Tips And Ideas To Modernize An Outdated Large Gallery Wall

Gallery walls are a popular option for styling a blank space, lending it some much-needed personality. The best part is you can personalize the display per your tastes. Whitney Vredenburgh, owner of Nested Spaces Home Staging & Design and the @nestedspaces Instagram page, agrees with the sentiment. The RESA-PRO member is certified through Home Staging Resource and elaborates on the advantages of a gallery wall in an exclusive interview with House Digest. She says, "Gallery walls are a great way to personalize a hallway, stairwell, area behind a sofa or above a console table. They add personality and style to any space." However, if you keep a finger on the home design pulse, you might debate whether gallery walls are still trendy or are out of style.

The answer is it depends on your layout and the features used. Vredenburgh notes, "Outdated gallery walls will have the farmhouse wood sign(s) that say 'welcome y'all' or 'home sweet home' for example." That being said, there are a few tips you can follow to modernize an outdated large gallery wall, and incorporate it in your home décor. For instance, choosing the right frame, arranging them properly, and following a theme will help you curate a modern gallery wall.

In case you don't want to take down your family photos, handpicked art, carefully selected empty frames, or commissioned pictures, Vredenburgh has a few tips and ideas to help you modernize an outdated large gallery wall. "If you're purchasing empty frames, the images within the frame can be family photos, places you've visited, a special quote or poem," she shares in this House Digest exclusive. "And, if you're collecting artwork, I would suggest having a central color that runs through each frame, or central style, or even similar frame."

Another tip is to trade in your printed canvases for frames. Vredenburgh elaborates, "I would also recommend framing all family photos if you have a canvas of your family or pet. Most of the time, it is best to frame it versus hanging it as a canvas." The good news is you don't have to buy high-end frames for a fancy gallery wall. Simply try out a few Dollar Tree DIYs to decorate your home with family pictures for less. 

However, ensure the mat matches the frame to avoid a common mistake everyone makes when hanging family photos around the house. But keep things interesting by experimenting with different styles of mat. For instance, some frames might benefit from a conventional look. Others might need a contemporary touch, like a straight fit wherein the image swallows the mat whole. This approach works best with pictures that feature empty space around them.

While the tips above are useful, they won't modernize your gallery wall if your layout is outdated. To ensure you don't commit such faux pas, Vredenburgh advises that you determine the story you want to relay through your display and stick to it. Speaking exclusively to House Digest, she says, "A timeless gallery wall is one that has a consistent theme or color story." This will ensure the arrangement exudes character and charm, even if the frames don't match each other or are of different sizes.

Vredenburgh expounds, "In some instances, it makes sense to have consistent frames and layout. In other instances, you may want different frames, varying art sizes, but there should be a common theme. Perhaps its color, or style." The frames must also match the scale of the wall they'll be hung on. She says, "[You] should fill the wall with the frames that are to scale. For example, if you put art above a console, ideally, it will be centered on the console and the framing area will be about 4-6 inches above the console and 3 inches inside of the console on each side." Finally, pay attention to the anchor, like a TV, large sculpture, or mirror, if you want it to be the focal point of your gallery wall.