Uniformity in design is dead. At least for 2026. Whilst that makes me sad as someone who loves symmetry and order in design, it has produced some interesting developments. One of them has been in how we style the gallery wall. Although it can read artificial, people have found ways to make it feel intentional.
Perhaps its redeeming quality is its personality. “A gallery wall is one of the easiest ways to add personality and character to a home,” Sarah Weare, Co-Founder of Beach House Art, says. “It allows you to tell a story with your walls, mixing pieces you love rather than relying on a single statement artwork. Whether it’s carefully curated or added to over time, it makes a space feel more personal and lived in.”
If you’re stuck on how to do a gallery wall right in 2026, Sarah identifies common mistakes that people make when curating a gallery wall and shares with us her styling tips for an intentional and personal gallery wall that sends the right message.
Gallery Wall Placement
“The most common mistake is hanging everything too high or not treating the gallery as one visual piece,” Sarah says. “If the wall starts to feel cluttered rather than intentional, it’s usually a sign to stop. Leaving some negative space around the overall arrangement helps the eye rest, even if the gallery itself feels full.”
This often happens when people get carried away with shopping and curating without considering the amount of space they have, making the pieces compete for space and attention.
“Planning the layout first, either on the floor or with paper templates, makes a huge difference,” she adds. “Spacing that’s too tight or too scattered can also throw the balance off.”
Gallery Wall Location
There are more places than just the living room or dining room to have a gallery wall. “Hallways, staircases, and above sofas or beds are natural spots, but we also love seeing gallery walls in kitchens and bathrooms,” Sarah says. “Smaller or unexpected spaces can be great places to have a bit more fun with art, like a downstairs loo.”
How you style a gallery wall also changes based on the location in your home. “Living rooms suit more layered, considered galleries that anchor the space. Bedrooms often work best with calmer palettes and fewer contrasts. Kitchens and bathrooms can be lighter, brighter and more playful, with smaller prints or illustration-led pieces that don’t feel too formal,” Sarah says.
Another factor to consider is the colour of the wall that you select. The wall and the art can create a completely different atmosphere depending on the contrast between the two.
“Neutral walls are a classic choice and let the artwork shine, but darker tones can look beautiful too, especially with lighter frames, perhaps in a snug or cosy living room.”
Sarah also suggests using texture to create contrast: “Textured walls like panelling or limewash add depth, as long as the artwork has a common thread to keep it feeling cohesive.”
Curating A Gallery Wall
There is scope with curating to pick pieces that feel wrong. They can feel incoherent or dated. “Very generic prints, mass-produced slogan art, or filler pieces chosen just to ‘pad out’ the wall can make it feel less considered,” Sarah warns. “Fewer, well-chosen pieces with a shared mood or theme will always look more timeless, and they can be added to as time goes by.”
“Start with art that genuinely resonates with you; prints, photography, vintage finds, maps or botanicals. Then layer in personal pieces like travel photos or postcards. We encourage people not to rush it; the best gallery walls often grow gradually and feel collected rather than bought in one go. It’s more personal,” she says.
Images are not the only things that you can use to fill a gallery wall. For a scrapbook style, Sarah recommends decor pieces like “Small mirrors, ceramics, plates, fabric pieces or sculptural objects”. “These add texture and break up the flatness, helping the wall feel layered and collected rather than overly styled,” she explains.
It’s really important to mix high and low detail elements to not make the pieces compete for attention. Specialising in coastal artwork, Sarah recommends the softness of coastal decor and other natural elements for your gallery wall.
“Smaller coastal works are ideal for adding interest without overwhelming a gallery wall,” she says. “Think ‘a weekend beach combing for treasures’ such as seaweed studies, shells and corals, soft seascapes, or vintage botanical prints. Vintage maps are also great for grounding a wall and adding a sense of place, especially when mixed with more organic, nature-inspired pieces.”
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