Picture ledge or gallery wall?

last year

last modified: last year

We have 8 medium sized gold-framed oils from DH's parent's house that we want to hang. I love a good gallery wall but frankly, I'm intimidated by putting one together. Many examples look cluttered or messy to me and my eye invariably goes directly to the frame that is slightly askew or off balance. I've considered using picture ledges to make the symmetry and leveling easier but wonder if that would look too much like a store display.

Do you have any advice or observations about either choice?

Love this wall but I had to look through quite a few examples to find one that I really liked.

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Allison0704

last year

last modified: last year

I have done a lot of gallery walls over the years. Most were at our homes, but a couple in DD2's homes. One of hers and two of mine I measured area to be covered, then (sometimes) mark the corners of this area on the floor with painters tape. I also just lay out the tape measure (seen below) I then laid out the art inside the area. Once I knew which pieces I was going to hang, I cut brown paper to each size. For the master bathroom (below, in our last home), I used a pencil to write the measurments on each piece and assigned a number (also written on the back, and on the brown paper cut out). Then I started in a corner and used painters tape to hold paper in place. Once I was ready to start making holes, I went directly through the paper.

If there aren't too many to hang, and in a secondary space (like laundry room), I will just eyeball it as I go.

Then I start hanging and hold my breath.

I wanted to add two tiny pieces top left, but I could not work the ladder around the wall and tub to reach that high.

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Comments (20)

nicole___
last year
I did a gallery wall for my husband....above his trophys. So.....I do like gallery walls, but would rather see floating shelves. It's a more current look....IMO
Tina Marie
last year
I personally am not fond of most picture ledges. I love a good gallery wall, but do not have one myself. You said 8 medium size pictures to hang. Do you plan to add to these? My point is for a good gallery grouping, I think you need a mix of shapes and sizes. Also, I much prefer a gallery grouping where the frames are different, not all the same. Just my two cents worth!
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Hey guys! Thanks for the input. I'll lower them but I do want to keep the shelves there. I think adding more shelves might be too much for that area and it would make one of them too close to the light switch. I did tinker with the idea of photos on the wall at one point but prefer the shelves. Also, for some reason DH is very anti photos in a wall arrangement. I showed him a bunch of well done inspiration photos and he felt they looked cluttered. As far as the other side of the hall, I'm not sure if I'll eventually do anything with that or not. I feel like it currently looks lop sided but I don't want to feel cluttered either. I do know I wouldn't put shelves on the other side too.
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This might seem random, and art is so personal so I have no idea what you like, but I had the opportunity to tour the local state archive building with my daughter once. It's open to the public by appointment I believe. Anyway, everything is archived. They had some posters on display they had made from printing off copies of old farm advertising. There were neat paintings of apple orchards and what-not, with the farm names. Something like that would be neat in a sleek black poster frame, or a wide rustic wooden frame. Also, I'm obviously not a pro but I have studied the gray trend and modern farmhouse trend quite a bit and have tried to integrate it a bit in my all-beige house. I've learned a couple of things along the way. You can see from your before-and-after photos above how much cooler your hallway looks with the gray paint and floors. All gray interiors and all white kitchens can benefit from some warmth. So bringing in natural wood to the space warms it up, and you can pull off bringing in the trendy brass on sconces and frames and other accents as well. Looks like a beautiful home and I wish you luck.
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I recently faced the same question (my photos are in a wide stair well and landing area rather than over a couch though). After ordering a picture shelf I opted to do a gallery wall instead - the picture ledge stands out enough that I felt like it protruded in the space (it wouldn't actually have been in the way, it just felt like it was). You might have the same problem if you placed one over a sofa. That said, it does mean my pictures are staying where I put them and it's taking me along time to hang them all.
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It looks like an area that is a main corridor so I wouldn't use ledges. Instead, I'd get a large, square (48"x48") colorful piece of art, and paint the vent the color of the walls. You can also use 3M removable picture hangers, which will allow you to change pictures out frequently with no damage to the walls.
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Jilly
last year
I much prefer a gallery wall for what you have.

I think picture ledges have too much of a casual feel for special oil paintings.
HU-787167202
last year
To me a ledge says 'changing', temporary. We haven't see them but if you love them enough to display then they are worthy of proper frames and hanging. Together they are a fabulous tribute.
Bunny
last year
I LOVE that second image. The first one is meh.
ilikefriday
last year
last modified: last year
I love gallery walls. I have had several over the years. Right now I am favoring gallery walls with only 5 or 6 pieces that don't look too cluttered.
Sueb20
last year
I have both. But the ledges I have are just photos, so I think for paintings I prefer a gallery wall.
pricklypearcactus
last year
I prefer a gallery wall over picture ledges. Something about them feels both heavy (visually) and distracting from the art.
Oakley
last year
Don't be intimidated by making a gallery wall. I did it in my old LR, and now I have a smaller wall. Are your paintings all the same size? If so, google how to make a g. wall with them.

With my old g. wall I put the largest picture centered above the sofa, and took it from there. All the pics I had were different sizes so it was fun when I added more.
Fun2BHere
last year
I like both. For me, my choice would depend on the room, your style and the composition of the art.
Kswl
last year
I like both ledges and gallery walls. The ledges can look great, depending upon their style and color. Small or smallish oils would look better on ledges than in a wall gallery IMO because a gallery looks best with a wide range of sizes. You can also use the ledges in many places where the gallery wall needs more wall space. I would at least try the ledges first.
njmomma
last year
Love gallery walls for paintings!
Ledges for family photos. The ease of changing the photos from time to time or adding more, works with a ledge for me.
deegw
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Am I on the right track? I am thinking of putting them above a sideboard in my entry. This is a mix of some of the old plus things painted by friends.

Also, I looked up ways to keep the heavy frames flat against the wall and that's a whole other thing.
deegw
Original Author
last year
Allison, if I saw a picture of your wall online I definitely would have posted it as an example of a gallery wall that I like. It looks great
amykath
last year
Dee, looking good! Definitely gallery wall!
gingerrg
last year
I add my vote to gallery wall. It looks like you have a terrific start.
Allison, your bathroom is beyond fabulous!!
Jilly
last year
Yes, looking good, Dee!

Love love love Allison’s walls! That bathroom was perfection!
Allison0704
last year
@deegw did you hang yours yet?

Thanks for the nice compliments. Might sound silly, but I miss that bathroom gallery wall.
Arapaho-Rd
last year
Not sure about the ledge but the gallery walls are wonderful !!

Picture ledge or gallery wall?

Allison0704

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