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Make paper templates of your frames so you can plan out your gallery wall before you put holes in the wall.
Wire, chains, tiles, and brackets can give a lame frame that little pop of glamour your walls have been missing.
Get the tutorial for this Anthropologie frame knockoff on Curbly.
The art that you hang on your gallery wall doesn't have to be from the same artist, be the same size, or even be the same type of art. Including a variety allows each piece to stand out, so mix it up! Hang a vintage plate with a large painting, a small photo, and a cool graphic of your favorite quote.
See this wall on The Crafted Sparrow.
It can be hard to see the ~big picture~ when you're looking at such a large space. Draw a few different designs and decide which you like best for the space.
Check out these designs on Collective Gen.
If you're nervous about pissing off your landlord, don't worry — you can get a set of Command Strips that can support up to 12 pounds! Follow the 3M tutorial for using these strips on YouTube.
Get a 16-pack of strips from Amazon for $10.22.
Using paper cutouts will allow you to play with the layout of your frames and assure that everything is evenly spaced and level before you start poking holes in the wall.
Cut the template out, then flip the frame over and trace the hanger onto the paper. Label each frame with a number and write that number on the corresponding template so you don't lose track of where everything goes. Once you're sure that you like the layout, hammer the nails into the hanger tracings, pull the templates off the wall, and hang the art.
Learn more about this tip on Our Southern Home.
If creating all those templates sounds like a lot of work, just tape up the photos that came with the frames. The pictures will be slightly smaller than the frames so keep that in mind when you're positioning them!
Check out this tip on Meg O. on the Go
It can be helpful to use tape to visualize the space, especially if you're hanging a symmetrical gallery wall. Arrange the frames on the floor in the format you like, making sure that the spaces between the frames are equal. Then, measure the length and width of the layout. Tape up the outline of that area on the wall, checking that the tape is level and centered on the wall. Leave it up for a few hours so you know that you absolutely love the positioning of it before you hang the frames.
See this layout on The DIY Playbook.
It can be difficult to hang a gallery wall so that it is parallel to the stairs, but using a piece of string as a guide can make it much easier. Push two pins into each side of the wall, making sure that they are the same height above the stairs. Wrap the string around each pushpin and you're ready to go!
Learn more about this tip on My Domaine.
Hanging wire is much easier to work with than traditional frame hooks, especially when you've got a large piece — you can just slide the frame's wire on the nail until it's centered!
Get the tutorial for using hanging wire on The DIY Playbook.
Attach a nail to the paint stirrer so that the point pokes through. Catch the picture wire or hanger with the head of the nail and position the frame on the wall. Pull away the frame while leaving the paint stirrer in place, puncture the wall with the screw, and nail the hook into the hole. Simple!
Get the tutorial on View Along the Way.
Frames with two hooks help prevent tilting in the long run, but they can be a pain to hang. This tip will make it so much easier. Lay a piece of tape across the length of the frame and poke a hole where it lays over the hangers. Place the tape on the wall and adjust it so it's level. Then, nail the hooks into the holes and pull the tape away.
Learn more about this tip on Centsational Style.
Get this one from Amazon for $22.95.
I can personally confirm that this totally works. Apply the toothpaste to the hook, press the frame against the wall, and hammer a nail in the spot where the toothpaste rubbed off.
Learn more about why toothpaste is a great tool for hanging frames on Paisley Proposal.
Besides protecting your fingers, using a clothespin to hold a nail in place will also keep the nail at a 90-degree angle to the wall while you hammer it in.
See the tip on One Good Thing By Jillee.
Pre-drilling holes is a necessary evil if you're using screws to hang your art. The drywall dust gets everywhere — that is, if you don't use this handy sticky note trick. Just fold the note up so the paper sits at a 90-degree angle on the wall. Once you pre-drill the hole, fold the note over tightly and grip the dust pile while you carry it over to the trash. Dump the dust and stick the note back up for the next hole.
See the trick in action on YouTube.
The service is pretty pricey, but it might be worth it if you find the process of finding good frames and planning the layout complicated or stressful. The pre-traced layouts they send are easy to hang and move around your home and even have marks for where you should place the photo hanger. If you can't swing the price, just position your frames on a piece of paper and trace.
Get a custom layout and a $40 credit toward frames from Framebridge for $199.