There's nothing more inspiring than the gallery wall ideas we have to share with you here. Still very much on-trend – and likely to be for years to come – a gallery wall is both a brilliant way to fill a blank wall space, and to add your own personality to a room too. It's affordable and quite frankly, a really easy update that is sure to have a grand impact on your surroundings. So, if you haven't already jumped on this trend, it's time.
A gallery wall needn't be a picture wall only – you can use everything from mirrors to plants to create interest and character on a wall – as you'll see from our ideas.
Looking for more design ideas and inspiration? Take a look at our design hub.
What should be included in a gallery wall?
There are no rules with a gallery wall, but it is the perfect space to show off your favourite things. Be that art and vintage photo frames, maps or other trinkets, – who'd have thought their righteous home would be on the wall? Check out our ideas below and start building your own.
1. Build a gallery wall with ceramics
Deluxe White Oiled Oak laminate flooring, Carpetright. For similar illustrated plates, try Rory Dobner
Hanging plates is an elegant way to introduce colour, pattern and texture to your scheme, so why hide away your beautiful tableware in a cupboard? Hang them using plate grips or line them up on a shelf for an easily updatable display.
Love this paint colour? Find more inspiration in our green living room design ideas – they can be used in any room, really.
2. Mix artwork and paintings for a unique gallery wall
All prints, Desenio
If you have a collection of much-loved art, family photos or favourite postcards, grouping them together in a gallery wall creates an authentic and bespoke display.
If symmetry is your thing, measure them carefully before hanging to get even spacing. Alternatively, for a more laidback approach, arrange your pieces on the floor prior to picking up your hammer.
Desenio have a fab service on their website which helps you plan the layout of your gallery wall and choose frames and prints to suit your space.
Find more tips on how to display pictures and photos to ensure you get the best results first time.
3. Use fairy lights to display your photos
200 warm white LED fairy lights on clear cable from lights4fun.co.uk
Brighten up an area in your home for a party or just for a fun change by using festoon and string lights. These are a great way to add a glow to a dark wall space, and with options to clip on photos, and postcards, it’s easy to update this pretty feature with a new display.
4. Layer up prints on a picture ledge
For similar floating shelves try the Mosslanda picture ledge from Ikea
Practical and inexpensive, this type of shelving is a great base for creating your very own striking art displays.
Use a single shelf or group two or more together, then dress with vases, pictures, books or candlesticks. The beauty of this look is that you can change your arrangement as the mood takes you.
You can't go wrong with the Mosslanda Picture Ledge from Ikea.
5. Create a living wall
Betty armchair in Olive pure cotton matt velvet from Sofa.com
Houseplants are back on trend, and not only do they look good, they can do wonders for your health and wellbeing, too.
Adding some living, breathing greenery instantly gives a fresh feeling to any space, and provides a vibrant splash of colour. Just remember to water them though…
Browse our pick of the best indoor plants and start building your own living wall.
6. Add texture and interest with exotic finds
Find similar fringed baskets and more wall art at Anthropologie
Texture isn’t just for soft furnishings – as this scheme shows. Smooth walls can look great punctuated with tactile objects displayed as a gallery wall, particularly if you're working with a white canvas.
Experiment with everything from quirky hats or feather placemats to African baskets or woven discs; grouped over a piece of furniture, they make a unique statement.
Like the idea of building a gallery wall into a white scheme? Take a look at our white living room design ideas.
7. Create a quirky display for children's rooms
Animal heads and hooks from Fiona Walker available at Hurn & Hurn
Keep your little ones engaged by hanging fun items in their bedrooms for them to look at, touch and feel. Add furry animal heads for a quirky take on a gallery wall, or turn toys into art by nestling them in wall-hung baskets or on shelves.
Check out more gorgeous kids' room ideas in our feature.
8. Enhance space with a mirror gallery wall
For similar mirrors, try Rough Old Glass or Cult Furniture
A classic interior design trick for making a small room look bigger is to use mirrors as art. They bounce light around a room and give the impression of more space. Hang a single large one as a statement piece or mass several different shaped designs together for extra interest.
Need more ideas for your flat or small house? Check out our storage ideas for small homes.
9. Go for a classic look with peg rails
For a similar peg rail, try the Hambledon from Garden Trading. Gardening accessories, Homesense
Originally used for hanging chairs, Shaker-style peg rails are no longer just great kitchen storage ideas and are often found in kitchens for their effortless and classic look. As they can easily blend into most decorative schemes, they make a good addition to almost anywhere in the house.
Choose natural wood or a painted finish and adorn with anything from coats, bags, scarfs and hats to tools, ornaments or a string of fairy lights.
10. Get creative with lighting
For a really quirky take on a gallery wall, introduce some interesting wall lights.
These wall lights from Curiousa & Curiousa make a bold statement but their resemblance to wall plates keeps the overall look from being too wacky – we love the idea of working them into a Mid-century modern inspired space.
11. Break up a white scheme with coloured accents
Incorporating a gallery wall into your room design is the easiest way to break up an all white scheme, creating a space with greater depth and interest. Plus, white really is the perfect blank canvas to display your art on.
We love the pairing of this white living room with bold blue accents in the shelving and pink-toned artwork on the walls.
Love this space? Take a tour of the rest of the gorgeous Georgian home, it's own by Lisa Dawson so you know it's going to be impeccable.
12. Pick a neutral colour scheme for your gallery wall
Find similar rustic frames on Wayfair and Not on the High Street
If you want to create a gallery wall that has a more cohesive look, pick a clear colour scheme. We love the look of this neutral gallery wall, the colours are simple but there are plenty of different textures and materials thrown in to add interest. This gallery wall idea would work particularly well in a smaller space, say a hallway or a landing, because the limited, neutral colour scheme won't overwhelm the space.
Love the look of the gallery wall? Make sure you check out the rest of this beautiful Copenhagen apartment.
13. Keep it chic and cohesive
These clear glass frames work brilliantly together as although they are different shapes and mostly different sizes, they are still all in unity with the same dainty frame colour and material. This would be perfect in a boho style bedroom, lounge or even awkward corridor setting, especially if you choose botanical pictures or abstract scenes for the photo itself.
14. Make a gallery wall pop with paint
Want a quick way to make a picture wall really stand out? This gallery wall idea will transform a room in just a couple of hours: simply use paint to create a coloured backdrop and give your favourite artwork some added impact.
It takes nothing more than some leftover paint, a roller and masking tape, and is the perfect way to freshen up a room in an afternoon. Just create your 'frame' using masking tape and a ruler and then get painting. Leave it to dry, remove the tape and then hang your gallery wall.
15. Match colours within artwork to create a cohesive feel
Picking artwork with a common colour theme will create a cohesive look. This doesn't just work for a picture wall – choosing pieces for your wall, whether pictures or other artistic displays with similar colours will help knit the scheme together.
