How to Create a Flawless Family Photo Gallery Wall

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My gallery wall clients usually contact me because they need help finding art for their walls. But sometimes they already have the art in the form of family photos that they want to turn into a gallery wall. A family photo gallery wall, if you will.

But (and there’s always a but!) they have concerns about choosing the photos, the frames, the scale — you name it. The type of gallery wall is a tricky one for most of us.

Luckily I have a quick, 5-step process for coming up with a flawless wall of your loved ones. A wall you will cherish and smile at as you walk past it every day. A wall you’ll receive compliments on from guests without fail.

The photo above has all 5 steps going for it, which was why I stopped in my tracks when I saw it on Instagram and immediately reshared Haven & Hinge‘s “legacy wall.”

Here’s how you can re-create this magic in your own home:

5 Steps to a Family Photo Gallery Wall

1. Candid + Posed

Professionally shot and posed family photos are beautiful, but they can be a little cold if that’s all you choose to include in your gallery wall.

Save room for the candid moments, too. For the genuine LOL moments and vacation snapshots that make you reminisce with your family and keep you looking forward to your next trip together.

There’s no magic ratio — and you can go all posed or all candid. But I think choosing 1/3 or 1/2 candid photos is a lovely, dynamic option that will ensure your gallery wall looks timeless.

2. Go Black & White

Photo gallery walls can be intimidating because usually you have several different hues and eras of photo you want to include, and you’re worried these varied contrasts will look sloppy.

It’s a valid concern, so I propose you go classic black & white on ALL photos.

The most obvious method for doing this is to scan all of your old, physical photos with a scanner. Then to use a photo-correcting app like Photoshop or even Canva to convert each image to B&W.

The modern way would be to place your photos on a solid-color, well-lit surface. Then take a flat-lay photo of them with your smartphone. Lastly, use the phone’s editing capabilities to convert to B&W.

If you’re really fancy, you can use an app like A Color Story, which has several B&W filters to choose from.

3. Match Your Frames

The next thing you can do for cohesion is to choose matching frames.

They can be the exact same frames like the examples above, and hung in a grid layout, which always looks great. However, they actually don’t have to be the SAME frame or SAME size — just the same color and general vibe.

Here are my favorite black frames and my favorite gold frames.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Mat

Nothing elevates a gallery wall like matting.

In this case, size matters. The bigger, the more dramatic the effect.

Oftentimes the matting that comes with the frame will work just fine. On the other hand, you can get custom by create your own matting with watercolor paper or posterboard.

If figuring out odd-size matting scares you, Framebridge can help you out.

5. Go Large Scale

Finally, when in doubt, fill an entire wall! It’s like a daily family reunion in your home.

Intimidated? Start with a few of your favorite photos in the center and work your way out.

I call this layout The Organic. It works well for these types of gallery walls specifically because memories happen over time. This makes it easier to add new family members (weddings, births, etc.) in an easygoing way.

Working from the center out is also good if you have a small budget. Pick a color of frame that you like and decide to stick with it. Then you can look out for black/white/gold/tan frames at thrift stores. This makes it easy to accumulate new frames over time to add to your wall.

Family Photo Gallery Wall Services

I hope you’ve found these 5 tips helpful. My goal is to demystify hanging wall art and make it as easy for you as possible.

If you’d like more help with your gallery wall — including advice on how to make an eclectic wall with family photos, art and other sentimental objects — check out my gallery wall packages.

Most clients choose the mini, most affordable option and are very happy with their results! Read the testimonials here.

Bookmark Family Photo Gallery Walls for Later

Here are a few images you can pin to find this post when you start your gallery wall project.