A gallery wall is built on three numbers: 5-8 cm (2-3 in) between frames, an odd number of pieces, and one shared centre 145 cm (57 in) above the floor. The rest is choosing motifs.
Lay it out on the floor first
Put the whole arrangement on the floor in front of the wall and move things around until it sits. It takes ten minutes and saves a dozen holes. Then measure the outer edge of the whole group — width and height — and treat the group as one large picture when you hang it.
Spacing between frames
5-8 cm (2-3 in) is the rule. Under 5 cm the prints merge into one surface and the motifs start fighting each other. Over 8 cm the group falls apart, and the eye reads it as loose pictures rather than as one wall.
Use the same spacing throughout — vertically as well. If horizontal and vertical spacing differ, the group looks crooked even when it is measured correctly.
Number and size
- Three in the same size is the easiest gallery wall there is: one horizontal line, one spacing, nothing to calculate.
- Odd numbers read better than even ones. Three and five work; four easily turns into a grid that looks like a spreadsheet.
- Do not mix more than two sizes in one group unless you have a shared edge to align to — for example all bottom edges flush.
Height
The 145 cm (57 in) applies to the combined centre of the group, not to each print. Work out the total height including the gaps, halve it, and add 145 cm from the floor.
If the gallery wall sits above a sofa or a sideboard, the furniture rule applies instead: the bottom edge of the lowest row 15-25 cm (6-10 in) above the furniture. See the hanging guide.
How wide should it be?
Aim for the gallery wall to cover two thirds to three quarters of the furniture width. Above a three-seat sofa of 200 cm (79 in) that means a group of 130-150 cm (51-59 in) — for example three 40x50 cm prints with 7 cm between them, which comes to 134 cm.
A caveat
These are conventions, not laws of nature. A sloped ceiling, a stairwell or a very low piece of furniture means trusting your eye over the tape measure. Updated 18 August 2026.