How to Create a Stunning Gallery Wall with Printable Art

Blank walls got you feeling stuck? If you’re looking for an easy, affordable way to elevate your space, learning how to create a gallery wall with printable art is the perfect place to start. Gallery walls are a go-to interior design trick because they add personality, depth, and charm to any room — and using printable art makes the process even more budget-friendly and flexible. Whether you’re decorating a living room, bedroom, or hallway, you can mix and match styles, colors, and layouts to create something completely your own. In this post, we’ll walk you through everything from planning your layout to printing and hanging your art — so you can transform any blank wall into a stylish focal point.

Why Printable Art is Perfect for a Gallery Wall

One of the biggest perks of learning how to create a gallery wall with printable art is how incredibly versatile and approachable it is — no design degree or huge budget required! Printable art makes it easy to curate a collection that feels intentional, personal, and ever-evolving.

Flexibility in Size & Framing

Whether you’re filling a massive blank wall or working with a small nook, printable art gives you complete control over sizing. You can print your favorite designs to fit any frame — from tiny 5x7s to oversized statement pieces. This flexibility also means you can get creative with your framing choices, mixing vintage finds, modern minimal frames, or even clipboards and washi tape for a more casual look. 

Affordable & Easy to Switch Out

Building a gallery wall doesn’t have to mean a big investment. Printable art is one of the most affordable ways to decorate your home, especially if you like to refresh your space with the seasons or whenever inspiration strikes. Once you’ve downloaded a design, you can reuse it, reprint it, or rotate it into different rooms whenever you feel like mixing things up.

Your focal point image is no longer your favorite? No problem. Just reprint it in a smaller size and let a new design take center stage. This kind of flexibility is perfect for those of us who love to adapt our style to match our latest mood — all without needing to buy brand-new artwork every time inspiration hits.

Convenient and Sustainable

In these days of fast shipping and instant gratification, who wants to wait forever for shipping? Once you’ve found your perfect designs, there’s no waiting around for shipping or dealing with extra packaging. Your art is on your device in seconds. 

You can choose to print your art at home if you have a good printer, or easily upload the files to a trusted printing service like Shutterfly, Mpix, or Printique to get high-quality prints delivered right to your door. 

Even when using a professional printer, you’ll still cut down on a surprising amount of waste compared to buying pre-framed or mass-produced artwork. Traditional art prints often come wrapped in layers of plastic, foam fillers, bubble wrap, and bulky shipping materials to protect heavy frames or glass — most of which ends up in the trash. In contrast, ordering just the printed artwork, especially when it’s sized to fit standard frames you already own or can reuse, means fewer materials, lighter packaging, and less environmental impact overall. 

By skipping the mass production process and choosing exactly what you want to print and how, you’re making a more conscious choice — one that reduces waste, minimizes unnecessary shipping emissions, and allows you to curate your space with intention.

Browse our printable wall art for every style!

Planning Your Gallery Wall Layout

If you’ve ever stared at a blank wall wondering where to even begin, you’re not alone. Knowing how to create a gallery wall with printable art means more than just printing a few pieces and hanging them up randomly — it’s about thoughtful planning, cohesive design, and personal expression. This is where the fun really starts!

Start with a Purpose

Start with a Purpose

Before picking any art or frames, take a moment to consider what vibe, aesthetic (LINK) or story you want your gallery wall to tell. Is this a cozy corner for calming nature scenes? A bold statement wall full of color and energy? A modern mix of abstract and quotes?

Think about:

• The room’s purpose (e.g. calm in a bedroom, creativity in a home office, joy in a hallway)
• Your personal style (minimalist, eclectic, vintage-inspired, boho, modern, etc.)
• Color palette (stick with similar tones or mix complementary colors)
  

Pro Tip: Start a Pinterest board or folder of saved wall art you love. Patterns will emerge that show your true aesthetic. While you’re there, give us a follow so you can keep up with our ever growing inventory!

Measure and Map Your Wall

Don’t skip this step — it’ll save you so much frustration! Use painter’s tape or kraft paper cutouts to map out your desired layout on the wall before committing.

Things to consider:

• Total wall space: Measure width and height of the wall or area you want to fill.
• Center point: Start planning from the center out or around a focal point piece.
• Spacing: Keep about 2–3 inches between frames for balance (or more for large formats).
• Eye level: Generally, the center of your layout should be around 57–60 inches from the floor.

Choose a Layout That Works for You

Here are some popular gallery wall layouts to explore:

Need help visualizing? Tools like Canva or Photoshop can help you mock up your layout using images of your printable art before hanging. Pinterest is another great resource for finding the perfect layout for your space in arrangements you might not have considered!

How to Choose the Right Art for Your Gallery

Once you’ve got a layout in mind, it’s time to curate the art itself — the soul of your gallery wall. This is where your personality, style, and creativity shine. 

