an updated version of our gallery wall
How does a gallery wall make my home less messy?
I’m not sure that it does. But, I have some beautiful things that I love that I’m not willing to part with but not enough wall space to show them off individually. So my solution right now is a gallery wall full of things I love.
You might be surprised how many things can be displayed on the wall. Baby shoes, a spoon from Grandma’s silver, kid’s art, random photos throughout the years, funky things you’ve collected, dishes, architecture elements. Why keep things you love hidden away in a box?
Our current home has an open floor plan which is wonderful but it leaves us very few walls to hang my pretties. This wall in our family room is a work in progress. I’m a fan of slow decorating, so I don’t mind tweaking it over time.
Here are a few pointers when thinking about a gallery wall:
- gather up random items you would like to include
- place them on the floor in different layouts
- shop the house to fill in gaps
- use small nails and be willing to accept the fact that you might have some extra nail holes
- take photos as you go, sometimes its easier to see how things balance in a picture
- leave space to add to it over time
- add in a shot of color {there are actually 4 different colors of blues/greens but you can’t tell in the photo, it still looks too matchy matchy to me} paint photo mats~my big silhouette mat has been painted 2 different colors, paint frames, add in touches of color
- add texture, the ceramic plates, chalkboard, a shelf and raised canvas mix it up
- purposely be imperfect, don’t worry about lining up everything exactly, unless you are using 16 of the same frames, then you do want exact
The wall looked like this for MONTHS. I knew I didn’t want the stair step look but, I patiently waited to fill it in.
The items currently on my wall:
- $1 yard sale chalkboard framed in a $8 clearance frame from Garden Ridge that I painted white
- Famed kindergarten silhouette of my oldest, the paper cutout was sent home in his backpack one day
- My cherished silhouettes created by silhouette artist Lena Bengston
- An old photo of my dad and his brother that my great grandfather took
- My Red Letter Words street names
- Amber Herlocker photos that I bartered for, including the LARGE canvas
- The letter “M” found at a yard sale years ago
- Photo my sister took of all our offspring together
- Serving platter with a vinyl sofa silhouette from Back 40 Life
- Kid painted canvas hot glued into a yard sale painted white frame {one of my favorite looks}
- Large painted canvas splattered with leftover wall paint
Today is your lucky day, I’ve got two things to help you on your gallery wall way.
Order an Inexpensive Canvas
First, many of you have asked about my canvases {canvi?} and wondered a good place to get them. When I bartered for mine, I happened to see the retail price for a large canvas that size and I have two words, “car payment”. Seriously, canvases are expensive. My friend Jessica told me about a place that she’s used to order canvases before and their prices are amazing. If you want to read more about it, click on that free canvas button down there.
This is an affiliate link
Right now you can get a free 8 x 10 canvas and just pay shipping {~$15?}. I think the canvases have a 3/4 inch wrap. Or you can go bigger and get a big discount here are the discounted prices:
Such a great deal to get some good sized canvases.
Also, we have a GIVEAWAY!
Jodi, an advertiser and friend from Back 40 Life is sponsoring a giveaway for a $50 gift certificate to a lucky winner from her Etsy shop.
I put some of her vinyls on some canisters. SO cute! {be more patient than me and put them on straight though}
And of course, my favorite, you can have them made in 20 different colors {now I want a white one too}.
And she’s got a ton of other things too, any of which could be incorporated into a gallery wall.
Leave a comment to enter to win a $50 gift certificate from Back 40 Life.
This post is the 6th in a series 31 Days to a Less Messy Nest
love the decals! sign me up.
I SOOOO need these 31 days of HELP! :) LOVE LOVE LOVE the walls – so need some help in that area! I’ve been thinking about ordering some vinyls somewhere, but was afraid of breaking the budget. What a great giveaway! Thanks!!
The mailbox vinyl is such a great idea!
Love the vinyl!
I would love love love to win – I’ve had my eyes on several of her items for a while now! Thanks for the chance!
