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Writer's pictureLaurie Hastings

Let's talk Framing and Gallery Walls...

I'm not sure if 'Gallery Walls' are still in fashion, but they are everywhere in our house as we have lots of prints and paintings, so it's the only sensible option for us to be able fit everything up on the walls. Therefore, it's no real surprise that I get asked about them, and framing in general, from customers and friends.


So here is a tour of some of our Gallery Walls and my top tips for how to create them...

A gallery wall of colourful screen prints in a kitchen diner.

Photo - Kitchen Diner Gallery Wall. Artists are listed here.


Tip 1 - A Colour Palette of Frames

The artworks don't need to have the same colour frames, in fact it will likely look better if they don't! Choose two to three colours of frames that work well together and keep them all within that palette if possible. This will give some variety, while also creating a unified look, tying the different artworks together through the frame colours.


If you have lots of artwork that you have bought that is still rolled in tubes, stored in a cupboard or under the bed, don't panic! You could frame it all in one go, which could actually work in your favour to create some consistency in the type and colour of frames, therefore giving your gallery wall a cohesive look.


Want to know where I recommend for framing? Skip to Framing Recommendations.


Tip 2 - Layout & Balance

The next step is to lay out all your potential framed artworks on the floor in front of your proposed wall, in the arrangement that looks best. I'd usually start with the larger pieces, placing them in the centre, or an off-centre location and then fitting the other frames around them. It takes some trial and error, but switch them around like you are doing a puzzle and see what fits best.


Think about the balance of colour, in both the frames and within the artwork. You can see in this initial arrangement below that I did for the kitchen diner, that pinks, black and white are the predominant colours across the collection of artworks, with accents of yellow and blue. In an example of colour balancing, there is a yellow circle in the artwork by Tom Camp in the top left, which balances with the yellow fish and frame (by my daughter Bayma) in the bottom right. Sometimes squinting your eyes while looking at the arrangement can help you to see what colours are jumping out where (you may get odd looks from onlookers while doing this but it's a perfectly normal thing to do in my view.)


A proposed gallery wall of colourful screen prints arranged on the floor

Tip 3 - The Overall Shape

You can choose to place your frames in an organic salon-style shape as above, where the frames float around each other in no particular pattern. In this method I usually keep the distance between each print the same, approximately a 6cm gap (but you can go freestyle and have differing gaps, which will work too). You can also place the artworks as high or low as you like, they don't need to stay at eyeline. If you prefer something with more order, you can set your prints out in a grid shape, keeping similar sized frames next to each other in rows. Another alternative is to lay your prints within an overall shape, like a rectangle or square. To do this you align the outside edges of all frames to the overall shape. See our bedroom gallery wall as an example, a few pictures below.


Here is our living room, which showcases a different configuration - the frames are aligned along a straight line at the top, to mirror the picture rail above. Take a look at a reel of me assembling the Living Room Gallery Wall here.


A gallery wall of colourful screen prints in a living room.

Photo - Living Room Gallery Wall. Artists are listed here.


Of course there are endless possibilities, it will really depend on the size, shape and number of frames you have in your collection, and the space available on the wall, so have a play and see what works best for yours.


Tip 4 - Arrange and Come Back with Fresh Eyes

If you're not sure about your layout, leave the artworks for a couple of days and come back and look again with fresh eyes, and usually the answer is there before you! If you don't have space to leave them on the floor, lean the artworks against the wall where you intend to hang them for a few days to allow you to ponder further.


Framed screen print that spells 'LOVE' resting against a wall.

Photo - Artworks left out to ponder: Love Ukraine by Sarah Boris.


Tip 5 - There Actually Are No Rules

I do have some walls in my house where I have set rules for myself and tried to keep certain collections to screen prints only or artwork that is bright and bold shapes (i.e. our kitchen diner) but equally, mixing the mediums up can work a treat. In my hallway I have oil paintings by my Grandfather A J Hastings, alongside screen prints, alongside cyanotypes, alongside my daughters' nursery paintings, and this little collection together does bring me joy. (Me&You has now been moved to the kitchen diner and replaced with Love Ukraine.) So definitely go with your intuition and do what makes your eyes sing!


