Makeover: Create a home art gallery
Art is a key decorative element that can inspire a room’s entire colour scheme or provide that final finishing touch
The word ‘art’ is a broad label for creative expression in a visual form and can mean a variety of things to different people. For most, selecting art is based on personal taste and the emotional response it provokes, while for some it is more about making a financial investment.
Over the past few years we have seen a vast array of prints in diverse styles hit the market, from quotes, typography and cartoons, to pop art, poster art and fine art. Recently, photographic prints of luscious flowers, beach scenes and foliage seem to be trending.
This is good news for art lovers as prints have made buying something to decorate your walls more attainable, compared to the cost of original works of art. Simply choose a standard-sized frame to pop your print into and you’re all set.
GALLERY WALL 101
A gallery wall is just a grouping of framed pictures and can be as large or as small as you desire. It creates impact in a room and is a good way to fill up a bare expanse of wall. Gallery walls can be created to suit so many spaces – they look great in kids’ rooms, are a cool feature in an office, and even work well in a loo. The slightly tricky parts are selecting images that work well together and deciding on the layout. To guide you through the whole process, check out these handy tips:
WALL COLOUR
White walls make an ideal backdrop for a gallery wall. White allows the art to breathe and won’t compete with the colours and effects on display – this is why you generally see white walls in art galleries around the globe.
Popular whites for this purpose include Resene ‘Black White’ and ‘Alabaster’, which are both quite stark and crisp, and the slightly warmer Resene ‘Rice Cake’ and ‘White Pointer’.
If you have a collection of prints in a similar tone, picking a softer, paler version of that colour for the wall can create a pleasing effect. For example, if you love foliage prints in shades of green, try a pale wall colour with a green undertone to enhance the overall look.
MIX & MATCH
Using art prints of various sizes is always a good idea as it creates added visual interest. But should the frames be all the same or different? I personally love to mix frame colours, as you can see in the image, left, where I’ve used three black, three white and one wooden frame. These colours coordinate with the plant pot, bench seat and floor. As these prints are in a contemporary style, I chose minimal, modern frames that are all very similar.
BORDER CONTROL
Mats (or mounts) create a border between the print and frame. While still very much used in the art world, in more casual settings the trend is towards dispensing with a mat and letting the print fill the frame. However, this depends on the style of print and also the size as sometimes it’s not possible to find a frame that fits perfectly. In these cases, a mat (cut slightly deeper on the sides or top/bottom to accommodate the frame) is a more affordable solution than shelling out for a custom-made frame.
HERO PIECE
In any good room design there should always be a hero piece – here it is the stunning ‘Blue Lady’ art print by Anna McKay. Using this as a starting point, I pulled in other pieces that worked with it. As the biggest item in the arrangement, it was the first print to be hung (always hang the largest piece first and build your wall around it).
PRINT STYLE
When it comes to mixing different styles of print, anything goes as long as there is a colour link between them all. In this gallery wall I used a typographic print, three photographic prints (the blue building, woman’s face and the plant leaves) and two abstract prints, plus ‘Blue Lady’. The colours in these very different prints all link back to the ‘Blue Lady’ hero piece.
CORNER GALLERY
If you have a series of small art prints or a collection of framed family photos, creating a gallery in the corner of a room can be an effective way to create a focal point. It doesn’t need to spread up and down the wall but can simply be a collection at eye level that carries from one wall to the other. Have a go – you will love how effective it can look.
LOVE THAT LAYOUT
Before you start hanging your prints, lay them on the floor and play with the layout until you are happy with it, then take a photo so you can refer to it once you start placing them on the wall. Another option is to cut out pieces of paper the same size as each of your prints and stick them to the wall in your desired layout. Then hang each print over its paper template. Ensure you buy good hanging fixtures so your frames don’t come crashing down in the middle of the night!
If print or photo walls aren’t your style, consider creating an alternative gallery wall using objects which hold special meaning for you. When grouped together, these pieces create a unique and interesting talking point. Here are a few ideas on what you could hang (but really, the sky’s the limit)…
DECORATIVE PLATES
This small palm tree-decorated plate was given as a gift but was deemed too nice to use every day, so with a plate hanger attached to the back, it is now part of the wall display. A cluster of three of these can look great, too, so get busy raiding Grandma’s cupboards.
HOLIDAY SOUVENIRS
Anything goes on a wall like this so why not dig out all those old holiday souvenirs – like this woven fan, bag and shell necklace – and put them on show? This is a fun way to add character to your home and remember the fun you had on holiday.
WALL HANGINGS
Textile hangings are very popular and are great for adding texture to a wall. If you are crafty try making your own, or check out the options available in homeware shops.
POSTCARDS & GREETING CARDS
Some postcards and greeting cards are just too nice to throw away so pop them in a frame and add them to your wall of wonders.
ACCESSORIES
Maybe you are a handbag fan or you collect caps – whatever it is you love, display a few pieces from your collection for everyone to ooh and aah over.
WRAPPING PAPER OR WALLPAPER
Some wrapping paper is simply too nice to fold and tape up (like this shibori-patterned paper on our wall). If you’ve fallen in love with some gorgeous gift wrap, place it in a frame to enjoy all year round. Do the same with an offcut of beautiful wallpaper.
RUGS & TAPESTRIES
Who says rugs are just for the floor? A rug can make a stunning wall installation; ask a specialist supplier about the best way to hang it to avoid causing damage. Tapestries will also add texture, colour and warmth to your room.
PAINT A CANVAS
Grab some testpots and get creative. With abstract art becoming more popular, now is a great time to whip up a series of canvases in your favourite colours.
DIY BANNER
Have a go at making your own prints. This ‘Eat, beach, sleep, repeat’ banner was made on the computer using a digital background bought from Etsy for US$2. I downloaded the image, added my text, had it printed and hung it using magnetic picture hangers.
TEA TOWEL OR FABRIC
Decorative tea towels or stunning fabric remnants also make clever art alternatives and look fabulous when framed.