New Year, New Room Refresh Challenge | Master Bedroom Week 2: Progress + Tips for pulling together a Gallery Wall

Today is WEEK #2!! This refresh challenge has been, well, just that. A total challenge. I knew I wasn’t going to be making a crazy amount of changes to our bedroom – no painting, no new furniture or furniture projects period – mainly wall decor and sprucing up the bed. But dang! I tell you what…the thought of next week being the reveal has me feeling a bit anxious and slightly behind the eight ball. I’ve got exactly one week to whip this space into shape and although most of the components are here, like physically in my home, there is still pleennnnttty to do. If you can’t find me next weekend, you know where to find me. Annnd I’ll probably have kidnapped another member of my household in the process.

What’s the struggle, you ask. Well, its more like big fat question marks.

I have collected approximately 317 frames. Most of the frames in my “collection” are thrifted finds. You know how I roll when it comes to gallery walls. I adore a good gallery wall, but would seriously go broke if I bought new frames each time I design one in my head and then decide to go to town on the wall. Have you seen my stairwell?!

So, although I am not going to be showing you the finished product yet, I am going to share my tips for pulling together a gallery wall. Next week, you get to see the goods 😉

Sometimes I have no method to my madness and other times, like in this particular case, I have a plan of attack.

ok, so here we go!

1 | Select your inspiration piece.

Not only is my art piece inspiration for my gallery wall, but it was actually what ignited the entire room’s design and color palette. Here it is:

Minted – LA – Day 49

This print is from Minted and I absolutely adore it. It is the perfect combination of color and texture. I will always decorate with black, white and gold – always, but this piece allows me to pull a couple of other colors into the room as well. I love that its a bright and fun piece, but it still has a few splashes of black and dark gray in the print, too, which you’ll see used throughout the room next week. Like most of minted’s prints, this one comes in 8 different sizes with the option of 15 different frames. I chose to have mine framed in basic black.

For this inspiration piece, you ultimately need to determine what piece is going to make it onto the wall – one way or another. A large family portrait on canvas, a vintage art find, a special gift, a splurge piece – whatever the case may be. Just something you can build off of…a starting point. It’s the non-negotiable piece. Its going up no matter what.

2 | Gather frames.

This is the fun and inexpensive part! If you know me, then you know I seriously hoard collect frames.

Target clearance frame – mine.

Michaels 40% off – in the cart. 

$1.99 at Goodwill – I’ll take 3.

After exercises A, B and C on repeat over time, you can see how my stash would steadily increase. My point is if you do a little hunting around town before you are ready to put up a gallery wall or before you even have the idea, then you allow yourself some time to score a few deals. When the time comes to put the frames up, I like to go to my collection and start pulling a few frames that I might want to use in that particular space. Shopping your house is one of the THEE best things ever! I grab a few colors, sizes and shapes and head into the room to plan the layout – typically, by placing the frames on the floor and then rearranging until I think I have it just right. I have been known to rearrange a few more times once the frames are up on the wall. Shhhh don’t tell! I am definitely not one of those people who write posts on “how to hang a gallery wall like a pro on the first try without extra nail holes”. I mean, who are those people anyways? #notreallife

While gathering your frames, you want to decide on your color scheme. Since I started with my minted art print framed in black, I am choosing to work with black, white and gold frames in my gallery wall which is pretty standard around my home, but holds true in this space as well.

3 | Add a unique shape.

Sometimes I like uniformity and sometimes I don’t. More often than not, I like things to be slightly edgy with a little sass or a wee bit of funk. This could be by simply placing a round frame among all rectangles. This could also mean adding a sunburst mirror, a key or even a number to your wall. It doesn’t have to be anything too extreme, but by adding something that looks a little different than the rest of the frames, creates visual interest on your wall and in your space overall.
Here, I used an open round frame to break up all of the rectangles on the wall in our guestroom. Its not too crazy or dramatic, but it gives it a unique, eclectic look.

4 | Keep it interesting & do something unexpected.

I would’t say adding a picture ledge (like above) within a gallery wall is unexpected, but it does create an interesting focal point. I was able to layer some leaning frames on the ledge and even put a small plant on the end which added another styling accessory…some fresh greens  – something other than a frame.

In other areas of the guestroom, I put a slight twist on your standard wall decor. First, by layering 2 separate metal pieces (the black one and the gold one) on top of each other to create a multi-dimensional over-the-bed decor piece…
…and on the other side of the room, opposite of the picture ledge gallery wall, I framed 2 prints and hung them on the wall and then put an open frame around them both. I called it “framing a frame” – so clever, I know!
It’s a way of taking two smaller pieces and creating one, larger statement piece out of it. This “technique” is applied in the master bedroom gallery wall, too. Sorry, still no sneak peeks!!

Ok, fine. I’ll share this eensie weensie spoiler with you since I shared it on instagram already.
The wall has already had 4 makeovers since this cell phone shot, but at least its something other than a blank wall!

Some of the best and my most favorite gallery walls are the unique, awe-inspiring ones. The ones that don’t resemble my next door neighbor’s or the go-to, standard layout on pinterest. I like to have fun with the walls and be a little bold. Why not? If you change your mind some day, there’s nothing that a little spackle, sandpaper and paint can’t fix, right?!

Not to drag this post on by adding another list, but I thought it might be helpful to see my original hit list and where I am at this point.

1 | buy curtain rods / hang curtain rods
2 | buy curtains / hang curtains
3 | TV gallery wall
4 | determine over the bed decor
5 | determine left side of the window
6 | determine right side of the window
7 | new bedding
8 | pillow arrangement?
9 | tabletop accessories (dresser x 2 & nightstand x 2)
10| conceal cable box
11 | bench?
12 | additional seating
13 | wall storage / hooks
14 | DIY art
15 | lamp
16 | _____________
17 | _____________
18 | _____________
19 | _____________
20 | _____________

Since there a very few “checks” and even more blanks, I for sure have my work cut out for me. But with a few solid naptime hours and the weekend ahead, this room will be good to go. If not, then you’ll hear about it!

What are your gallery wall hanging tips? Do you like symmetrical layouts? Monochromatic? Eclectic?!

If you missed the rest of the Challenge, get caught up below:

Week 1 | Before Pictures + Inspiration Board
Week 2 | Progress + Gallery Wall Tips
Week 3 | Sneak Peek + gold lamp options
Week 4 | The Reveal Part I

Another big, big thank you to our lovely, talented and super hardworking host, Stephanie of Casa Watkins!!

Now, hurry and go see what the others are up to – I know they’ve been working their tails off!

Thank you to our New Year, New Room Refresh Challenge brand collaborators!

Still more coming your way this week right back here! Have an awesome day!