3 min readFramed art never goes out of style, and gallery walls are one of the go-to ways to display cherished photos and prints. For Tara Gavin, the founder of On the Wall Framing in Toronto, the secret to doing a gallery wall right is to make sure it has a “design direction.”
“My team and I love playing with scale, unexpected mat colors, different frame finishes, and the way photographs are positioned within a frame in order to keep them fresh,” Gavin says.
Gavin’s approach proves that gallery walls can look unexpectedly artful instead of off-kilter. Here’s how she intentionally designs gallery walls to make them a standout feature, plus, her three rules to follow so that you can do the same.
Choose an Unexpected Color Palette
The easiest solution for any gallery wall is to stick to white backdrops and wood frames. And while a classic approach will always look great, Gavin wanted to give the above space an edge. She kept the familiar oak and black frames for some pieces, and then distinguished others with burgundy-hued mats and frames.
“The burgundy introduces warmth and richness, while the oak keeps everything from feeling too formal,” she says. “The black frames provide a little contrast and help tie the composition together.”
You can follow suit with the same palette, or you can use this pop of color to coordinate with a prominent shade in the surrounding furnishings—the results will be eye-catching, while still allowing the gallery wall to blend in with the rest of the room. “We tend to think of white as the default, but a rich burgundy, soft blue, olive green, or even a warm neutral can completely transform the look of a photograph,” Gavin adds.
Embrace Negative Space
One of the most interesting aspects of Gavin’s gallery wall approach is the use of negative space: the size of the mat around the image. She notes that it’s one of her team’s favorite tools for making a photo feel special, since it inadvertently makes you want to lean in for a better look at the shot. And given that the smaller size of the images naturally creates more room, Gavin also recommends using this as an opportunity to stick more than one photo into a frame. Then she’d play around with a composition that feels right.
“Rather than always centering a single photo, we often use multiple openings within one frame or place photos slightly off-center,” she says. “It's a small detail, but it makes the whole gallery wall feel more interesting and a little less predictable.”
Print Photos in Black and White
Although it isn’t always necessary, Gavin recommends printing images in black and white for a uniform look, as was the case with the above project.
“One of the biggest challenges with family photographs is that they're often taken at different times, in different lighting conditions, and with completely different color palettes,” she says. “Converting them to black and white can bring a sense of consistency to the collection.”
Since you’ll already be planning out the positioning of your gallery wall, devote the same consideration to the photos that will go in it. The black-and-white composition will make the pictures look cohesive as a display, but the memories they stir up will be much more dynamic.
“People sometimes forget that the photographs sitting on their phones or tucked away in boxes can become some of the most meaningful art in their homes,” Gavin says. “You don't need an expensive art collection to create a beautiful wall. Sometimes the most compelling gallery walls are built around the memories and moments that matter most to you.”
