Easy DIY Gallery Wall Tutorial
I’ve been so focused on purchasing furniture and accessories for my home office that I’ve completely neglected the walls. Unfortunately, we can’t paint the walls since we’re only renting the space, but this past weekend I just couldn’t stare at the empty cream walls any longer. I knew that I wanted to add a small gallery wall to my home office, but I couldn’t find frames in the bright, summery colors in my color palette. Then I found out that Ace Hardware had paint sample pints on sale for only 99 cents, and I knew exactly what I needed to do! I headed to the store to gather a few supplies, and I created my own gallery wall for under $20 in only a few hours! If you’re looking for quick DIY home decor project, keep reading because this gallery wall was so much fun to put together!
STEP 1: GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES
This simple project only requires a few supplies, and thankfully they’re all extremely inexpensive. I like the look of multi-colored gallery walls, so I knew that I wanted to buy three coordinating colors that were bright and summery! I headed to my local Ace Hardware store and picked up three sample pints of paint: Valspar Flower Power (blue-toned light pink), Clark+Kensington Designer White, and Clark+Kensington Tranquil Vibe (light turquoise). These paint sample pints are perfect for small DIY projects around the house, and all Valspar and Clark+Kensington pints are currently on sale at Ace Hardware for only 99 cents through August 31st! While I was at Ace Hardware, I also picked up three foam brushes to use for the project and damage-free adhesive to hang the frames on the wall. The grand total of my purchase was only $15!
The next supply item you’ll need is a variety of picture frames. Check around your home to see if there any picture frames that you’d like to feature or re-purpose with paint. Don’t worry about the condition or color of the frame because they’ll be as good as new with a fresh coat of paint. A great place to find affordable frames is the clearance section of TJ Maxx or Target. Look for frames in a variety of complementary sizes with different textures and shapes! For this project, I already had two gold frames that I wanted to feature, and I picked up three clearance frames for $1 to $2 each. The frames brought the grand total of this project to just under $20!
STEP 2: PREP & PAINT
Before you begin painting your frames you’ll need to do a little bit of prep work. Practice laying out the frames on the floor to perfect the final layout, and then assign the colors to each frame. Once you’ve finalized your layout and color choices, prep the area you’re working on with a drop cloth or paper and gather all of your supplies. Don’t forget to stir or shake your paint before starting the project!
Painting the frames is extremely simple. Lay out your frame on the drop cloth or paper and apply the paint with smooth and even strokes using your foam brush.
Depending on the material of the frame that you used and the opacity of the paint, you might need to apply multiple coats of the paint to achieve a rich and even texture.
Once you’re finished painting your frames, you’ll want to let them dry in a well-ventilated area for several hours. Even if you think they’re completely dry, let them dry a little bit longer. You definitely don’t want random paint splotches on your home’s wall!
STEP 3: ADD PICTURES OR PRINTS
Once your painted frames are completely dry, it’s time to add your favorite pictures and prints!
I chose one of my favorite wedding photos for my fancy pale turquoise frame.
I couldn’t resist adding a photo of my beautiful Mama and me to the wall! I love this photo us, but I definitely had questionable fashion choices in high school!
For the last three frames, I re-purposed Lilly Pulitzer print’s from an unused agenda! I was just about to throw away my planner from last year when I realized that the monthly prints were just too cute to get rid of. When you’re looking for prints to feature on your gallery wall, look around your house for pretty items that can be recycled. Wrapping paper, scarves, and stationary can all become art!
STEP 4: HANG YOUR FRAMES & ENJOY
The last step is simply to hang up your completed frames and enjoy your new gallery wall! My office looks so much happier now that my empty wall is filled with beautiful photos and prints, and I’m completely in love with the colors! It’s amazing how such a simple project can make such a big difference in your home’s overall appearance.
Don’t forget to stop by your local Ace Hardware store by August 31st, 2015 to get Clark+Kensington and Valspar paint sample pints for only 99 cents! These pints are so handy for small projects around the house, and you can’t beat the price! This project barely required any paint, so I know that I can still complete at least a dozen more home projects with my paint sample pints. Be on the lookout for more easy DIY projects with my remaining paint!
What DIY projects are you planning? What DIY project should I do next?
Getting help at the paint studio at Ace is like going to your neighbor. Visit thepaintstudio.com to find your neighborhood paint studio as well as expert tips and inspiration!
$.99 paint pint offer valid on Valspar and Clark+Kensington. At participating stores 8/1-8/31. Prices may vary. Limit 4. Color samples must be tinted in unique colors. I was compensated for my time and this blog post. All opinions and positions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Ace Hardware.
