Gallery walls are an easy and super effective way to update any space in your home – but how do you get your lines and spaces straight enough to get your artwork to look like it belongs in a gallery. Here are eight easy steps to take you from start to finish:

1. Frame and collect ahead 
   In order to start out you need to have a number of framed pictures or artworks. This doesn’t mean that you cannot add to your gallery wall at a later stage – but starting out you need at least eight to 10 framed images.
2. Layout your arrangement on the floor
   That way you can move them around easily and get a sense of the space dimensions that you will be working with.
3. Create paper ‘templates’ of each picture 
   Have large pieces of paper the exact same size as each picture. We suggest using brown paper and not newspaper – you do not want that dirty paper pressing against your clean walls. TIP Always mark your paper so you know which paper is for which picture. It may look easy when you are doing the tracing but trust us, when the time comes to hanging it is impossible to remember.
4. Mark the hook location on your paper
   Pull the string tight in your picture and measure how far from the top your hook/nail will need to be placed. Now measure the same distance from the top of your paper templates and mark the hook locations.
5. Tape your paper templates to your wall
   Tape them in the same arrangement as your pictures are laid out on the floor. You will now have a paper gallery on your wall space. If you are not happy, rearrange your layout on the floor and then your paper templates on the wall again until you are happy.
6. Make final adjustments
   Once you are satisfied with the layout, spacing and overall look of your wall, make sure your templates are straight and line up correctly.
7. Start hammering in your nails 
   You can hammer straight through the paper in the mark that you made earlier.
8. Remove all your paper templates
   And hang your pictures!

Words: Cheska Stark
Image: KenayHome