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Home Office Gallery Wall {Decorating Ideas}

A momentous thing happened this weekend. I completed the gallery wall in my home office. It’s a small miracle seeing as I’ve been working on this room for well over a year.

gallery wall with white frames

I used three different types of Ikea frames (Ribba, Sondrum, and Virserum). Seriously you guys, if Ikea is a drive for you, stock up on frames when you go. It took me months to collect enough frames because I didn’t buy enough the first and second times I went. Now I’m sitting pretty with a large surplus of Ikea frames.

gallery wall

The gallery wall contains photos, one of my favorite Katie Daisy prints, a Kate Spade card/print, my glitterfied Indiana artwork, and random things I framed like my admission tickets to the Louvre and Eiffel Tower, a card from my best friend, and a dove Christmas ornament my late aunt gave me. I also framed the cover of our wedding program with two photos of us after being pronounced husband and wife.

white gallery wall

gallery wall with ikea picture frames

The wall was fairly easy to assemble. Arranging frames for a gallery wall is a lot like Tetris. So if you’re a Tetris pro creating a gallery wall shouldn’t be too difficult for you. But I found it was best for my sanity to do it over time– as in multiple days. Sometimes it’s best to walk away, regain your marbles, and then get back to work.

First, I put the things I wanted to frame into the frames. Then, I traced the frames onto craft paper, cut out the shapes, and started working on the layout of the frames by using the actual frames.

how to arrange a gallery wall

But then I deviated and used the craft paper frames on the wall to create the layout I desired. The kicker was making sure I was properly hanging the paper frames– whether the content in the frame was horizontal or vertical in nature. I found it helpful to arrange the frames accordingly on the floor as I assembled the paper frames on the wall. Still following me?

how to make a gallery wall

Once I was happy with the paper frame arrangement I started hanging the frames. I’m pretty good at eyeballing where to put nails in regards to picture frame hooks so I went with the ‘eyeballing method’. It worked out well. Out of 20 frames I only had to redo 2 nails. I think 90% accuracy is pretty good for wingin’ it.

how to create a gallery wall

Now, if you’ve ever attempted to hang an Ikea ribba frame you know how pesky they are. I don’t know whose idea it was to make a frame with an inch of space between the nail hook and where the frame meets the wall. When I asked an Ikea sales associate about it he said, “I guess you’ll have to use a long nail”. I may or may not have replied, “well that’s just silly”. But do not fear, my friends, do not fear. I developed a cutting edge way to hang these irksome frames. Make a loop with picture hanging wire. But don’t make your loop too large or you’ll be able to see the loop when you hang it on the nail. If it’s too big, simply twist the loop to make it a little smaller.

how to hang an ikea ribba frame

So there you have it. One more home office/craft room item knocked off my to-do list. If everything goes as planned, I’ll be able to reveal the entire room makeover next week.
Get excited.

home office gallery wall

how to create a gallery wall 2

Have you tackled a gallery wall in your home? How’d it go?
Has a room makeover taken you well over a year to complete? Don’t be ashamed, you’re not alone.

Stalk away!

    

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52 Comments

  1. Looks great! I have been collecting prints and pics for a gallery above my make up table. Waiting to get the frames until I have all the prints and sizes I know I want. Luckily, I have an IKEA about a 1/2 hour away. I also have the exact Kate Spade card sitting on the floor with the prints and pics I’ve collected so far. 🙂

  2. I love this!! (Also love the color of your wall) I have a bunch of pictures/paintings I need to hang, and I really want to do a gallery somewhere. Also I NEED to go to IKEA. I’ve only been once, which is almost criminal.

  3. It looks great. I want to do a gallery wall somewhere in our apartment

  4. I’ve created a similar gallery in one of our guest rooms before, but I wasn’t enough of a perfectionist to use paper to outline it first! It’s a great idea. I just laid mine out on the bed then eyeballed each frame as I hung on the wall. Admittedly, it didn’t turn out perfect but I’m probably the only one who can tell.

    Right now I’m procrastinating hanging white frames in my office space. I want to hang a few white frames over my new desk but haven’t gotten to it yet. I’m only going on a month, though I can see how a year comes up quickly!

  5. Beautiful! You did an awesome job, and I’m amazed that this is the result of nail-hole eyeballing. If I had done that . . . well, I can only laugh at the possibilities. You do a great job with color. I’m generally kind of scared of color and stick to just one or two in each spot of my house, but you seem to have a great sense of what will go together and combining them in an awesome way. Two thumbs up.

  6. It looks awesome!! I am re-doing my office too (we actually have the same color scheme!) and was worried a gallery wall would make the small room feel cluttered. You’ve changed my mind …off to Ikea I go!

  7. So pretty! I love all of the pictures and prints you chose for the frames.! I’m also jealous of your eyeballing skills. Wait, that sounds weird. You know what I mean haha

  8. Looks great!
    I am working on a gallery wall right now. I have the layout all worked out, I just need to find some a few more pictures and I am short a couple frames.