Theme vs. Mix-and-Match

Start by deciding whether you want your gallery to follow a specific theme or have a more eclectic, curated-over-time feel. A theme could be as simple as “coastal landscapes,” “black and white minimalism,” or “botanicals and nature.” Sticking to a theme can create a cohesive, pulled-together look.

Prefer something more organic? A mix-and-match approach lets you combine different subjects and styles — like pairing a dreamy watercolor landscape with a bold graphic quote print and a delicate line drawing. The key is balance. Even an eclectic gallery can feel cohesive with thoughtful planning.

Tip: Try choosing one unifying element, like a shared color palette or consistent framing, to tie your collection together.

Color Palette Tips

Color plays a huge role in the overall mood of your gallery wall. While you don’t need every print to match exactly, having a cohesive palette will help the wall feel intentional instead of chaotic. A few approaches to try:

• Monochrome: Stick with shades of one color for a sleek, modern look
• Muted tones: Perfect for calm, neutral rooms
• Bold pops: Great for playful or artistic spaces
• Warm earth tones: Add a cozy, grounded feel
• Seasonal color swaps: Easily change prints to match holidays or seasons

If you’re unsure, pick one anchor print you love and build your collection around the tones in that piece.

Balancing Sizes and Styles

A visually interesting gallery wall plays with contrast and harmony. Varying the sizes of your prints helps the wall feel dynamic — think one or two large pieces to anchor the layout, with smaller supporting prints around them.

You can also balance different art styles to create rhythm:

• A large abstract piece paired with a delicate botanical sketch
• A motivational quote print next to a dreamy nature scene
• A bold, graphic design paired with soft photography

This interplay of style and scale keeps the eye moving and makes your wall feel curated — not random.

Make It Personal

Your gallery wall should reflect who you are — your memories, your mindset, your inspiration. Don’t be afraid to mix in:

• Travel photos
• Art that reminds you of a favorite place
• A quote that resonates with your current season of life
• Meaningful gifts or family traditions represented in design

The beauty of printable art is how easy it is to swap things out as your style, space, or mood evolves. If you fall out of love with a piece, simply print a new one, resize, and rearrange your layout. It’s the ultimate way to keep your space feeling fresh and meaningful — without starting from scratch.

Printing & Framing Tips

Once you’ve selected your artwork, the right print sizes and framing choices can make all the difference in bringing your gallery wall to life.

Best Print Sizes for Gallery Walls

Start by mixing a variety of sizes to create visual interest. Common sizes that work well together include:

Small:
Rectangular: 5×7″, 8×10″
Square: 8×8″, 10×10″

Medium:
Rectangular: 11×14″, 12×16″
Square: 12×12″, 14×14″

Large:
Rectangular: 16×20″, 18×24″, 24×36″
Square: 16×16″, 20×20″, 24×24″

If you’re building a symmetrical layout, stick to similar sizes. For a more eclectic, organic look, mix and match sizes while maintaining even spacing between frames (typically 2–3 inches apart).

Where to Print Digital Downloads

Our digital downloads are designed in high resolution, so they retain their crisp, high-quality appearance across a variety of sizes. To ensure the best possible results, we recommend using a professional printing service—especially for medium to large prints—so you can enjoy every detail and rich color as intended.

That said, we know that every budget is different. If cost is a consideration, smaller sizes (8×10″ or less) can often be printed at home using a high-quality inkjet printer and thick matte photo paper. We encourage our customers to use the artwork in whatever way fits their needs—whether that’s framing a statement piece from a professional printer or printing something at home to freshen up a cozy corner.

Professional printing ensures premium results, but your gallery wall should work for your space, your style, and your budget. Some of the professional printing services we recommend are MPix and Shutterfly. We also love supporting small businesses, so be sure to check out your local print shop for their solutions, too!

Affordable Frame Sources

You don’t have to spend a fortune to frame your art beautifully. Some budget-friendly favorites include:

• Target – Modern, clean frames in various finishes.
• IKEA – Super affordable and great for matching sets.
• Amazon – Tons of sizes and styles, with quick delivery.
• Thrift Stores or Facebook Marketplace – For unique, vintage frames on a budget.

Mix Frame Styles for Texture

While matching frames create a sleek, uniform look, mixing styles adds warmth and dimension. Try combining:

• Wood and metal finishes
• Thin and chunky borders
• Neutral tones with a pop of brass or black

Just be sure there’s a unifying element—like a consistent color scheme or mat style—so it all feels intentional.

Conclusion

Designing a gallery wall is one of the most personal and rewarding ways to bring your space to life. With a little planning, the right mix of prints, and thoughtful framing, you can turn any blank wall into a statement that reflects your style, story, and creativity. Whether you’re keeping it clean and modern or going full-on eclectic, there’s no one right way to do it—just the way that feels right for you.

Now it’s your turn to get inspired, get creative, and start curating a wall that makes you smile every time you walk into the room.