A gallery wall is the fastest way to turn a blank wall into the centrepiece of a room — and the most common place it goes wrong is not the art, but the planning. Here's the method we use when curating our own gallery wall sets, step by step.
1. Start with a palette, not a theme
The gallery walls that look effortlessly "designed" almost always share a colour palette rather than a subject. Three completely different prints — an abstract, a line drawing, a botanical — will hang beautifully together if they share warm neutrals, while five prints of the same subject in clashing colours will fight. If you're starting from scratch, pick two or three base tones (say beige, cream and terracotta — see our neutral abstract collection) and let every piece contain at least one of them.
2. Choose an anchor piece
Every gallery wall needs one print that's larger than the rest — usually A2 — hung at eye level (roughly 145–152cm from the floor to the centre of the print). Everything else arranges around it. Statement pieces like Japanese woodblock classics or a famous painting from our masters collection make natural anchors.
3. Mix scale and subject in odd numbers
Odd numbers read as curated; even numbers read as symmetrical (which works too, but feels more formal). A reliable starter formula is one A2 anchor, two A3 supporting prints and two A4 accents. Mix at least two types of artwork — for example an abstract, a line drawing and a botanical — so the wall has rhythm.
4. Get the spacing right
Keep 5–8cm between frames, consistently. Wider gaps make the wall feel sparse; tighter gaps feel cluttered. Treat the whole arrangement as one shape — ideally its outer edges form a rough rectangle — and keep that shape centred over your sofa, bed or sideboard, spanning about two-thirds of the furniture's width.
5. Lay it out on the floor first
Before you touch a hammer, arrange the prints on the floor and photograph the layout you like. Better still, cut paper templates the size of each frame and tape them to the wall with masking tape — you'll spot spacing problems instantly and your walls stay hole-free until you're sure.
6. Frame consistently, but not identically
Matching every frame is safe; using two frame finishes (say oak and black) adds depth without chaos. Keep the mount colour consistent — off-white mounts unify mismatched frames remarkably well.
Shortcuts: pre-curated sets
If you'd rather skip the curation, our gallery wall sets are matched by palette and theme — like the Ukiyo-e Classics trio, the Van Gogh set of six, and the Warm Minimal Trio — and save over 25% versus buying prints individually. Every print is produced to order on museum-grade giclée paper in our London workshop, with free UK delivery.
Questions about sizing or pairing prints for your space? Get in touch — we're happy to help you plan.