A Mixed and Balanced Gallery Wall
In home décor, many comfortable, inspiring and beautiful spaces seamlessly mix different styles together. You never question why or how something ended up in the space. It all comes together seamlessly, almost like magic. But how does art achieve this?
Of course, you can achieve a stunning effect grouping similar art styles in matching custom frames and mats. Very chic and sophisticated. We are all for it! Yet, if you’re one who collects different styles of art or has a body of work that has evolved over time, you might need to take a different approach. Purposefully mismatched frames, thoughtfully chosen to highlight the uniqueness of the art while expressing your personal style can add interest to your décor while keeping the focus on the work you proudly display. Here, we share some tips on how to achieve a visually balanced gallery wall design with a mix of art and frame styles.
Combining different frame styles brings variety and visual interest to your display.
Use the Rule of Odds
In a composition, people are more attracted to odd numbers than even ones. Objects arranged in odd numbers are more appealing, memorable, and effective than even-numbered groupings because your eye is forced to move around, which makes for a more interesting visual experience. Try using five frames instead of four, or three instead of two, even eleven as opposed to ten – you get the point!
A trio of framed pieces creates a balanced, eye-catching gallery wall—showcasing the rule of odds in action.
Complement Your Art – But Remember, You Make The Rules
Generally speaking, picture frames and mat boards should support, not compete with the art and your vision for it, which is why we are all about custom. When designing we advise choosing mat colors, tones and hues that work with the image aligned with your taste. Play with color, texture and proportion. When planning for a grouping, still focus each piece of art with an eye toward your grouping as its own body of work. It will be installed and living together on your gallery wall. Each piece doesn’t need to match, but the framing should complement your artwork and align with the style of your space. An example might be utilizing a Baroque-style painting framed in an ornate gold frame with a modern museum print dressed in a glamourous, frosted gold metal frame – a sleek choice which will integrate with the former.
Mixing different gold frame styles—like ornate designs with sleek frosted metal—lets you combine varied artwork into a cohesive, polished gallery wall.
Mix it Up!
While it’s best to choose a frame that pairs well with the art inside of it, you don’t have to stick to the same style for every piece on your wall. Mixing types of artwork, such as an oil painting with sketches or prints and watercolors with photography, will keep viewers interested. Strive for varied, but balanced. Feel free to use the colors, styles and sizes of your frames, but use your artistic sensibilities to balance the composition. For example: If you have three treatments with yellow mat boards, avoid hanging them all on one end of your wall or installation. Spread such varying pieces throughout the display to maintain visual interest and a sense of continuity. The same principle applies to frames of the same size, color, or material—spacing them out will keep your display engaging and flowing.
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Repetition is key. One white frame in a sea of black frames looks like a mistake, however two or three looks intentional. So, if you have a white frame that you love, find a few more white frames in different sizes or styles to include in your grouping. Or if you have multiple frame styles and colors, consider using the same color mat board to visually tie them together.
(Katherine Frey/THE WASHINGTON POST)
Space it Out
When hanging your gallery wall or grouping, it can be helpful to take things off the wall completely and lay them out on the floor in an area away from foot traffic or a large table. To make things even easier create paper templates out of craft paper to quickly and safely move things around. If very limited on space you can draw out the wall, dimension of the artwork, and design your gallery wall on graph paper. Remember to provide adequate spacing between each piece as well. Too much or uneven space between frames can make the arrangement look cluttered.
Use Our Resources
Not sure if a frame will work with your gallery wall? Struggling with how to implement your idea? Order a free sample to visualize before you buy. For more help, give us a call or set up a face-to-face meeting with one of our designers.
