How to design your gallery wall at home, from an Idaho Family Photographer

Do you struggle to know where to put what photos and where? Yeah, me too. 
As an Idaho Family photographer I see the importance of not only printing your photos from your family session, wedding or whatever it may be. 

In today's digital age, it is so easy to store our photos on our phones, computer or somewhere in a cloud. Printing your photos is still an important part of preserving your memories. I am guilty of it as well, just saving photos on my phone but printed, tangible photos are so important. 

Digital files can easily become corrupted or lost over time, but physical photos can last for generations. Chances are you have printed photos from your childhood or your parents. I have a box of printed photos that are decades old that I wouldn't remember if it weren't for those physical pictures. 

Viewing photos on a screen can be convenient but it doesn't compare to seeing a gallery wall of the most precious people in your life. Printed photos have a tactile quality that makes them more enjoyable to look at and share with others. 

Professional wall art is like no other, you can choose between cotton canvas' to hang, lightweight standouts or stunning metal prints. The options are endless for quality professional wall art for your at home gallery. 

When designing your gallery wall you have an opportunity to be creative. You can create so many different variations for an at home gallery wall. You have the opportunity to choose different from photos from different sessions, different sizes and different layouts all together. You get to be creative on how to showcase your favorite photos. 

Not only will you be showcasing your favorite people, your family, in your gallery but this adds a personal touch to your home decor. 

When starting your gallery wall start with the "theme" and decide if you are going to showcase one session or several different sessions and types of photos. Do you want to feature all color photos or a mixture of black and white with the color? 

When planning your layout considered the space, the furniture and overall look in the room. Create a mock up! Use painters tape and create the gallery layout on your wall and get a great visual of what it is going to look like. 

Decide what type of wall art you want - canvas, metal, standouts or framed. None are wrong, use whatever you want and what you think will be best in the long wrong, there are no wrong answers here. 

Gallery Layout Options 

I put together several gallery layout for you to see an actual visual. It can be hard trying to decide how the photos will or should be displayed or what shapes and sizes go where. 

As you can see from the visuals you can use a bunch of different sizes to fill your space and look right on your wall. You don't want to go overboard and stuff the wall with too many photos and not be able to actual focus on them and see them. 

There is a nice balance just photos and just too many. Make sure you are using high resolution photos for your best products. 

DESIGNING YOUR GALLERY WALL IN SEVEN EASY TIPS

1. Choose your space: First, decide where you want to display your photos. A living room or hallway are popular options, but you could also consider a bedroom or home office.

2. Select your photos: Choose a mix of photos that represent the people and moments you want to showcase. You can include family portraits, wedding photos, vacation snaps, and more. Make sure to choose a mix of sizes and orientations for visual interest.

3. Plan your layout: Before you start hanging your photos, plan out your arrangement on the floor. This will give you a chance to play with different layouts and see what works best.

4. Use frames: To give your display a cohesive look, choose frames that are all the same color or style. This will create a sense of unity even with a variety of photos.

5. Experiment with spacing: The spacing between your frames is just as important as the frames themselves. Experiment with different gaps between photos to find the right balance for your space.

6. Consider a focal point: If you have one particularly special photo, consider making it the centerpiece of your arrangement. This will draw the eye and create a sense of cohesion.

7. Mix it up: Don't be afraid to mix in other decorative elements like mirrors or artwork. This will create a more dynamic display and keep things interesting.

With these tips in mind, you can create a stunning wall arrangement that showcases your professional photos in the best possible way. Take your time, experiment with different layouts, and most importantly, have fun!

How to arrange mix tiles 

Mix tiles are the rage right now. I actually have some mix tiles on my own wall in my home. The tiles are all the same size, 8x8, 12x12, whatever you choose. 

I showed you three options above, three tiles, six tiles and nine tiles. When laying out your gallery wall and you are using mix tiles, I encourage using and odd number. 

Why should you decorate in odd numbers?

Even numbers create symmetry, but odd numbers create interest. An odd number of details is more effective at capturing your gaze. Odd numbers force your eyes to move around the grouping–and by extension, the room. That forced movement is the heart of visual interest. 

While it may see "odd," no pun intended, but the odd numbers actually look more balanced in the three, six or nine tiles visuals.