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Tips for Hanging a Gallery Wall of Stacked Frames

playroom gallery wall Playroom reading nook playroom gallery wall 3 black frames mini playroom picture wall This is our Bliss

It’s so crazy how this playroom has suddenly come to life again! It was a project I started and just never quite finished up. After sharing the 4th installment of the playroom reading nook series [the light], I heard from several readers asking to share the details of the 3 stacked frames hanging to the right of the nook. I thought today would be a good time to share the scoop on this mini, or as I refer to it, small wall + big statement gallery wall. Here are my Tips for Hanging a Gallery Wall of Stacked Frames.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means by clicking on certain links and making a purchase, a small percentage goes back to this blog to allow me to continue to bring you new ideas and published posts at no additional cost to you!

TIPS FOR HANGING A GALLERY WALL OF STACKED FRAMES

Unlike most of the photo walls in our home, this Gallery Wall of stacked frames is symmetric and simple. It is only 3 frames and the photos are done in black and white. I typically opt for black and white photos, but the placement of the frames in our other gallery walls is a bit more artsy (I don’t follow any rules, but rather go with what my eye likes) and the size, shape and sometimes color of the grouping of frames is usually more eclectic.

However, black is definitely a classic when it comes to picture frames.playroom reading nook - DIY reading nook light - reading corner - kids room - This is our BlissFor this small playroom wall, I wanted to make a statement, but maintain a sleek and classic look. It is a small, skinny wall and there was already so much going on right next door with the “I <3 to Read” wall and the DIY bookshelves.

TIPS FOR HANGING A GALLERY WALL OF STACKED FRAMES: THE FRAMES

So to keep things simple and affordable (and safe) I chose the NYTTJA frames from IKEA. Unfortunately, I don’t believe they sell the black ones anymore. I selected this particular frame (20″ x 20″) because I love the square shape and the reason they are a safe choice, is because the front is made out of plastic versus a real piece of glass. If one of my boys throws a ball, or a truck, or a Frisbee or my cell phone at the wall, we won’t have to deal with broken, shattered glass.

Totally key for a playroom in my book!
nyttja-frame-assorted-colors__0124862_PE281965_S4If you aren’t diggin’ the color choices, take the frame home and remove the cardboard backing and the plastic front and spray the frame black or whatever color you like. It really would be a quick fix. For a $7.99 frame, a little elbow grease is totally worth it!

TIPS FOR HANGING A GALLERY WALL OF STACKED FRAMES: THE MATS

After purchasing these 3 frames, I decided I wanted to have custom white mats cut. I actually had my dad cut these particular mats, but I have used Michaels for custom mats, too. He’s an artist and does his own matting and framing, so he tends to help me out in this department. My parents live in Iowa, so I only use Michaels if I have a project that I need done very quickly!

Their turnaround time is typically a few days. I don’t mind spending the money for custom mats, because IKEA frames are so affordable.

These particular IKEA frames don’t come with mats at all, but their frames that do, unfortunately come with a bad creamy, beige colored mat.
IKEA frames - close up Playroom reading nook playroom gallery wall 3 black frames mini playroom picture wall This is our BlissCrisp white mats look so much cleaner and nicer, in my opinion.
playroom reading nook - DIY light - reading corner - kids room - This is our BlissFor the mats, what you need to do, is take your frame to them and tell them what size of (picture) opening you want. For example. These frames are 20″ x 20″ frames, but I wanted the photo opening to be for a 12″ x 12″ print.
IKEA frames - close up with custom mat Playroom reading nook playroom gallery wall 3 black frames mini playroom picture wall This is our BlissThe key is to have the opening cut just smaller, say 11 3/4″ x 11 3/4″ or 11 7/8″ x 11 7/8″ so that your 12″x 12″ print will fit behind the mat, not be smaller than the opening. Make sense? The person cutting your mats should know what they are doing, but it is something you might want to double-check. Based on the pricing of other custom mats from Michaels, I would say this size would probably cost around $20-25/each.

If you want to have a double-thick mat cut, it would be more expensive, but would definitely give a more professional, polished look to your piece. Single thickness mats are just fine, too, though.

TIPS FOR HANGING A GALLERY WALL OF STACKED FRAMES: THE PHOTOS

Lastly, I ordered 3 black and white prints of my boys from Costco. If you are a Costco member and have never used their photo printing services, I highly recommend them. The quality is excellent and the turnaround time is typically an hour or so. The prices are really inexpensive, too! A 12″ x 12″ print is $3.99 and Costco is one of the few places I have found that does square prints.

They also do an 8″ x 8″ size which I’ve ordered before as well.
Fullscreen capture 11102015 14320 PM
One other tip is to order lustre or matte prints versus glossy. They will show less fingerprints and smudges and look better in your frame overall. You can set your preferences to lustre on the Costco website. It will be saved in your settings for future orders. I forgot to change it from the default “glossy” one time and was so disappointed after opening the order I anxiously awaited. The photo guy told me about the settings online.

I never made that mistake again!

My other go-to spot for ordering prints is Shutterfly. I have been uploading and storing my photos on Shutterfly for over 10 years now. Not only do they have high quality prints, but their wide selection of photo gifts makes it easy to select and create personalized items for family and friends.
Playroom reading nook playroom gallery wall 3 black frames mini playroom picture wall front door view This is our BlissSo for a grand total of around $110, your small wall + big statement gallery wall is complete! What I love about this gallery wall of stacked frames is that it’s kid-friendly. Since we hung the frames in the playroom, I don’t have to worry about any shattered glass if anything would get knocked into or thrown at the wall.

Not too bad, considering another “mini” gallery wall in our house only has 2 frames and cost nearly double! I will share the details on this slightly pricier one sometime soon. Stay tuned 🙂
playroom gallery wall Playroom reading nook playroom gallery wall 3 black frames mini playroom picture wall This is our Bliss

Questions about my tips for hanging a gallery wall of stacked frames?

Please leave me a comment below! Thanks for reading and have a great day!

As are many bloggers, I too, am gearing up for the holidays and have plenty of merry goodness & Christmas sparkle on the way. I hope its not too soon for you! If it is, just tuck these ideas away until December rolls around. It will be here before we know it!

To see more playroom projects or kid spaces, visit here and to see more gallery wall related projects, you can see these posts!

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  • mbzinteriors
    November 12, 2015 at 5:47 AM

    I love this nook! What’s the wall color please, did I miss that in a post? And is the foyer wall same color? Thanks!

    • Rachael @ This is our Bliss
      November 17, 2015 at 10:42 PM

      Thanks for stopping by! No you didn’t miss anything – the wall color in the playroom is Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray and the foyer is SW Kilim Beige. Thanks again!