Confession: Why I Can't Get on Board With Gallery Walls

I’m an interior designer with a secret, and I just can’t hold it in any longer: I CAN'T STAND GALLERY WALLS.

There, I said it. And I’m totally OK if you judge me for it, because I’m judging the hell out of all your gallery walls on the daily.

I’m willing to concede that I’m in the vast minority of design-loving Americans, but this is my truth.

Why the Gallery Wall Hate Parade?

I’ve never known any other design trend to cause me anxiety-like symptoms, but gallery walls usually make me feel like I need to breathe into a paper bag and pop a Xanax. In fact, if they had a tagline, I’m pretty sure it would be: “A Panic Attack on Your Wall.”

I guess it has a lot to do with the fact that most gallery walls are woefully imbalanced, not very cohesive and a bit haphazard. And I know for many people, those are the exact characteristics that make gallery walls seem charming and lovable. And I support you on your own gallery-wall journey! I just want off the train.

They're Hard to Do Right

Some things in the world of design are easy. I think I could pass along four throw pillows to pretty much anyone and feel pretty confident they could have their couch looking incredible in five minutes or less. But gallery walls are actually quite complicated.

Even for those of you out there with a lifetime membership in the gallery wall fan club, I bet there are some types of gallery walls that you think are more well done than others? Anyone? Bueller??

There are angles to consider, frame choices, art types and choosing placement on the wall. Creating an awesome gallery wall is not super easy, and I don't think most people realize this before they pull out their hammer and nails.

Grown-Up Gallery Walls

OK, just because I'm letting it all hang out here, I will confess that there are some gallery walls that I think do get it right. See, I'm not a complete monster after all. I like to call this group: Grown-Up Gallery Walls.

I've tried to pinpoint exactly what makes a gallery wall feel grown-up to me, and I think I've narrowed it down to a few key characteristics: not too many pieces of art, intentional frame choice and some sort of cohesion to the art.

This is a perfect example of a grown-up gallery wall for me. While all the pieces are not hung at the same height, it also doesn't look like a jigsaw puzzle threw up. They used the same frames for all of their art and have a cohesive color palette running throughout. Voila! A grown-up gallery wall!

The Trend That Won’t Go Away

Despite my gallery wall agita, I understand what I'm up against. This universal worship for any and all gallery walls seems like one of those design trends that just refuses to die.

After many years, chevron finally bit the dust after covering virtually every surface of our homes for eons. So, call me crazy but I'll just be over here in my little corner of the design world waiting for you all to decide whether you think gallery walls should all burn in a dumpster fire. I know it's a long shot, but I like to dream big.