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A gallery photo wall adds personality, colour and style to a wall that would otherwise be a plain space. Picture wall collages are becoming more popular for displaying travel photos, family memories, nature prints, or even inspirational quotes. But knowing exactly how to arrange the frames to create a visually appealing collage can be difficult.
What is a Gallery Photo Wall?
A gallery photo wall is more than just a collection of pictures on display. It is a way to curate a visual story that reflects your personality, your memories and your style. By carefully selecting and arranging photos, artwork and keepsakes, you can create a unique focal point in almost any room.
The beauty of a gallery photo wall lies in its versatility. You might choose a symmetrical arrangement for a neat, balanced look, or an eclectic mix of frames and sizes for something more relaxed and personal. Either way, a well-planned gallery wall can transform a blank wall into a more meaningful and interesting part of your home.
A gallery photo wall can also be described in different ways. For example, it may be called a photo wall gallery, a gallery display wall, or a photo gallery of frames. This concept is also often referred to as a “salon style hang” or a “salon hang”. These all describe the same idea, which is a curated collection of framed photos and artworks arranged on a wall to reflect a particular style, theme or story.
Below, we will show you some simple and popular ways to arrange frames on a wall for an eye-catching display.
First Steps to Creating Your Gallery Photo Wall
The first and most important step when creating a gallery wall photo frame display is planning your layout before hanging any frames.
Most people start by looking for inspiration online. That can be a smart place to begin, especially if you are not yet sure whether you prefer a neat grid, a staircase arrangement or a more relaxed salon-style layout.
We have also created our own infographic to help get you started with some photo wall and salon hang inspiration:
Pinterest can also be another great place to start finding inspiration. We have created a Frame Wall Display Board in our Pinterest account to give you some ideas. Alternatively, keep scrolling for simple ways to arrange frames and create a great photo wall collage.
Initial Tips for Designing Your Photo Wall Gallery Display
Before we move into different arrangement ideas, there are a few practical things worth considering first, especially colour harmony, artwork size and spacing between each frame.
- Choose photos or artwork that feel connected by a similar colour palette, mood or subject matter. This helps the full display feel more intentional.
- Measure the empty wall space and aim for your arrangement to take up around 60% to 70% of the available area. This usually creates a balanced look without feeling too sparse or too crowded.
- Leave around 5cm between each picture frame. This is a good starting point for most gallery wall layouts.
- Pick one unifying element, such as the same frame colour, a consistent mat board style, or a repeated print theme. This can help mixed-size arrangements feel more pulled together.
- Lay everything out on the floor first before you commit to the wall. It is much easier to tweak a layout at this stage than after you start hanging.
Ideas for Picture Frame Gallery Walls
1. The Rule of Three
Interestingly, a trio of framed artworks can often look more striking and natural than a pair. When using only two or three picture frames, try to keep the same style, colour and tone of frame. Larger sized photo frames can work especially well here, although they do not need to be exactly the same size. Try to keep the arrangement symmetrical for a more balanced and visually pleasing result.
For example, the image below features three of our Coastal & Beach Decorator Art Prints in a Decorator Natural Oak Poster Frame.
2. A Neat Grid
For this type of picture wall look, keep the same size picture frames and arrange them symmetrically and fairly close together to create one larger geometric shape, such as a square or rectangle. The aim is for the full picture wall collage to read as one bigger visual statement.
The example below features our Elegant Deluxe Chestnut Photo Frame. By adding one more row of picture frames, you can create a square shape made of nine square frames, as per our Instagram Grid Gallery Photo Wall Frame Set.
3. Synchronised Bottom Line
For this type of photo wall arrangement, create interest by aligning all photo frames along the bottom and building an alternative layout upward from there. Even if the overall photo wall collage is not perfectly symmetrical, the layout can still feel balanced because the bottom line anchors everything visually.
This framed example below uses a mixture of six frames from our Elegant Deluxe Black Collection and our Collage Frames Collection. These are solid wooden picture frames, made in Australia using the finest quality eco-sustainable materials.
4. An Asymmetrical Layout
Use a clustered collection of different photo frames in a variety of sizes for this type of wall collage display. When arranging them, avoid placing identical sizes right beside each other. Try keeping larger frames closer to the middle and smaller frames towards the outer edges. You can also use different tones and colours of photo frames. For example, you can mix natural timber frames with metal photo frames and still create an aesthetically pleasing look.
This framed example below uses our Split Symmetry Gallery Photo Wall Frame Set, which contains ten frames from the Elegant Deluxe Stone Ash Collection. These are solid wooden picture frames, made in Australia using the finest quality eco-sustainable materials.
5. Special Theme
A simple way to add personality to a space is by showcasing one memorable story or moment. In this case, choose a theme, such as a wedding, family holiday, new baby, or a collection of travel memories, and frame pictures from that one chapter. The goal is to create an instant sense of connection, so it helps to keep the display focused rather than mixing in unrelated photos.
For example, the image below shows a range of wedding photos and uses only two frame sizes from the Elegant Deluxe Polar Birch Collection. The frames are repeated in an eye-catching pattern, creating a Balanced Gallery Photo Wall.
6. Staircase Gallery
A staircase gallery can feel a little more intimidating to hang, but there is a simple trick that helps. Imagine a line on the wall that runs parallel to the angle of the stairs. Arrange your frames so the tops, centres or lower corners follow that same invisible line. This helps the layout feel ordered and connected to the shape of the staircase.
