Here's what you need to know before you make you plan your art gallery wall.

A colorful and curated art gallery wall can bring life to any space. They're often rich in color and pattern and celebrated as a statement piece. Yet they can also function as a home to special memories and complement many different aesthetics, even the more minimalistic. How do you know what to look for when selecting shelves for your wall or better yet, how do you style your shelves? To answer these questions and more, we tapped our lead designer, Holly. Here, she guides us through the pursuit of the perfect wall, from her home to yours!

Holly’s passion for creating beautiful spaces is reflected in the overwhelming feeling of happiness you get when you enter her home. Perfectly kept Pothos, Philodendron, and Snake Plants burst with color, and every corner is beautifully styled with vintage and eclectic decor. It was such a pleasure to sit down with her and talk style, design, and her own future DIY projects, which I will be sharing with you all in the upcoming weeks. Here’s her guide to doing your own gallery wall at home.

IT’S ALL ABOUT PRACTICALITY

Q1: How did you come up with the idea to utilize a bare wall like an art gallery wall?

Holly: Collage gallery walls can be challenging in that they require a thought out wall arrangement and take a tedious time to measure and hang for the perfect spacing. This art shelf allows art to be instantly interchanged and arranged without the headache of nail holes!

MEASURE YOUR WALL

Q2: Tell us a bit about the process of finding the right shelves and mounting.

Start by measuring your wall so you can get an idea of what type of shelves and sizes are appropriate for your wall. These shelves from IKEA come in a variety of widths which made it easy to pair the exact sizes to span the whole wall for a custom-built look. Installation only requires a hand drill, a level, and some patience.

Mix and Match

Q3: What are some easy tips for decorating shelves like a pro?

Pick a frame color combination/scheme and stick with it. Black and white frames are always a good choice. I mixed in a few gold frames as an accent color. Wood frames of the same stain or contrasting colors also work well. Select frames in a variety of sizes and artwork of both horizontal and vertical orientation. To finish off a great shelf art gallery; mix in object accessories- live plants or handmade items always make a statement.

A REFLECTION OF YOU

Q4: Out of all the pieces on your shelves, which is your favorite?
Art displays are very personal in that they highlight one's taste and interests in art or memories of places traveled, but I would say that most people enjoy showcasing their family the most. It is true for me as well, my favorite picture on my shelves is an adorable moment shared by my grandparents. This was the last photo ever taken of them together as my grandfather passed two months after that photo was taken, a treasure captured. :)

Special thanks to Holly for opening up her beautiful home to us. Next week we’ll have another guide from our designers at home so be sure to stay tuned!