how to create this gold gallery wall

how to create a gold gallery wall

how to create a gold gallery wall

how to create a gold gallery wall

how to create a gold gallery wall

***Psst… CLICK HERE to shop my rug!***

One of the questions I get asked the most? “Where did you get your gold gallery wall frames from?”

When I first moved into my very own place, this gold gallery wall was one of the first things I put together. I wanted something that made a big design impact, but also felt personal and sophisticated. These chic gold frames filled with my favorite memories created just the look and feel I was going for!

Best yet, unlike a piece of art, you can make this gallery wall fit any feel you’re going for by simply switching out the photos! I recently switched out the photos I initially filled these frames with with more recent memories in a sepia, vintage tone. I love it!

First, let’s start out with specifications on the exact materials I purchased to create this wall. Then, I’ll walk you through the steps I followed below.

Materials

  • 12 Gold Frames // purchase HERE

I chose the size 16″ x 16″ with the option “Clear Acrylic & Foamcore Backing.” One day, I’d love to replace the acrylic with real glass.

  • 12 Mattboards // purchase HERE

I chose the size 16″ x 16″ with a 3 3/4″ x 3 3/4″ opening size. View the screenshot below for further specifications. (I chose all of the cheapest options.)

  • 12 Square Photos // print 4″ x 4″

How To Create Your Gold Gallery Wall

  • Measure Your Space

Before ordering any frames, measure your space. The dimensions of my gold frames, which you can buy HERE, are 16″ x 16″. I think this is a great size for making an impact, but depending on your space you may want to do a square of 3 frames by 3 frames instead of my wider 3 frames by 4 frames layout.

  • Order Frames

Once you’ve decided on how many frames you want to create your gallery wall with, go ahead and order your frames here. Scroll above to “Materials” to see the exact dimensions I ordered.

  • Order Matting

Keep in mind that the gold frames do NOT come with matting. Those must be ordered separately. I used this website. Scroll above to “Materials” to see the exact dimensions I ordered for my matting.

  • Print Photos

Now is the fun part… choosing the photos! Before printing away, think through the color scheme you’d like your gallery wall to create. Do you want bright colors or more muted tones? Black and white? All landscapes or portraits? A mixture of both? All of these details are important in creating the exact look you want.

In my first apartment, I chose photos that captured some of my favorite memories and people, making sure to use photos with bright colors. For my new apartment, I switched to sepia and black & white toned photos. It creates a totally different look, which I love!

  • Assemble Frames

One thing to note is that these gold frames do not come assembled. (The price you pay for… a good price! ;) It took me a good bit of time to assemble all twelve of my frames, but was well worth it in the end!

I quickly realized it’s super important to set the wire hangers at the same spot on each frame for continuity’s sake. Also, be sure to use the same length of wire for each frame. This ensures each frame hangs the same on the wall. If you don’t do this, it will be nearly impossible to create an orderly gallery wall.

  • Measure Out Wall

I’m all about “eyeballing” it when it comes to hanging decor, but this gallery wall is not something I’d recommend doing that for. One thing that helped me plan my wall out was to cut newspaper into the sizes of the frames and taped them up on my wall. This allowed me to make sure every frame was lined up perfectly before nailing in any holes!

If you look closely, you’ll see my tape measure that I used for measuring on the couch. :)

  • Lay Out Photos

Once you have your gallery wall measured out, it’s time to plan the order of your photos. Again, this is a detail you may not thinik about at first, bit it’s important for getting a cohesive look to your gallery wall! I laid out my photos on the floor right in front of the wall and played around with the order until I found a color scheme and flow that I loved.

  • Hang Frames

Finally, it’s time to hang your frames! I learned that a bit of trial and error is to be expected, even with the newspaper layout method I used. Luckily, you only need small nails to hang these frames since they’re fairly lightweight and the holes they create aren’t too big.

There you have it, friends! I wish I could tell you the exact cost… I honestly can’t remember! I do know it ended up being around $450 or so for all of the materials which ended up coming out to about $38 a frame, everything included. While this was definitely a pricey investment for a girl just starting out, I can honestly say I haven’t regretted the purchase for one second. It was just what I needed to fill the blank space above my couch, and I’ve used them in every place I’ve lived thus far! I also love that later on, depending on where I live, I can mix around the number and order of these frames to hang in different parts of a house.

I’d absolutely love to hear your thoughts on this gallery wall, and if you have any questions leave them below!

Also, don’t forget to check out this living room tour from my previous apartment for more details on my decor! I’ll be updating y’all with my new apartment soon.

Love from Texas,

Kate

P.S. I always get questions about my pink rug, and just found that it’s back in stock AND on sale HERE! I had the hardest time finding a cute pink rug two years ago when I got my first apartment, but now there are SO many cute ones on the market. See some of my favorites below!

Join in on the fun!

7 Comments

  1. Allie said:

    Gorgeous gallery wall. The uniformity of the frames makes such an impact!
    xAllie
    http://www.theallthatglittersblog.com

    Published 8.22.18 · Reply
  2. It looks so pretty and cute! You are interior goals.

    http://www.rayamaari.com

    Published 8.22.18 · Reply
  3. Annaliese said:

    Your gallery wall is so beautiful and chic! Thank you for sharing how you created it! :)

    xoxo A
    http://www.southernbelleintraining.com

    Published 8.22.18 · Reply
  4. I am so in love with this entire space!! And the gallery wall is just perfection!

    xo, Hillary | hillheady.com

    Published 8.23.18 · Reply
  5. Thank you Sally. You are the real MVP gluten free diet

    Published 8.24.18 · Reply
  6. Sarah said:

    Hi Kate, I absolutely love how you replaced the pillows on the back of the sofa! Would you mind sharing the sizes of the pillows in picture #3 (with the pink and white pillows) and where you purchased them?

    Thank you!

    Published 10.9.18 · Reply