If you feel like your place might need a bit of a twist, a bit of a spice, then have you considered gallery walls? Because a well-designed gallery wall can instantly elevate a space. And when you fill it with striking abstract prints, it becomes a modern, artistic statement that can spark eclectic conversations and show every visitor that you know style, design and art. 

Have we sparked your interest? 

If yes, then you’ve come to the right place. Join us as we guide you through the steps of styling a one-of-a-kind statement gallery wall, taking you from blank wall to bold.

Location, Location, Gallery Wall: Where to Make It Pop

Begin by choosing where you want your new beautiful arrangement to shine. Maybe you have a place in mind already? Or you feel completely lost about it? That’s totally fine either way. The good thing is that there are no rules about gallery wall layout. But there are some directions you can consider to help you find that perfect sweet spot for your art pieces:

• Living room: An absolute classic indeed. But nothing beats a good gallery wall above the sofa or along a feature wall. If you really want to impress visitors and make a statement that holds depth, this is the place for your art. 

• Hallway: Yes, you heard us right. Despite them often being quite small, gallery walls can be a great idea for long, narrow abstract arrangements. And it’s a surprising place as well, but strategic at the same time, because, as a passageway, it forms almost a gallery-like experience as guests move from one room to another. 

• Entryway: First impressions matter. And you can make a bold one by layering abstract prints in a gallery wall style in your entryway. Make your home stand out from the first step people take inside.

• Staircase: If you follow the incline of your stairs with staggered abstract prints, you’ll make the transition between levels in your home more aesthetic.

How to Curate Your Statement Piece Wall Art

The trick here is to choose a collection of abstract artwork that feels cohesive but not overly matched. Because the thing about a gallery wall is that it should bring the luxury of variety and reveal the freedom of expression you show in your art style. 

Here’s how to nail the curation like a professional designer: 

• Begins by selecting a dominant colour palette (e.g. neutral, earth tones, monochrome) as the basis for your artwork. (Look around the room of choice. What are the dominant colours? They will help you define what will look good on the wall.)
• Mix styles: Forget about picking art pieces in the same style. You don't need to be uniform here. Choose a few different prints: line drawings, brushstrokes, and minimalist shapes can all be incorporated and work together. Bring them together in a variety of ways to form your gallery wall. How do you feel in each variation? Find the one that speaks the most to you.
• Play with scale: To make things really stand out and each piece speak its own language, combine large feature pieces with smaller accents.

Always Plan the Artwork Layout Before Hanging

Just before you hit the first nail on the wall, let’s pause. Mistakes can be made, and we want to avoid them as much as possible. To do this, lay your artwork out on the floor first, or tape paper templates to the wall. If you’re unsure about layout styles, we have some ideas in stock for you:

• Grid: Clean, organised, modern. Perfect. 
  Salon-style: More artful. Arrange your pieces in a more eclectic composition.
  Linear: Classic. Keep your artwork in horizontal or vertical lines for a streamlined look. 

Designer's advice: Maintain 3-4cm of spacing between frames to give the pieces some breathing room and avoid them looking cluttered and messy. While your gallery wall shouldn't be uniform in layout, it helps to keep the same spacing between your artwork to keep it looking sharp and well-composed.

Select Frames that Complement Your Art

Okay, we’re almost there. We have the best statement art pieces for wall art, we have the layout, but the statement is not really stealing the show yet. Yes, we’re missing the frames. They can literally make or break the final look. But worry not — there are plenty of options for approaching this.

• Uniform frames: Choose these for a minimalist, clean finish.
• Mixed frames: Ideal for texture and contrast, you can mix your frame styles, try to keep this limited to 2 or 3 types so as to not overwhelm the look and take away from the gallery wall itself.
• Mounted frames: Best if you want to elevate abstract prints with white space. 

Make It Dynamic: Layer In Dimension

Want to go the extra mile? It’s not hard. All you have to do is create depth. And it’s easy. You can do that by including one sculptural piece or mirror in your gallery wall arrangement. Or add a narrow picture ledge to lean a few pieces casually. Also, consider adding textured abstract art, like canvas, as a central piece and build the rest with other pieces that complement it. 

When you add texture and spice things up with other materials, you create an abstract statement that plays with the senses. And that is something to talk about. 

Strive to be You, Not Perfect

We’ve been talking about statements, show-stopping effects, etc., but if you like a quieter design, don’t be afraid to include a mix of bold and subtle pieces in your gallery wall layout. Do you. A vintage find, a personal sketch, a sentimental print or a cherished photograph amongst the other more abstract pieces you've picked. And why not use something more unexpected? Like a postcard from a friend, or a handwritten quote?

Remember: Imperfection often makes a gallery wall feel curated, not manufactured. It’s a perk, not a problem. 

Final Hanging Tips for a Flawless Finish

And to make sure everything looks and comes together absolutely perfectly, here’s a quick last checklist of tips to keep in mind:

• Use a spirit level to keep things aligned. Your composition can be unstructured, but you want to keep the lines straight for the best effect.
• Start with the central or largest piece and work outward. 
• Once you've got your layout planned, fix your frames to the wall. Command strips may work for smaller, lightweight frames, but we recommend you use picture hooks or screws for larger pieces.
• Stand back between additions to assess balance, so you can 'feel it out', and make changes where necessary. 
  

Go Bold or Go Home (Literally)

Building a statement gallery wall with abstract prints is all about confidence, creativity and exercising your inner sense of balance. Mix boldly sizes, textures, and tones, and you’ll turn any wall into a sophisticated showcase of modern art.

Need help curating the perfect set? Explore our gallery wall art collections or reach out to our team for some more tips and custom recommendations.