Gallery walls have a habit of looking effortless, but the most beautiful creations are the result of meticulous planning, most specifically regarding frame placement. Nobody understands this quite like Bobby Berk, the Queer Eye alumni, who has partnered with Frameology to design six gallery wall sets (and 12 unique frames), aka the ticket to your dream gallery wall.
Naturally, therefore, styling frames (or, in this case, how not to style frames) is currently at the peak of Berk's agenda. The first thing to avoid? Hanging everything too high.
'So many people think their art needs to sit way above eye level, and suddenly, you’re craning your neck just to enjoy it,' Berk says in an exclusive interview with H&G.
'Here’s the thing: Art is meant to connect with you – and that connection happens when it’s at eye level or just a little above. The sweet spot for most gallery walls is about 57-60 inches from the floor to the center of the arrangement.'
Ensuring your gallery wall doesn't look too high is the first step to creating a beautiful wall feature, but as Berk suggests, cohesion is also vital.
'Keep it cohesive, not matchy-matchy. What makes a gallery wall work is a sense of harmony – whether it’s through color tones, frame styles, or a shared theme in the art. It doesn’t mean every piece has to look the same, but they need to feel like they belong together, like old friends at a party – because a gallery wall should tell a story, not feel like clutter,' he comments.
'When there’s too much contrast or no unifying element, it gets overwhelming and distracts from the beauty of the pieces you’re trying to highlight. My gallery collections from Frameology make it easy to create an easy focal point that perfectly works together. Just pick your collection, add your art, and voila!' You can shop three of our favorite frames, designed by Bobby Berk, below.
Featuring museum grade acrylic and a white cotton conservation mat, this black frame may be simple, but it's a classic.
Much like its black-hued counterpart, this white frame is part of a premium line (designed by Berk) that elevate your memories to new levels.
The wood for this wall frame is milled at Frameology's factory in North Carolina, and features a wall safe papered backing, and easy-to-hang wire hanger.
Plus, while it's easy a series of frames adorning the staircase of a grand entryway or open-plan living room, Berk suggests it's just as possible to bring the look into a smaller home. We just need to be more strategic.
'When space is tight, the key is to think vertically and be intentional. A gallery wall doesn’t have to take up an entire room – you can introduce it in creative ways,' he says.
'Try a narrow section of a hallway, above a desk, or even going up a staircase. These areas are perfect for a curated collection of smaller pieces that don’t overwhelm the room but still make an impact.'
-
Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's rustic kitchen island is stunning, but controversial – designers say you can get the look without the hassleA popular material finds an unorthodox home in the couple's kitchen, but experts disagree on whether it should be used – here's how to do it instead
-
How to grow grapefruit for homegrown sweet and tangy, highly nutritious harvests – a fruit tree expert shares their planting and care tipsFrom planting to harvesting, this is all you need to know about grapefruit trees