I love the vinyl decals. I’m also loving this series…our fall project is decluttering and repurposing!
I’ve been following your blog and loving it. Since I don’t/can’t afford a Cricut or Silhouette I would love to win some vinyl lettering/figures-perhaps a bird’s nest? Thanks for all the tips and other sources to go to for great finds.
I would love to play with some vinyl decals and see what I can create!
I have been drooling over these decals for months – I would love to put a big monogram over our bed…very tailored and classic yet current. LOVING the 31 days to a less messy nest series!!
Your gallery wall looks great!
Love all the furniture vinyls.
I just put a big S on my gallery wall! I was wondering…did you hot glue yours up? I did. I *think* it’ll come down OK. :)
I never tire looking at your beautiful home, Nester.
A comment! A comment! I left a comment! ;)
These 31 days have already been super helpful, thanks for all your tips!!
I hope I’m not too late for the giveaway! I’m loving this 31 Days idea! I’m reading a few of the blogs and I really love it all!
Love the wall! I’ve been decorating my living room as of late, but I’ve got one large wall that is, shall we say, less than inspiring, and I’m at a loss as to what to do with it. I’m still not sure what to do, but you’ve certainly got my wheels turning.
I’m working on a gallery wall for our living room now, these tips are great, and please sign me up for a chance at the vinyl decals!
Also, where did you find the mount that you use to put the tray on the wall? I have some plates I would love to put up but I can’t find something like that everywhere! And when I ask (at Michaels, Home Depot) no one knows what I’m talking about!
I LOVE your wall! We have a huge, open greatroom, and while I absolutely love the size, just trying to find things to take up wall space is quite a challenge. I’m also kindof a committment-phobe, so this idea is perfect for me. And it’s a way to display all the great souvenirs, prints, cards, etc. that I keep but don’t really do anything with. Just pop them into a frame and add to the wall! Thanks :)
Question: I’m not seeing the link for the canvases. I’ve turned the ad-blocker off in Firefox, but I’m still not able to click to the canvas place. I was just looking at canvases as mpix because I’d like to give a canvas photo print to the nurses at my cancer treatment center at my last chemo appointment next Thursday. So this discount is very timely if I can get the link. Please advise ASAP. Thanks!!
I’m loving your series, but if you could see the clutter in my house…sigh, I’m a long way from implementing any of these tips and making my house look anywhere close to the pictures you’ve taken.
Never mind. I opened up an Internet Explorer browser and it’s working now. I must not have the ad-blocker off…not sure what to do about that…Thanks, Nester! ;)
You are inspiring, encouraging and fun…. Thanks for all the great ideas… I’m still trying to get up the nerve to just put it up and move it if I have to. I keep trying to come up with the perfect wall and never do anything!!
THanks again!
Love the gallery wall. I am slowing collecting for mine–and hoping it will help me get over my symmetry obsession…
I have a gallery wall project I have been waiting to do. I have a large, black, ornate frame and would love a fancy initial vinyl to “frame” as part of my gallery wall. Thanks for a chance to win!
I love these vinyls! I been wanting to do some plates with different images and making a gallery wall with them. Anyways we’ll see what happens :) Thanks for inspirations, and the chance to win
I want some vinyl for my house which is slowly becoming a home :-)
I would love many things from Back 40 Life! I love the decals!
I love looking at all these photos and would love to upload my diningroom pic with the Longaberger Snowman plates and our Savannah Floral place mats. Not a common combo but I love it and can use the place mats year round.
Can you please share your wall color for the gallery wall? It’s perfect! Thanks…
Can you please share your wall color for the gallery wall? It’s perfect! Thanks…
How cool, I haven’t seen these before. I am going to go to her shop at Etsy and look around. Thanks so much
Hi, what is that picture of the flowers that was added to your gallery on the right? Where did you get it? it looks great!
thank you!
Kara
I think you just see a Pinterest plugin from my latest pins, just click it and it should take you there :)