How to Create a Gallery Wall: Step-by-Step Guide

A gallery wall transforms a blank stretch of plaster into the most personal feature in your home. It tells a story, sets the mood of a room, and—when done well—looks like it was curated by a professional stylist. The good news? You do not need a design degree to pull it off.

In this guide we walk through every step, from measuring your wall to hammering in the final nail. We have also included tested size combinations using our actual poster dimensions so you can skip the guesswork. If you are new to wall art in general, start with our Ultimate Guide to Wall Art for a broader overview, then come back here when you are ready to build your gallery.

Why Gallery Walls Work

A single print makes a statement. A gallery wall makes an experience. Grouping multiple pieces together creates rhythm, draws the eye across the wall, and lets you showcase different subjects and styles without committing to one oversized piece. It is also one of the most flexible approaches to decorating because you can start small and expand over time.

Gallery walls suit virtually any room—living rooms, hallways, bedrooms, home offices—and they scale to any budget. With prints starting at $19.99 and 18 sizes to choose from, you can build a wall that looks high-end without the high-end price tag.

Your Step-by-Step Gallery Wall Guide

1. Measure Your Wall Space Before browsing a single print, grab a tape measure. Record the width and height of the area you want to fill. If the gallery sits above a sofa or console table, measure from 6–8 inches above the furniture to roughly 60–66 inches from the floor. Write these numbers down—they determine how many prints you need and which sizes to use.
2. Choose a Theme or Colour Palette Cohesion is the difference between a gallery wall and a cluttered wall. Pick a unifying thread: a colour palette, a subject theme, or an artistic style. For instance, you might combine travel posters from different cities that share warm sunset tones. Or mix Japanese art prints with minimalist typography for an eclectic-yet-curated feel. The thread does not need to be obvious, but it should be intentional.
3. Select Your Sizes This is where most people stall. The trick is to pick one anchor piece and build around it. Your anchor is the largest print in the group—typically 18x24", 24x36", or A2. Then select two or three supporting sizes (12x16", 11x14", A3) and fill gaps with smaller accent prints (8x10", 8x12"/A4). We have mapped out tested combinations below to make this even easier.
4. Pick a Layout Style Your layout depends on the look you want. Grid: equal-sized prints in neat rows and columns—clean, modern, and foolproof. Salon style: mixed sizes arranged organically around a central point—classic, collected, full of personality. Linear: a single row of prints at a consistent height—ideal for hallways and above furniture.
5. Arrange on the Floor First Lay all your prints on the floor and experiment with positioning. This is the single most important tip in the entire guide. Rearranging prints on the floor takes seconds; rearranging them on a wall means patching nail holes. Place your anchor piece slightly off-centre, position supporting prints around it, and step back to check the balance.
6. Master Your Spacing Consistent spacing is what separates a polished gallery from a random scattering of prints. The standard rule is 2–3 inches (5–7 cm) between each piece. Use 2 inches for a tight, intentional look and 3 inches for something more relaxed. Cut cardboard spacers to your chosen width and use them as guides while hanging.
7. Trace and Tape Templates Trace each print onto butcher paper or newspaper, cut out the shapes, and tape them to the wall with painter's tape. This creates a full-scale mockup you can adjust without making a single hole. Label each paper template with the print it represents so you know exactly what goes where.
8. Hang from the Centre Out Start with your anchor print, then work outward. Use a level for the first piece—everything else references it. For lightweight poster prints, picture-hanging strips or small nails work perfectly. Heavier framed pieces may need wall anchors. Always hang at the centre mark of each template, then remove the paper once the print is in place.
9. Step Back, Adjust, and Enjoy Once every print is up, step back to the far side of the room and evaluate. Are any pieces slightly crooked? Does one area feel heavier than another? Small adjustments at this stage make a big difference. Then take a photo—you will want to remember exactly how satisfying this moment feels.

Gallery Wall Recipes: Tested Size Combos

We have put together four ready-made combinations using Brighton Posters' actual sizes. Each recipe is designed to fill a specific wall space so you can order with confidence.

Each of these recipes works with any of our collections. Try all travel posters for a wanderlust-themed wall, or mix Greek mythology with Japanese art for something more eclectic. Browse the full catalogue at brightonposters.com to find the prints that speak to you.

Common Gallery Wall Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

1. Hanging too high The centre of your arrangement should sit at roughly 57 inches from the floor—standard museum height. Most people hang art a full foot too high, which disconnects it from the furniture below.
2. Inconsistent spacing Even a half-inch variation between prints is noticeable. Cut a cardboard spacer and use it religiously. Consistency reads as intentional; randomness reads as careless.
3. Skipping the floor layout Jumping straight to the wall almost always results in unwanted nail holes and at least one print that needs to move. Spend 15 minutes on the floor and save yourself an hour of frustration.
4. Choosing prints that are all the same size A grid of identical prints works, but if you are going for a salon-style look, variety is essential. Mix at least two or three different sizes to create visual depth and movement.
5. Ignoring the colour story Prints that clash in tone—cool blues next to warm oranges without a bridge—create visual tension. Before ordering, view your chosen prints side by side on screen and check that their palettes complement one another.
6. Forgetting the room context A gallery wall does not exist in isolation. Consider your furniture colour, wall paint, and lighting. A dark, moody print collection looks stunning on a light wall but may vanish against charcoal paint.

Frequently Asked Questions