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
Mailbox decal is nice! I think gallery means stuff on walls = less need for stuff on surfaces?
LOVE LOVE LOVE the vinyls. So darned creative you are!
Love the vinyls!
I have some decorative plates in my kitchen that these vinyls would be PER-FECT for!
LOVE the vinyl lettering and designs! I am already dreaming of updating my daughter’s room when she becomes a “big girl” with a vinyl monogram over her bed!
I love vinyl!
would love to win some vinyl art to add some pizazz to our house! :)
This looks great! I keep wanting to try a gallery wall…maybe I’ll actually do it now!
My sister-in-law just recommended your site and I’m REALLY enjoying it!!
I’m loving all the basket suggestions, it makes all my basket purchases a little more valid :)
Would LOVE to win! Thanks! Your blog is SUPER cute!
I would love to win! I just found your blog and I love it!
Fun post! Wanting to do a wall like that in our nursery and now I am inspired to get started!!
I love your wall! fingers crossed for the giveaway!
love your gallery wall. you’ve inspired me to work on mine tomorrow!
i have the same dilemma! not enough wall space! love your gallery wall! and i would love to win a fun vinyl! thanks for the chance!
I love how charming and personal your home is. Thank you for you blog and for sponsoring this giveaway!
ooohhh… I would LOVE a new decal for my new, red, british style mailbox! Thanks, Nester!
Oh, this would be so fun to win! Your gallery wall is too fun- we have an enormous wall (15 by 12??) that we’ve painted lilac purple and are slowly filling in with favorite family pictures. It’s a process, but we love it!!
I love your blog. Thanks for sharing!
oh – I love them on the canister… great idea! Thanks!
I love love love all this. Thanks so much for the advice…I’m on a missionary budget and love these cheap and cheerful ideas!!
too funny…didn’t notice that the vinyl silhouttes weren’t straight until you pointed it out ;} Hey better done than perfect is my motto…I’d love to win some of these…so darn cute and I love them on mirrors around the house.
love the idea for vinyls on canisters and LOVE a crowded, meaningful, sentimental, and unique gallery wall
I enjoy your blog and the ideas you give me.
Great giveaway, thanks.
Working on a gallery wall now! A little help from Back 40 Life would be terrific!!!!
Is it too late to win??? :)
I am LOVING these posts on a less-messy nest!! EXACTLY what I need before the busy holiday season starts!
Those vinyls on the cannisters are adorable! Love it. :)
I just found your series about less-messy. I’m trying to catch up with your posts and enjoying them. I was loving your sofa platter and then to find out I can win one!?!?! Thank you for doing this. Your home is beautiful.
love the plate with the little sofa ….precious….pick me so I can have one hanging in my gallery!
Wow! I love her stuff! Hope I win!
And does the canvas come with a picture, or is it just plain canvas?
I love your gallery wall! I’ve been trying to put something similar together for our hallway, and I’m stumped. Guess I’ll be shopping the closets to see what neat stuff I can hang!
LOVE the vinyls on thos canisters! SO cute! Hoping I win. :)
Love your decorating style. Such an inspiration! Hoping to win!
oh how I absolutely adore your blog! such wonderful ideas that can brighten anyone’s home! thank you for the giveaway….this is just what I need to add a little spice to my house! here’s to wishing and hoping! :)
I love your gallery wall. I just walked in with 5 thrift store frames which I am going to paint same/similar color and use to start my own gallery wall. Thanks for the inspiration.
marguerito@comcast.net
You have such an awesome house! I love what you do with your decorations! Such inspiration.
you had me at vinyl! Love it! I so need a gallery wall too!
Love the vinyl stickers!
Really enjoying the series. You’re bringing up some new ideas. Would love to win!
Fun giveaways and great tips as always! Blessings!
I’m dying. Thank you for that link! What adorable decor!
love the wall vinyls! also thanks for the tip on canvas prints. what a great price
i would love to add one of her vinyls to my gallery wall…..
I am loving your series!
Those silhouettes are fantastic – love how you added one to the platter and to the canisters. You have such style!
I must have the monogram for over our bed!
I love the gallery wall, especially the addition of the arch to the left. I think it’s time for me to pull out all of my cherished wall hangings that have been collecting in the garage and get to it!
Love the monogram look!
Love the gallery wall idea! Displaying the things we love instead of hiding them away.
Loving those decals!!! You are very creative with them. I getting so many ideas to copy!!