How to make a gallery wall

Confession time: I'm not much of a decorator, and I REALLY don't do change well. Once I get my "personal space" set up, it doesn't change. EVER. There have been a few additions to my condo since I moved in six and a half years ago (like, you know, my husband and dog, and about 8,000 more books), but it's pretty much the same. Okay, exactly the same.

However, my sweet husband has this way of gently pushing me outside of my comfort zone with encouragement and love. All of his furniture and belongings coming into my perfectly spaced and designed house was stressing me out, and he knew it. Moving the bookcase from diagonally in the corner in front of the thermostat (NOT convenient) to beside the sofa drove me crazy. But it was the only way we would get his wide-screen TV and TV stand in the living room. I had to acquiesce. And incredibly, it made our living room look SO much larger.

So now I've been on a spree to find other ways we can make the midget condo look like it might actually comfortably fit two adults and a full-grown Labrador. And in that process, I'm having fun doing a little decorating, too.

It started when I saw my coworker had entered a contest to win a free downloadable graphic font print from Brim Papery. It basically involved sharing one of her images on Instagram, and you automatically received a free print. But once I received my free print, I realized I had no clue what to do with it. And that's when I thought of it - I'm going to make a gallery wall! FRAME ALL THE PRINTS.

So I went through Etsy and searched for prints that inspire me, including Bible verses, Eric Church lyrics, and Harry Potter quotes (oh, come ON now. You knew that was coming). I ordered multi-colored mats, bought some black frames, and we were in business.

Except B wanted to put the gallery wall in the dining room. Where I have had my Blik up since exactly three days after I moved into the condo. Which I put up all by myself. Remove it? Was the man MAD?! But he insisted it would look better there than in the hall. So I agreed. We peeled the Blik off the walls, bit by curly bit. We used a Magic Eraser to clean any adhesive that had stuck. We hung the gallery wall.

And wouldn't you just know, when we took down the Blik and put up the prints, the "dining room" looked so much larger...and so much better. Maybe I should try this "change" thing more often. Check out the pictures below and get ideas for yourself!

Want to do it yourself?

Check out the prints I purchased, or search these shops for your own favorite quotes!

1// Love never fails (my favorite of the bunch!)

2// Carolina

3// Paris

4// Grass (my freebie, not yet for sale)

5// For each new morning

6// I solemnly swear


The frames came from Bed Bath & Beyond. They came 4 to a pack for $29.99 (plus the ubiquitous 20% off coupons). I only needed six frames, but this was a better deal than buying them individually. The white mats that came with the frames were removable so I could use the colored mats.

I purchased the mats from 5dollarframes.com. For six mats and shipping, it was only $16. Pretty economical. And as you can see, they offer a ton of colors. I do wish their Carolina blue wasn't quite so pale/washed out, but alas, I think it's enough that people get the idea :)

We are also going to expand our wall a little with a few smaller prints (when I decide on some I like). It will be an evolving work that reflects B and me. Luckily, I don't think I'll be afraid to change it.