This post is sponsored by Framebridge.
Our upstairs hallway has been begging for art since, well, we moved in. I knew I wanted to fill the whole hallway with family pictures eventually — a true memory lane. But I decided to take it one segment at a time and start with this portion in between the two sconces that Chris installed way back in May! (No, our ceilings aren’t painted yet — but we do have baseboard!)
A gallery HALL can be really intimidating, but a gallery wall can feel overwhelming, too! What photos to choose, what sizes and frames to mix together, gathering everything and then hanging it all in an interesting, eclectic, gathered way (we are going for a collected-over-time look) is a LOT. So I was relived and over the moon to see that Framebridge has added a whole GALLERY WALL section where you can choose a gallery that suits you (and your wall size), upload your photos and they print and custom frame them AND aaannnndddd!!!! send you a template where each nail and frame goes on the wall. The whole thing took under 20 minutes!
They have over 20 gallery wall options ranging in size, shape, price, and color, and the interface is really easy to use. Their “Staggered Grid” gallery wall was perfect the perfect size for this wall at 80×51 inches, and I loved the mixed metallics option since we love to mix metals in every room in the house — why not for frames, too!
I used a mix of family photos, mostly from traveling. Some with the girls, some of just the girls. One with Chris’s siblings, one with mine. Choosing the nine photos to fill the gallery was the hardest part of this project, but knowing that I wanted to extend the photos down the whole hall one day really took some pressure off.
When they started arriving last week, I was overjoyed. I didn’t realize how much these memories meant to me and to physically hold these framed photos was so special. The frames are substantial. The sizes are all so unique. I love how no frame was a standard size you’d find at a big box store–they looked (and are) truly custom and the hunky mats were the cherry on top. I could just go on and on. Worth. it.
Like I mentioned above, each gallery wall comes with a template that shows the outline of each frame and where each picture hanger nail will go (also included). We centered it between the lights and leveled the top and went to town.
Even for avid DIYers like us, getting a gallery wall spacing just right takes so much time so this felt like a vacation to be honest.
I got every nail in place as fast as Chris could unwrap them for me.Â
And then you rip down the template and all the nails are in place! We panicked for a second because “wait! how will we remember where the frames go!?” Luckily they also include a card with a final image of the gallery wall too, so we just matched it up.
One by one.
Nine custom printed and (largely) framed photos filling an 50×80-inch wall, with the design done for you — you just can’t. beat. it.
We always get questions about how we like to display family photos and this is a perfect example. I like to focus on photos that tell a story, or of an event or travels. Keep them black and white generally so that the tones all match and mix and match the frames. And a gallery wall keeps it open to additions instead of replacing it (unlike one large photo on a wall that can feel outdated quick). Can’t wait to add more down our hall in the future!!
A gallery wall makes a great holiday project — but Framebridge has a lot of quick-ship gifts, too!
The gallery wall looks pretty awesome!!!!! Good job.
My grandparents had a wall in their basement that was filled floor to ceiling with family pictures. It was created over time and just got to the point where the family had grown so big that they needed the whole wall! It was truly a special place in their house that I will always remember and hope to recreate in my own home someday.
This is SO cool. We’re building a house and I know I’m going to be paranoid about putting holes in the wall, but our hallway is begging for a gallery wall too. This takes the pressure off! Love it. Also, your end result is gorg!
So clever! I’ll use this method for my small art gallery wall.
I am definitely going to check out Frame Bridge