A gallery wall of colourful screen prints and oil paintings in a hallway.

Photo - Hallway Gallery Wall. Artists are listed here.


Tip 6 - Include Other Objects

You can include objects which aren't in frames too - like carvings, masks, ceramics or mirrors. Feel free to include them where they slot into your gallery wall puzzle! In the bedroom I have included a letterpress print drawer, and a wood carving from India.

A gallery wall of colourful artwork in a bedroom.

Photo - Bedroom Gallery Wall. Prints are set within a rectangle shape. Artists are listed here.


Tip 7 - Have a Variety of Picture Hooks and Pins

When you come to putting your frames up, you'll need a hammer, a tape measure, a ruler, a spirit level (not essential but really helpful!), and picture hooks. I recommend having a few types of picture hook to suit the different frames: plastic hooks, simple pins, and brass head picture pins for those that will be on show.


There are a few ways to start hanging; if you're going salon-style, start with positioning your largest central piece up on the wall and hang the other artworks in relation to it. If you're setting your frames out within an overall shape. You can mark the shape up on the wall using masking tape and start hanging the frames within it. Alternatively you can use one of these leveling lasers. We bought one for general DIY but it has been a game changer for gallery walls as it will project a level laser line onto the wall for you to work from without having to physically mark the wall.


Good luck! Let me know how you get on in the comments below.


Photo - What You'll Need & Purple Bedroom Gallery Wall. Artists are listed here.

 

FRAME RECOMMENDATIONS


If you're on a budget, your best bet will be ready-made frames, available in loads of shops. My favourite mid-range frames are Habitat Aluminus in white, or Habitat Kupari  if you want a lovely copper or gold tone. John Lewis also do some nice simple frames.


If you want to go more budget, Ikea have an abundance of sizes and styles, which can be great for a kid's room. Beware, some of their larger frames come with thin acrylic instead of glass, a substitute that I'm not really a fan of as the acrylic can scratch easily, and have a milky tone that can dull the artwork behind it.


For super budget frames, I've found that some supermarket frames are perfectly adequate. I've had some success using George at Asda for little prints. They are sturdy and come with glass.


If you are doing this DIY - remember to pop a sheet of acid free paper or card behind your print to protect it from the frame backing board (that will likely be some kind of acidic MDF or card, which could degrade the artwork over time.)


If you have a little more room in your budget, I would always recommend going to a framer and having your artwork bespoke framed. The framer can discuss options with you, make recommendations and cut mounts to fit your piece precisely.


I can only really recommend framers in the places I have lived in the past few years...

- Nottingham: Custom Frames 

- Edinburgh: Leith Framing Studio


I'd love to hear your recommendations and/or framing wins, comment below and let me know!

 

ARTWORK CREDITS


Kitchen Diner Gallery Wall Artists, from left to right: Sweater by Karolin Schnoor

Birds by Tom Camp

Tokyo Builds 1 by Laura Knight

Me&You by Anthony Burrill

Hong Kong 81 by Bo Lundberg

Snug by Marko

Fish by Bayma Whittaker


Living Room Gallery Wall Artists, from left to right:

Abstract by Tom Abbiss Smith

Zeppelin by Eva Ross

Fermanagh by Caman and Co

Birds by Tom Camp

Sweater by Karolin Schnoor


Blue Bedroom Gallery Wall Artists, from left to right:

And Now There is Us by Sam Foley

Darjeeling Tea by Peski Studio


Hallway Gallery Wall Artists, from left to right:

Cinema Francais by Andy Smith

Oil Paintings by A J Hastings

Me&You by Anthony Burrill

Nursery Abstract by Bayma Whittaker

Cyanotype by Craig Keenan


Purple Bedroom Gallery Wall Artists, from left to right:

B is for Bonfire by Sarah Young

ABC by Bayma Whittaker

Rainbow Powers Waves by Laurie Hastings

Ice Cream by Bayma Whittaker

Letter B by Laurie Hastings


 

This blog post contains affiliate links. Should you purchase through a link of mine, you are supporting me through my business so that I can continue to share my knowledge and recommendations with you as a Screen Print Artist and Illustrator.


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