Create a picture wall with the wow factor (and paint) in four easy steps

pink painted picture wall with gallery wall of art prints

(Image credit: Katie Lee)

last updated 6 May 2020

Want a quick way to make a picture wall really stand out? This gallery wall idea will transform a room in just a couple of hours: simply use paint to create a coloured backdrop and give your favourite artwork some added impact.

Using nothing more than some leftover paint, a roller and masking tape, it's the perfect way to freshen up a room in an afternoon, and will ensure your favourite artwork is the centre of attention in your space.

Read on for how to create it in four easy steps, then check out our other ideas for beautiful gallery wall ideas.

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Pink wall with gallery wall of art prints in a dining area

You will need:

Paint - this project uses Farrow & Ball's Sulking Room Pink
Roller
Masking/decorating tape
Ruler
Spirit level

Step one: mark out your frame

Once you've decided where you'd like to create your gallery wall, mark out the size of the painted section in pencil. Use a ruler and sprit level to ensure you get straight lines. You want to make sure that the painted section will be big enough to leave plenty of the coloured area visible once the artwork is added to the wall.

If you have furniture underneath, it's a good idea to take your lead from this and make the width of the painted section the same size as the furniture, as the homeowners have done here with the bench seating.

Step two: paint the coloured section

Section off the frame you've drawn on the wall with masking tape. Using a roller (or paintbrush if you don't have a roller available), paint your chosen colour within the frame you've created. Allow to dry before applying a second coat.

Leave to dry completely before carefully peeling away the masking tape.

Step three: plan the layout of your artwork

Replicate the size of the painted section on the floor – you could simply use a rug that's a similar size, or mark out a rough shape with something like string. Place your pictures on the rug and play around with the layout until you're happy with the composition. It's a good idea to start with the biggest picture and work outwards from there.

Our top tip? Take a picture on your phone of the finished layout on the floor as it's a useful memory jog when you're hanging the pictures on the wall.

Step four: hang your artwork

With your layout finalised, you can hang your artwork on the wall. If you're going for a grid layout where you want a number of pictures to line up exactly, you might find it easier to use something like Command picture hanging strips attached to the back of the frame, instead of more traditional picture hooks. And that's it! One colourful gallery wall completed.

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More weekend projects to try:

Beth first started working on Real Homes as a sub-editor over 15 years ago. Since then she has worked on 4Homes, Grand Designs and as a freelancer, before returning to Real Homes for the third time. She is Acting Editor on the magazine and always has a makeover project of some kind on the go.