints until the spacing looks right, then photograph the layout.
- Make paper templates. Cut paper to the size of each frame, mark where the hook sits, and tape them to the wall. This is the simplest gallery wall template there is.
- Hang the anchor first, with the centre of the whole group at about 145 to 150 cm from the floor, then work outwards.
- Keep every gap the same. 5 to 8 cm suits most walls. A spacer cut from card makes it quick.
To try layouts on screen first, use our gallery wall planner. For worked examples with measurements, read gallery wall layouts with sizes.
Common mistakes, and how to make it look classy
- Hanging too high. Above furniture, the lowest frame should sit 15 to 25 cm above it, not halfway up the wall.
- Uneven gaps. Equal spacing matters more than matching frames.
- Too many tiny prints. Lots of A4 prints with no anchor look scattered.
- Too many colours. A restricted palette of two or three colours is what makes a gallery wall look considered rather than busy.
For a classy result, use one or two frame finishes, wide white mounts on smaller prints, and a limited colour palette. Black and white, vintage botanicals and soft earthy tones are all easy to build into a calm, timeless wall. Browse our gallery wall art for prints designed to be hung together.
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.
