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A gallery wall is the most maximalist thing you can do with a single blank wall. It turns photos, prints, postcards and children’s art into one big story, and it says more about the people who live in a home than any piece of furniture.

It is also the project people put off longest, because it looks hard. It is not. Here is a step-by-step way to plan a gallery wall, the frame set we suggest to start one, and how to know when it is finished, or at least finished for now.

Why a gallery wall is so maximalist

Maximalism celebrates collection over matching. A gallery wall is a collection made visible: different sizes, different subjects, sometimes different frames, all held together by spacing and a shared palette. It grows over time, which is part of the joy. You can add a frame every year and the wall only gets better.

Our pick: a 10-piece frame set to start

The SONGMICS 10-pack picture frame set on Amazon.ca is an easy way to get a consistent starting point. The listing describes two 8 by 10, four 5 by 7 and four 4 by 6 frames made from MDF with a clear glass front, which can hang on the wall or stand on a table. The colour options include black, white, natural beige, pale gold and rustic brown.

The listing also notes that wall screws are not included, because different walls need different fasteners, so pick up hooks or picture hangers that suit your wall.

How to plan a gallery wall in five steps

• Choose the wall and the centre. Above a sofa, a bed, a console or a staircase. Hang the centre of the whole group at roughly eye level, about 57 to 60 inches from the floor.
• Lay it out on the floor first. Arrange the frames on the floor in the shape of your wall. Move them around until the biggest pieces anchor the group and the small ones fill the gaps.
• Trace and tape. Trace each frame on kraft paper, cut it out and tape the shapes to the wall. Live with the paper for a day before you hang anything.
• Keep the gaps even. Two to three inches between frames is the secret that makes a mixed wall look planned. Uneven art with even spacing looks curated.
• Mix what goes inside. Photos, a pressed leaf, a vintage postcard, a page from an old book, a child’s drawing. Repeat two or three colours across the pieces to tie it together.

Less or More: two ways to hang it

Less: Use four frames from the set in a tidy grid, all the same colour, with black and white photos. It is calm, graphic and easy to keep level. For more quiet ideas, see the Minimalism hub.

More: Use all ten in a loose cluster, then keep adding: an oval mirror, a small shelf, a woven plate, a vintage frame from a thrift shop. Our guide to layering throw pillows and blankets uses the same palette rules if you want the sofa below to match the wall above.

Stop rule and payoff

Stop when you step back to the far side of the room and your eye moves around the wall without landing on an empty patch. Leave a small space at one edge on purpose. That is where next year’s frame goes.

The payoff is a wall that tells your story and changes as you do. If you are shopping for someone else, frames are also a thoughtful gift. See our home gift ideas for minimalists and maximalists, and find more layered ideas in the Maximalism hub.

A note on the link in this post

The Amazon.ca link above is an affiliate link, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you buy through it. We describe the item only by what its listing says, and we have not tested it ourselves. Prices, stock and shipping change often, so check the product page for current details before you buy. This listing is sold by a third-party seller and shipped by Amazon. Glass can crack in transit, so open the box soon after delivery and check each frame.