Best tips on how to make stunning looking wall art if you have no idea where to start.
Do you tend to collect postcards, hoard wallpaper, and fabric samples, rip pretty things out of magazines and then keep your treasures in a box or a drawer?
Sounds like me, I do, I love collecting stuff and sometimes I get my boxes out and just look at all my fantastic treasures and wonder what to do with them.
Want to know how to design your walls?
If you also have many awesome pictures, cards, and posters stored away in photo albums and drawers, there are ways of displaying them.
I was searching for a way to showing them off, I wanted to hang them on my walls but I didn’t like the ordinary way. I wanted it to look interesting and kind of funky.
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So I researched a little and found some ways, how to display my treasures. Here ya go:
Best tips on how to make stunning looking wall art
A well-composed and great looking wall needs the right balance. That means, first check what you want to display.
- Do you want to make a photo wall of family photographs, children’s drawings, posters, or postcards?
- Do you want to frame each one or arrange them in a bigger frame together?
It is always a good way to start by selecting the ones with the similar tone or the same color scheme. Then mix it up with different frame sizes to make it look more interesting.
Here are some examples of how it can look:
source pictures: Pinterest
If you have a lot of different colors and styles, find related looking frames for your pictures, to get some kind of similarity to it. Here is an example and I love the blush of pink wall color.
source picture: Pinterest
How to hang pictures – best tips on how to make stunning looking wall art
Balance and symmetry are key to creating a gallery wall that works.
Always start with the largest piece and use it as a focal point. Work from the center out. Lay all your art out on the floor and try a couple of arrangements until you are happy.
I normally like to have the pictures lined up straight on the bottom, then it looks pretty organized. But of course, there are also other ways to organize them.
source pictures: Pinterest
- If you are not sure how to start hanging up your pictures, use some old newspaper, trace each picture, and then cut each one out.
- Use masking tape to tape each trace from the floor onto the wall.
- Start with the biggest picture, use a measuring tape and a level to get it straight.
- You should start at least 10 to 15 inches over the furniture and keep about a two-inch gap in between each frame.
There are a lot of tutorials on how to level pictures right or how to hang pictures without making holes in your walls and so on if you need more detailed information about that topic.
I like this tutorial on how to hang pictures without nails.
Different ways of displaying your art
Using picture shelves is another way to create a gallery wall that can easily be updated without hammering lots of holes into your wall.
Or combine shelves and hanging pictures, everything is possible. Ikea has cheap options to buy them picture shelves. And here is the link: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40291766/
If you want to order it online, use Amazon and it will be delivered right to your front door:
source pictures: Pinterest
Layering pieces on top of each other creates a casual vibe and can look different every day real easy by removing or adding little things. But nevertheless, keep it organized.
In darker hallways create an airy atmosphere by using bright colors, light frames or eye-catching posters with no frames and just use masking tape to stick them on your wall. Looks so funky.
source picture: Pinterest
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Are you looking for unusual tips on how to decorate walls?
I saw this option in a newspaper somewhere and just had to try it out.
If you don’t really have a whole wall to display all your photos and posters, tape it around a door frame. In this image, only black and white pictures were used. Try it out with colored ones, maybe in a kid’s bedroom.
source pictures: Pinterest
There are a lot of different ways to display your treasures, even in the smallest home. I display posters and postcards in my bedroom and many photographs in my living room.
Show your pictures the cool way
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I absolutely love this idea in a kids bedroom or a hallway to display all of your wall art. Just get your vacation-, baby- or prom pictures printed out and clip them on the wire. Looks really cool:
Or if you are not sure how to hang up all of the different frames, this will help:
And here is a collection of different size frames but the same style. Whatever you want to display, it looks good together in the same style frame.
Displaying options of your wall art which looks stunning and can be re-arranged easily:
And in order to display all of your wall art without hammering a lot of nails into your walls, get these shelves.
How to make mood boards
Interested in reading how to make mood boards to create a cohesive look in your home? Get all the tips in this article about mood boards and start decorating.
Summary of Best tips how to make stunning looking wall art
(Post updated July 8, 2020)
I love to look at all of my treasures and exchange the color scheme from summer bright into winter darker. How do you display your treasures in your home? What works best for you?
This is also a good way to decorate if you are not sure about painting the walls. Or you are in a rental apartment and are not allowed to paint the walls like you want them to look. Add a lot of artwork.
Let me know in the comments below, I love to hear from you.
See you next week on the blog,
Conny xoxo
P.S. And here is a part of my masking tape collection which I love to use for taping pictures on the wall. Love, love, love it.
Want to remember ‘How to make stunning looking wall art’? Pin this image to your favorite Pinterest board.
Also read my latest post about Mood Boards https://colorfuldesigner.com/mood-boards-how-to-find-your-own-decorating-style/
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Ivana Mearns says
I was never good at displaying art, this is very helpful.
Heather says
My layouts never look the way I want them to, going to try your tips on how to hang pictures.
Conny Karavolias says
Thank you Heather
Lisa Marie Alioto says
I love your ideas – can you come to my house and decorate it! 😉
Conny Karavolias says
Hi Lisa, thank you for your comment. Would love to help you.
Cathy says
I love this!! I’ve always loved wall art. Thank you so much for the tips!! Can’t wait to do this in my home 🙂
Conny Karavolias says
Thank you Cathy, glad you got some inspiration.
Kippi says
Love the art work displays. Pinned them to refer to later. Happy Fall, Kippi
Conny Karavolias says
Thank you Kippi. Happy fall to you too.