Gallery walls have a reputation for being hard. They are not. They are mostly a spacing problem wearing a fancy outfit. If you start with a matching set of prints, the difficult part (choosing art that looks good together) is already done, and all that is left is deciding where the nails go.
This guide covers the layouts that work for sets of 3 and sets of 6, the numbers you need for spacing and height, and a planning trick that saves your wall from a dozen extra holes.
Three numbers to remember
- 2 to 3 inches between frames. Closer than 2 looks cramped, wider than 4 and the prints stop reading as one group. Pick a gap and keep it identical everywhere.
- 57 inches to the center. The middle of the whole arrangement (not each frame) should sit around 57 to 60 inches from the floor, which is roughly eye level.
- Two thirds of the furniture. Above a sofa, bed or console, the full arrangement should be about two thirds as wide as the furniture, and its bottom edge should sit 6 to 10 inches above it.
Treat the whole group as one big rectangle. Work out how wide and tall that rectangle is, center it, then place the frames inside it.
Layouts for a set of 3
The classic row
Three frames side by side, same size, same gap. It is the safest layout there is and it suits long horizontal spaces: above a sofa, a bed, a sideboard or a bar cart. Three 11x14 inch frames with 3 inch gaps make a group 39 inches wide, which fits nicely over a loveseat or a 60 inch console. Go up to 16x20 for a full size sofa.
A calm, tonal set is made for this. The Neutral Leopard Gallery Wall Art Set of 3 in beige works in a row over a bed or in a hallway without fighting the rest of the room.
The vertical stack
Got a skinny strip of wall between two doors, beside a window or next to a mirror? Stack the three prints in a column. Use smaller frames here (8x10 or A4) and a tighter 2 inch gap so the column does not climb to the ceiling.
The small corner trio
For a bar cart or coffee nook, hang a row of three small frames so the group is about as wide as the cart itself. The Black Bar Cart Wall Art Set of 3 is a good fit: dark prints give a small corner a clear edge, so it looks like a planned spot rather than a place where bottles ended up.
Layouts for a set of 6
The 3 by 2 grid
Three across, two down. This is the layout for above a sofa or a long dresser. With 8x10 inch frames and 2 inch gaps the grid measures 28 inches wide and 22 inches tall. With 11x14 frames and 3 inch gaps it is 39 by 34 inches. Grids only look good when they are precise, so use a level and measure every gap.
The Leopard Gallery Wall Art Set of 6 suits a grid well, because the six prints share a palette and identical frames turn them into one large statement piece.
The 2 by 3 column
Same six frames, turned ninety degrees: two across, three down. Use it on a tall narrow wall, at the end of a hallway or beside a doorway. Bathrooms are a great place for it, since the wall above the towel bar or beside the vanity is usually taller than it is wide. The Funny Bathroom Wall Art Set of 6 in black and white fits the job, and you can find more ideas in our post on funny bathroom wall art.
The staircase
Hang six frames in a diagonal line that follows the stairs. Measure 57 inches straight up from the front edge of every second or third step, mark those points, and center a frame on each. Keep the gap between frames equal and the line will look right.
The relaxed mix
If a strict grid feels too formal, print two of the six larger and four smaller, then build around the big pair. Keep one thing consistent (the gap, the frame color or one shared straight edge) and the arrangement still looks intentional. A breezy set like the Blue Coastal Gallery Wall Art Set handles this looser style well.
Plan it on paper first
- Lay the frames on the floor and shuffle them until you like the order. Take a photo.
- Trace each frame onto kraft paper or newspaper and cut it out.
- Mark on each paper template where the hook on the back of the frame sits.
- Tape the templates to the wall with painter's tape, using a level and a ruler for the gaps.
- Step back, live with it for an hour, adjust.
- Nail straight through the marks, tear the paper away and hang.
Start with the center frame (or the center column in a grid) and work outward. Small errors then get split between both sides instead of piling up at one end.
Printing and framing tips
Because these are digital downloads, you decide the size, so choose your layout first and print to match. A few things make a gallery wall look more expensive than it was:
- Match the frames. Same color and same profile across the whole set. Black, white or light oak all work.
- Use mats on small prints. An 8x10 print in an 11x14 frame with a mat fills more wall and looks more polished.
- Print everything in one batch. Same paper, same printer or print shop, so the colors match from frame to frame.
- Pick matte paper. Heavy matte stock avoids glare, which matters when six frames catch the same window.
For paper weights and printer settings, see our guide on how to print digital wall art at home.
Renting? Adhesive picture hanging strips hold lightweight frames well, and a picture ledge lets you lean and overlap a set of 3 with no measuring at all.
Ready to fill that blank wall?
Pick a layout, measure your rectangle, and choose a set that already matches. Browse the gallery wall sets collection for coordinated sets of 3 and 6, or see every bundle in wall art sets. Download, print, tape up some paper templates, and the wall can be finished by tonight.