A budget-friendly idea for a glitz gallery wall with upcycled thrift store finds and how FINALLY after decades of being challenged by how to decorate the 12-foot wall in our front entry, we got it right.

It took months of scouring thrift stores to find the vintage wall art for this space and some we already had which makes this a budget-friendly idea for a gallery wall design. Once the wall was painted dark grey, I knew just two colors would pull the mix of traditional and mid-century modern frames together for this eclectic gallery wall.

Budget-Friendly Gallery Wall Idea

My vision for the wall was an eclectic mix of interesting picture frames and reflective mirrors. I wanted texture, swirls, curlicues, shiny gloss, and shimmery metallics for high contrast against the dark wall.

The wall has a sightline to our living room and dining room above so the placement is important. Gallery walls can be a challenge so I share some tips and tricks further down in the post that I hope you will find helpful.

Hanging the frames on the gallery wall takes no time at all with no measuring required. In fact, our gallery wall took a little over thirty minutes and some of these frames are heavy!

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to create a large gallery wall, almost all of the DIY projects shared here at Interior Frugalista have step-by-step tutorials so why not get your budget DIY on and subscribe. You can also follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Let's take a look at where we started with our Sundried Tomato wall color and the DIY large plank wood clock that we built a few years ago.

During the recent living room makeover, the clock was modified and got a modern farmhouse makeover to hang above our fireplace. The clock looks very different now and so much better in the living room.

While we had the ladders in place to paint the wall, we also gave the ceiling fan a glitzy makeover too.

If you're thinking, oh a large pendant light fixture would look so much better in that space, you'd be right. BUT this fan is a workhorse during the summer to keep our home cool because we don't have air conditioning. 

Here is that same wall after painting over the Sundried Tomato with Behr Premium Plus latex paint in the color Mined Coal (PPU 18-18), the same color used as an accent throughout the house. The opposite walls are painted Behr Toasty Gray (N320-2).

Big difference, right?

We still plan on adding more smaller elements to the gallery wall as we find them. I think the gap between the white mirror on the right and the chrome one on the bottom needs a little something-something.

The entry isn't quite finished yet either, we plan on building a small bench soon for guests to use to put on their shoes.

So let's begin with the damaged mirror frame.

How To Repair A Damaged Picture Frame

It wasn't until I went to clean all the frames to prep them for paint that I noticed one of them had a chunk missing.

No worries, I've been down that road before and you can see how to fix this in my how-to-replicate missing trim tutorial.

The new replicated piece looks a little crude in the photo above because it was glued first before cleaning up the excess clay. Once the glue cured overnight I used a sharp retractable knife to remove the extra clay and sanded the ridges smooth with sandpaper.

You'd be hardpressed to tell unless you knew exactly what you were looking for that the frame had a chunk missing from one corner.

Choosing Paint Colors For The Gallery Wall Frames

As I mentioned earlier, just two paint colors are all that was needed to unify the mix of gallery wall frames. We chose high gloss white and shiny chrome to create a high contrast with the dark grey wall.

To determine which frames should be painted white and which ones chrome we strategically laid the frames out on the floor how we wanted them hung on the wall. So we wouldn't forget the grid pattern I took a picture with my phone.

Next, I stuck a piece of masking tape on the back of each frame and labeled them W or C, and headed outdoors to spray paint them with Rustoleum Touch Ultra Cover Gloss White and Rustoleum Bright Coat Metallic Finish Chrome.

Tips For Designing A Gallery Wall

• Lay the gallery art on a neutral surface, something without a pattern so it doesn't compete with the art. A wood floor, neutral carpet, or a solid sheet make the perfect backdrop for this process.
• To create a sense of balance, the gallery art should relate to one another either by subject or color.
• The large grouping should form an outer square, vertical or horizontal rectangle, or circle.
• To keep the grouping from looking disjointed, place the art fairly close together with no large visible gaps. You can fill larger gaps with small items that relate.
• Balance the visually heavier pieces on each side.
• Try to use an odd number of elements within the grouping (we used seven).
• Stand back every so often and take a picture with your phone - a picture says a thousand words!

No Measure Tip For Hanging Gallery Wall Art

You can do this step before you paint the frames or after, it doesn't matter. These next tips are the No Measure deal-breaker for making it super easy to hang the art.

• Trace the outline of each frame onto craft paper, label them if necessary, and cut each template out.
• Flip the frames upside down and lay the template on the backside of the frame.
• Mark with a pencil where the nails will rest on the picture hooks or picture wire. At the very top center of the D-hooks or pull the picture wire taut in the center.

Now we're ready to hang the gallery wall art the easy way!

Easy Way To Hang A Gallery Wall

Now's when you'll want to refer back to that photo you took with your phone of the grid pattern. Thanks to the previous step, hanging the gallery art is so quick and easy. The hardest part is balancing on a high ladder!

• Tape the templates onto the wall with a low-tack painter's tape. If the walls are freshly painted you may want to use Delicate Surface Frog Tape.
• Check to be sure the templates are straight with a level.
• Play around with the grouping until you're satisfied with the placement.
• Starting with one template, punch a hole through the template where you marked the picture hangers with an Awl.
• Remove the template.
• Chances are you didn't hit a stud so be sure to use drywall anchors and screws.
• Whether you're using screws, nails, or monkey hooks, make sure they are rated for the weight of the frame.
• Continue the previous step for all the templates and you're done!

In March we set out to paint every room on the main floor of our house. That lead to mini makeovers with a maximum budget of $400 per room. To see the other room makeovers you can catch up here on our Budget Home Improvements page. It includes the DIY home decor projects for each room as well.

Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! I hope you found the gallery wall tips shsred here helpful.

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below or the Contact Me tab at the top to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!

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