When I first started transforming our home a few years ago I was enthralled by Pinterest and created too many boards to count.

I still use it to organize my ideas but the inspiration for my project is found here. I was totally enthralled with the details on how to make a gallery wall in our den.

How to Make a Gallery Wall

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Step 1: Collect Frames and Paint

Since I am a yard saler/cheapskate thrifter I began by collecting frames from around the house and up in my personal store, otherwise known as the attic.

I had no idea how I would do the arrangement but I got enough frames to use 4×6, 5×7 and 8×10 black and white pictures.

Whenever Walgreens had a sale on prints (or a free offer) I would order more black and whites in various sizes.

I did NOT think through where everything would go and in which frame ahead of time. I just ordered pictures I liked or ones that would give me some variety.

My husband spray painted the frames with an aerosol primer and white spray paint. He even sprayed some of the mats. The additional mats I bought half off at Michael’s.

This process of ordering pictures and gathering the frames was time consuming, lasting over a few weeks. It was a little tedious. Okay, very tedious.

Step 2: Layout on Floor or Flat Surface

I then started randomly inserting pics in frames and created an arrangement on the kitchen floor where I could get an idea what I still needed and which frames I would be working with.

 

Step 3: Hang Frames

For this wall the most important part was deciding on the center frame which contained three 8×10’s. My husband centered this on the wall and just started randomly hanging the rest.

There are certainly more precise ways to go about this but we knew we didn’t want a symmetrical grouping.

Step 4: Decide on Words/Saying

Step 5: Use Diecutting Machine to Cut out Words

Step 6: Attach to Wall

Next I used masking tape to align the words on the wall as I was deciding where to place them. I loved the flexibility of moving the words around to find the best look.

I let my husband do the actual work of attaching the vinyl  since he is much more of a perfectionist than I am and is also better at detail work.

He found this little gadget that was an amazing help. It’s a laser level that mounts to the wall with removable adhesive tape and projects up to a 15 ft. laser line. Lining up the words….easy peasy.

 
Peeling the transfer paper off the vinyl word.

 
Our family motto is “families are forever.”

 
The finished product! I had such a hard time photographing this wall without a glare.