  9. Love it! I’m a cheater. I bought the Michael’s “Hang Your Own Gallery” frames and the template to go with it.

  10. What a great solution to the Ikea frame problem! I love gallery walls. and have several in our house. (You can see my latest one here: http://www.dejongdreamhouse.com/2013/01/we-do-gallery.html.

    I’m working on a gallery for my son’s room this week (with Ikea frames!) So I”m looking forward to putting your tip to good use!

  11. Oooh! I have been waiting for this post and you did not disappoint! It turned out so darling, so much happiness in one place! <3

    xo,
    Jen

  12. Love it so much! It seems like Ikea has tons of white frames with clean lines for cheap. So jealous. I wish we had one in Kansas City! I’ve been meaning to make a version of your glitter art, too. So pretty!

  13. Very pretty! I need to hit up Ikea one of these days for these frames.

    Now I need you to come finish mine…that I started almost a year ago. We are awesome.

  14. I love your gallery wall! And I love the fact that you used white frames instead of black…goes well with your wall color!
    Selene @ restorationbeauty.com

  15. How gorgeous! I really like all the whit frames, and I LOVE your “let the beauty of what you love…” quote in the center. Thanks for sharing! Happy Valentine’s Day!

  16. Your gallery wall looks amazing! I used the same method to start hanging one in my family room. And I will admit that it took/is still taking me months to complete this project.

  17. So pretty, I love the cohesive frames and variety of art and pictures you used.

  18. How funny a momentous thing just happened in my home last week too bc I also just finished my gallery wall that took me almost 8 months!! Phew.. glad to know I’m not the only who took it at a snail’s pace. Your wall turned out great….worth the wait! I adore the glittery Indiana state print (I was born and raised there!)

  19. I’m stopping by from the Young House Love forums…absolutely IN LOVE with your gallery wall! I recently did an all-white gallery wall and it was SO much work! I only have about 8 frames but am hoping to add more soon. I have SOOO many frames but not enough art to fill them.

    Danielle at Framed Frosting

  20. I love your gallery wall. Ikea is a drive for me so every time I go I have to convince my husband that I’m not crazy for buying all those frames. Same thing when we go to Pottery Barn Outlet!

  21. I hear you about the IKEA picture frames! They are fully functional and the cheapest I have been able to find – EVER! I recently did a picture frame ledge that was Pottery Barn inspired – I used all IKEA frames.

    Your wall is awesome and tells such a lovely story.

  22. Great job! The step-by-step is super helpful and I appreciate the Ikea frame tip too. I just stumbled upon your blog and love all your DIY projects. They’re Inspirational!

  23. Did you make the Indiana glitter print or purchase it!? That’s what I need!!

  24. I am a new follower and newly obsessed with gallery walls! I get mine from thrift stores and spray paint them all the same color. Also, I’m a Macon Magnolia as well (ADPi)!

  25. Your wall looks GREAT! I LOVE a gallery wall! And can I say that I’ve never been to IKEA!? I’ve got to find a time to get to one! Life to the full! Melissa

  26. Love your gallery wall! Great job.
    Random question, but did you swap out or paint the mats that come with the Ikea frames? The mats you used appear to be stark white whereas I know some of the Ikea frames (Ribba in particular) are usually an off-white color. Just wondering how you got them all to appear the same shade of white. I’m working on a gallery wall for my office and the different shade of white on the mats vs. the frames just drives me bonkers.

    1. Thanks, Kate! Nope, I was lazy and just left the mattes in the frames. I know exactly what you mean though. The off-white color bothered me at first but I learned to live with it. It’s really not that noticeable with all of the frames on the wall– especially because some of the frames are stark white and some are off-white and some of the mattes are stark white or off-white.

      However, I will say if you’re using the matte on something that is very important to you or sentimental I HIGHLY recommend going to a craft store or framing place and getting an acid free matte. I made sure to do this with my wedding guest book tree (https://www.twotwentyone.net/2013/01/picture-ledge/).

  27. Can you please share the frame sizes you used for this wall gallery?

  28. Okay, SO smart to put paper up first! I’ve been taking a long time to put up my gallery wall because I didn’t know how I wanted to arrange it as it looks different on the floor than on the wall. I’m definitely doing this!

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  35. What dimensions are the frames if you remember? I love your layout!

  36. Marinell Stagger says:

    Your wall is beautiful!!
    I am planning to do a family tree. I would like to keep the picture in the frame it’s in. I have multi-colored frames , in various sizes. I do not want to use nails to hang the frames.
    Question: How do I attach the frames to the wall without using nails? The kick stand causes the frame to not lay flat against the wall. Thanks!!

  37. I stumbled upon your post when searching for how to hang that darn IKEA frame when I zeroed in on Phi Mu! I’m Phi Mu, too – from what seems like a million years ago! I’m pretty sure I spot one or two function pictures – very clever how you framed them so that they’re not in the 4×6 size to remove the event/date info. Of course I love all the pink – beautiful wall. Anyway…I just wanted to send some LIOB your way and I’ll definitely check out more of your site. xo

  38. I think I’m going to try this! I bought 2 huge Ribba frames without knowing how difficult the banging mechanism (or lack thereof) makes the process. Thanks for sharing your tip!

    Tricia
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