How to Do a Photo Gallery on My Walls

Measure the space on the wall that will be filled with the frames. HGTV says the center of the grouping should be at eye level for the average person. Leave twice as much blank wall space above the art as below, with the lowest frame not less than 4 inches above any furniture. Write down this measurement and the measurement of all frames intended for the gallery. Identify each frame by a letter or a number next to the measurement.

Design the layout. Use graph paper or drawing software to design the layout. Note the scale of the wall measurements along the top and sides of the graph paper. Create squares and rectangles to the scale of the frames in the assortment from paper or in the software. Arrange and re-arrange the model frames for a pleasing layout. Group two or more small frames in a space as if creating an invisible frame around the small frames to balance large frames in the display.

Mark the horizontal lines in the layout to identify the individual rows of frames. Once the layout has the desired balance, draw lines to highlight the rows of frames at the top of the frames of each row. Depending upon the layout, the lines will appear to run through the middle of some frames as each is staggered next to its neighbor. Note the height of each line in comparison to the floor as it would be on the wall.

Apply painter's tape to the wall to form horizontal lines at each height noted on the layout. Recruit a second pair of hands to help with this step and use the carpenter's level to ensure each line of tape is level.

Mark the left and right edge of each frame on each horizontal strip of tape. Start with the frame in the uppermost left position. Hold the top of the frame along the tape and draw a mark on either side of the frame. Draw a large “X” on the tape to fill between these points, to note this as a frame area. Mark on either the tape or the wall with the pencil the location of the hanging hardware or the high point of the wire when held in place for that particular frame. Move to the right the number of inches noted on the layout to mark the next frame. Repeat for all frames in each row.

Hammer the J-hooks in place. Position each J-hook with the curve of the hook at the marks noting the frames hardware. The brad that holds the hook will be nailed above this point and not on it.

Remove tape from the wall. Hang the frames in place.