The death of the gallery wall…(thank goodness)
8 minute read
From a bohemian perspective this wall really appeals to me with it’s mix of photos, art and collectibles…but don’t be deceived, a lot of time and thought has gone into creating this. Nothing random here.
So, possibly a controversial topic this one… but it finally looks like the gallery wall is dead.
Yippee.
For many years this has been seen as the go to-style in an attempt to bring life to a blank wall . But it feels like we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief as this interiors’ fad comes to it’s long overdue end. Not to mention the pressure for most people as to how to collect that much art and get it to co-ordinate, but how then to hang it all on one wall without it looking a mess…well, that’s just a modern day stress that we can all do without.
And let’s be honest, most of us don’t own enough art to create these cut and paste displays. Which then leads to the purchase of multiple pieces of art simply to create a gallery wall , and this in itself has parallels with the world of fast fashion…the whole ‘pile them high, sell them fast’ ethos - and many poster store businesses have thrived because of this trend.
Choosing art for your walls should be a considered process and, like everything that you bring into your home, it should bring you joy and you should feel invested in it. That’s not to say that it needs to cost big bucks. Far from it. Vintage posters and post cards are still relatively easy to find at good prices, and many artists now sell limited edition prints in smaller A4 sizes that are very affordable. I even have a tea towel mounted onto card that hangs in my home as I loved the simple design on it. And that cost me about three quid.
Art is another layer of individuality in your home. Your chance to think about the colours and patterns that you love. And it should never be based on trends, nor time pressure to fill a blank wall.
So, if we’re saying no to covering our walls with mix and match art, but don’t quite have the budget for original artist’s commissions, then what are the more purse-friendly alternatives?
Fabric and textiles
Hanging textiles on your walls, whether it is a delicate vintage rug that isn’t sturdy enough to be walked upon, or a piece of random fabric that you love, is a simple yet effective way to bring texture and colour into your home.
The portuguese artist Graça Paz hung a simple piece of Ikea fabric here to bring pattern into her bathroom.
The above image is taken from a shoot I styled for Ikea many moons ago. We visited the home of Graça Paz in Northern Portugal as she had many Ikea pieces in her colourful home. The wall in her yellow bathroom was blank but Graça loved the Ikea fabric that I brought with me for the shoot, and decided to hang it there. Although she hung it straight onto her wall, for most of us taking a square of fabric and framing it is probably the more likely option. And I’ve found that fabric tends to look great in older. secondhand frames if you can find them…mounted quite simply with a white border.
I can’t think of a more inspiring background for a dining area than this faded tapestry-style wall hanging from Anthropologie
At 150cm high by 250cm wide, the above printed ‘tapestry’ from Anthropologie may cost just over a hundred pounds, but if you have a large blank space then it’s a beautiful way to bring subtle colour and pattern into your home. With the effect of wallpaper without the hassle of hanging or the permanence.
The tones within this rug work beautifully with the rosewood bench, and help to zone off this informal seating area.
I have long been a fan of hanging rugs on walls. And I’m not talking about the polypropylene one you’ve had since you were a student… but the kind of slightly moth eaten, delicate vintage rug that you might have picked up on your travels through the souks of Marrakesh. You can even buy specific poles for this making it super easy to hang them. And unlike traditional pictures this is art you can touch - so not only a visual treat, but a tactile one as well.
Vintage art
Vintage posters, old maps, tea towels…pretty much anything can be hung on your wall if you love the patterns and colours within it. It doesn’t matter where you found it, or what condition it's in…if you’re drawn to it for some reason, then it deserves a spot in your home.
The faded tones of this old map sit perfectly with the colours of the Morris wallpaper and the tiled floor. From the home of Siobhan at Studio Homestead
Although vintage maps may seem like a bit of a ‘trend’ when it comes to your walls, there’s a reason why they look so good if framed well. And that comes back to the fact that whether they are sepia toned, or full of the more traditional map colours, they speak to us not just visually, but with the feelings of escapism that they bring to the fore as well. Adventures, exploring and generally taking ourselves out of our normal habitats, are all emotions that spring to mind when we look at a map. And anything that sparks daydreaming is perfect to hang on your wall in my opinion.
I love the colours of these vintage Polish circus posters. Simple yet really impactful. And, like here, no need to always hang everything as some art can simply lean against walls…From Projekt 26
It’s amazing to think that the vintage poster above which probably originally sold for under a tenner, is now worth over three hundred. And I know a lot of people might baulk at the idea of spending that much on a print…but what you have to consider is that for an oversized poster like this one, you’ll probably still spend a lot less on it than you will compiling a gallery wall full of multiple pictures. And with it’s striking colour palette and design, it will have far more impact on your space than a collection of loosely connected images. Plus the history behind these Polish posters in particular is very interesting. Produced after the Second World war, they were one of the very few permitted artistic outlets in Communist Poland. And they were all created by some of the country’s greatest artists and graphic designers of that time. So not just something lovely to look at, but a little bit of history as well.
If you’re lucky enough to find a group of the same vintage frames like these bamboo ones, then they work perfectly to show off a collection such as these antique flower pressings. I spotted these on Vinterior, but have often seen similar in local charity shops.
My only concession to groups of art is when the numbers are kept below three, as I find that any more than that and the eye doesn’t know where to focus. And negative (ie. blank) space on a wall is just as important as the space where your art sits. If you love a picture, you want to be able to appreciate it after all - and that’s hard when it’s surrounded by countless others.
Direct from the artist
Buying direct from an artist or illustrator is one of my favourite ways of buying art. And places like Instagram and Pinterest are perfect for discovering people that you might never otherwise have come across.
The artist Jazmine Joye creates some wonderful lino prints in intense colour
I came across the above artist’s work on Instagram, and ordered myself a small print similar to the one above as a birthday present to myself. For me it was a combination of the intense blue, and the subject matter, that appealed to me. And when you receive something like this direct from the artist, it does bring you a little moment of joy.
Original art will always have this effect as you can feel the connection that an actual human being has created this. And you will never feel that with a mass produced poster…
Beautiful neon colour ‘La Nuit’ limited edition Risograph by HelloMarine
Original paintings by the above artist sell at well over a thousand pounds…which understandably is out of most people’s price range. However a limited edition print from a run of just 50 can be bought for fifty pounds. And although this isn’t the original piece that the artist created, it is still a unique piece of signed art.
And for me personally I find these type of colours so inspiring and joyful, that I would welcome them into my home without any hesitation.
Original watercolour portrait of your pet painted to commission by Caroline of Wetnose Watercolours
And finally a piece of art that anyone who is a pet owner will identify with - a portrait of your fur baby. I love the idea of commissioning a portrait of my dog as it brings to mind the portraits wealthy landowners and royalty had painted of themselves hundreds of years ago to big up their ego…only this is the modern day version, and now we prefer to have a painting of our pet as opposed to ourselves. Something to cherish forever, that will remind you of that special bond you have with your pet whenever you look at it. Art that is both original and sentimental.
Art, like a lot of things in life, shouldn’t be an instant purchase over and done with in a matter of clicks. And whether you’re spending a few pounds, or a few hundred, always take the time to check how you feel when you look at it. So much art is bought because it fits in with the current design or decor of a room, and I personally feel this is the wrong way to go about things. Also, try to visualise where it might look good in your home. There’s nothing worse than bringing a picture home only to realise you can’t find a spot for it. But saying that, if you love it then I would always buy it…as that’s the best way to ensure your collection reflects you and you alone.