Proof That When It Comes to Wall Art, Sometimes More Is More

The old adage is to take off at least one accessory before leaving the house, but that doesn’t ring true when it comes to house decor. When it comes to art in your home, sometime more is really more. Floor-to-ceiling gallery walls not only bring a touch of color and busy-ness into a room, but it also lets you flex your creative muscles, allows you to bring character into the space, and lets you show your personality through the paintings and prints you choose. So why not layer up on it? Below are rooms that prove that when it comes to wall art, you need to go big or go home.

When you think “gallery wall” you don’t usually think of a kitchen. Those art-heavy walls are usually reserved for spots like the wall behind your couch or the staircase, but Brady Tolbert’s kitchen remodel proves that a floor-to-ceiling wall of black-and-white prints is just the thing to spice up a kitchen nook.

Your office should be a space where you pull inspiration and buckle down to work, so it makes sense that you would want to surround yourself with images that move you.

If you have a loft or are just blessed with high ceilings, pull a bold design move by creating a gallery wall that goes up, and up, and up. The dizzying mix of prints creates a big impact.

A gallery wall doesn’t have to be limited to just one wall. Take a page from this home and create a gallery corner instead.

If you’re a renter or just don’t want to put holes into your walls, you can create a busy gallery wall by layering prints and paintings on top of each other on mounted shelves. For extra impact, mount a few smaller paintings onto the wall to take up maximum wall space, and leave a few leaning against the wall on the floor.

Make a small dining room nook feel memorable by covering it ceiling to floor with differently sized prints, photos, and paintings. To make it feel airy, you can create negative space between the prints by using matboards.

If you’re bored with the usual gallery wall reiteration, go a step further and carve out a nook for each painting—literally. Create shadow box-like shelves for each print, creating a pop-out gallery wall.