The image below features a simple staircase gallery made of six frames from the Elegant Deluxe White Collection.
7. Centred Symmetrical Layout
To achieve this layout, place a larger photo frame at the centre and position smaller frames around it in a symmetrical order. The goal is for the sides of the centrepiece to mirror each other. This creates a gallery wall that feels balanced and gives the eye a clear focal point.
For example, the image below has two larger frames in the middle and three smaller frames on both sides, creating a centred symmetrical layout. The gallery wall shown below has eight frames from the Elegant Deluxe Polar Birch Collection.
8. Windmill Gallery
One of the easiest ways to create a windmill gallery wall is by using four rectangular photo frames. Place them so that all inner corners point toward each other, and alternate the orientation between landscape and portrait. The result is simple, balanced and effective. The image below features the Elegant Deluxe White Photo Frames.
Best Places in the Home for a Gallery Photo Wall
One of the best things about a gallery photo wall is that it can work in many parts of the home. The key is to match the layout to the space you have available and the way that area is used every day.
- Hallways: Hallways are ideal for a photo wall gallery display because they often have long blank walls that can benefit from extra personality and visual interest.
- Staircases: A staircase gallery wall can look especially effective when the frames follow the angle of the stairs. This helps the display feel connected to the shape of the space.
- Above furniture: The wall above a sofa, console table, bedhead or sideboard can be a great place for a picture frame gallery wall. Just make sure the arrangement feels centred in relation to the furniture below it.
- Living rooms: A gallery photo wall can become a natural focal point in a living room, especially when built around family photos, travel memories or framed art prints.
- Home offices or study areas: Smaller gallery wall arrangements can work well in home offices, helping the space feel more personal without overwhelming it.
If you are unsure where to start, hallways, staircases and the wall above furniture are usually the easiest and most popular places to begin.
How to Hang Your Gallery Photo Wall Display
Decorating your home with a gallery photo wall is an excellent way to add personality and style to your living space. It is also a great opportunity to showcase personal photos, artwork and other decorative pieces that matter to you.
Once you have chosen your layout, the next step is hanging it properly. To help, we have created a detailed step-by-step guide that walks you through the process, including planning your layout on the floor first and using paper templates on the wall before you drill or hammer anything:
Choosing Australia's Best Photo Frames Online with Profile
Explore our complete range of pre-made Gallery Wall Frame Sets from Profile Australia. Each photo wall frame set comes boxed with everything you need to create your own beautiful wall of memories. We have photo wall sets with pre-designed layouts, including Symmetrically Balanced 8 Frame Sets, Small, Affordable Mini Frame Sets, Large Featured 10 Frame Sets, and even Instagram Inspired Square Frame Sets.
These sets are proudly Australian made and come in a variety of colour options including white, black, stone ash, polar ash and brown chestnut timbers.
We also offer a complete range of Picture & Photo Frames so you can choose your own frames to mix and match. Profile offers a full range of picture framing solutions in many shapes, styles and sizes.
All of our timber picture frames are proudly made in Australia with eco-sustainable timbers and backed by a lifetime guarantee.
Final Thoughts on Planning a Gallery Photo Wall
If you are new to creating a gallery photo wall, the easiest place to start is with a simple layout, a clear theme and consistent spacing. You do not need to overcomplicate it. Even a small arrangement of three to five frames can make a blank wall feel warmer and more personal.
If you want an easier way to get the look right, our Gallery Wall Picture Frame Sets take out a lot of the guesswork by giving you a coordinated frame arrangement from the start. You can also read our guides on how to hang a gallery wall like an expert and how to mix and match wall art prints for a beautiful gallery wall layout for more ideas.
Gallery Photo Wall FAQs
How far apart should picture frames be on a gallery photo wall?
A gap of around 5cm between frames is a good starting point for most gallery wall layouts. Keeping the spacing fairly consistent usually helps the full display feel more polished and balanced.
Can you mix portrait and landscape frames in a gallery wall?
Yes, absolutely. Mixing portrait and landscape frames can make a gallery photo wall feel more natural and visually interesting. The trick is to keep some sense of balance through even spacing, repeated frame colours, or a shared photo theme.
How large should a gallery photo wall be compared to the wall?
As a general guide, your gallery wall should fill around 60% to 70% of the available wall space. This usually creates a display that feels substantial without looking too crowded or too small for the area.
Do all the frames in a gallery photo wall need to match?
No. Matching frames create a cleaner and more formal look, while mixing frame styles can feel more relaxed and personal. If you do mix frames, try to repeat one element such as colour, timber tone, mat board style or artwork theme to help tie everything together.
What is the easiest gallery wall layout for beginners?
A neat grid, the rule of three, or a centred symmetrical layout are often the easiest options for beginners. These arrangements are simpler to plan, easier to space evenly, and give a polished result without too much guesswork.
What is the best place in the home for a gallery photo wall?
Hallways, staircases, living rooms, and the wall above furniture such as a sofa, console or bedhead are all popular choices. These spaces usually offer enough wall area for the display to make a visual impact.
Want to read more? You may also like:
- How to Hang a Gallery Wall Like an Expert
- The Ultimate Guide to Picture Hanging on Your Wall
- Creative Ways To Fill A Picture Frame
- 5 Items You Didn't Know You Could Frame
- How to Hang a Photo Frame or Picture Frame on Your Wall
- 5 Great Reasons to Choose Gallery Photo Wall Frame Sets
- How to Mix & Match Wall Art Prints for a Beautiful Gallery Wall Layout
