This trendy design element lets you display your unique personality and favourite memories. Use these tips to build a professional art gallery wall that elevates the style of any space.

Begin with a unifying theme. A successful gallery wall effortlessly melds a mix and match vibe for an eclectic, salon aesthetic with a subtle thread that ties all the pieces together. Try choosing one overall colour palette, or grouping pieces that have a back story, where you’ve travelled, for example. Feel free to let loose and combine a variety of art mediums, photography and prints — every work should make you happy and many can be great conversation starters.   

Get the right tools. You’ll need a hammer, nails, level, tape measure, pencil, eraser, notebook and painter’s tape. If you’re making a gallery wall in a condo, you’ll likely require a drill and concrete screws.

Practice patience. This is a DIY project that’ll take longer than a day to complete. It takes time and dedication to find the right combination of artwork and frames, and you may even need to turn to custom printing or framing. Designing the right layout also involves some trial and error, but a stunning gallery wall is worth the effort.

Find your frames. This is a matter of personal preference and your home’s style. You can pick up distressed or antique frames at a flea market for a vintage look, or get store-bought frames in black or white for a clean and classic appearance. The secret is to find the right combination of sizes that create visual interest while maintaining a cohesive overall arrangement. It’s also a good idea to make sure each frame complements the piece it’s displaying. This way, if you ever want to show it off in another room it can stand on its own.

Love your layout. Experimenting with the layout on the floor before hanging anything up is a must. A great trick is to mark the size of the wall space on the floor with painter’s tape so you can space everything out and try different looks. Take photos to compare options until you find your favourite arrangement; these will also come in handy as a reference when you’re hanging.

Anchor for success. When laying out your frames, start with one powerful anchor piece that grounds the arrangement and serves as a focal point. It can be the largest frame, or a bolder, more colourful or prominent piece. You can also group two to four smaller pieces at the centre and then build around them.

Perfect your placement. Hang your art at eye level, with two or three pieces from top to bottom. A good rule of thumb is to keep eight inches between the base of the frame and the top of the furniture, and one inch on each side between pieces. Make sure your wall receives good natural or artificial lighting, allowing your artwork to shine and you and your guests to enjoy your collection.