Do you have a single wall in a room that just feels unresolved? That long wall to the right when you enter our family room was mine. It was a fairly long expanse with no windows, and for a long time I couldn’t decide how to make it feel finished and balanced with the rest of the space.
We once had a large TV on that wall, but when we updated our kitchen and family room floors we moved the TV upstairs to our media room. After that, we realized we didn’t miss having such a big television in the family room, so the wall was left with no clear purpose. Our sofa faces that wall, which made the arrangement feel awkward—why was the seating oriented toward a featureless stretch of wall? We considered turning the sofa to face the other way, but that would sacrifice space for storage like the dresser we need. Ultimately we plan to add built-ins to this long wall, so the sofa has to stay across the room for the long-term layout.
In the meantime, what could we do to make the wall feel intentional?
We didn’t want to repeat a large mirror or oversized artwork, especially since there’s already a substantial mirror on the adjacent kitchen wall. Instead, we decided a collection of smaller frames and mirrors would give the wall personality without competing with existing features.
I wanted to showcase some watercolor paintings I’d collected while traveling—little pieces that bring back memories whenever I see them. A quick trip to Target yielded frames and a few gold sunburst mirrors from the Threshold line. The small gold mirrors added a hint of glam to our otherwise rustic, beachy aesthetic and tied in nicely with the gold hardware on my recently updated dresser.
Gallery Wall Tip:
I’m often asked how to lay out a gallery wall. I usually start by arranging pieces on the floor, then measure and hang. A method I recommend is cutting brown craft paper to the exact size of each frame, punching a hole where the hanger sits, and taping the paper shapes to the wall. That way you can adjust spacing and composition until it feels right before making holes.
The finished gallery wall looks polished and cohesive while still fitting my eclectic, casual style. The small gold starburst mirrors are the perfect finishing touch: they add shimmer without overwhelming the art or stealing focus from the fireplace and the large kitchen mirror. Keeping the arrangement modest in scale was important so the display wouldn’t overpower the room’s other focal points.
When I arrange artwork, I always think about two views: how the wall looks up close, and how it reads in the context of the entire room and the house. It’s important to give the eye places to rest when scanning the space. That balance can be subtle and hard to convey in photos, but I prefer decorating for daily life rather than staging solely for pictures.
I even evaluate a room starting from the front door and walking through the house to see how each space feels in relation to the others—maybe it’s a quirky habit, but it helps me decide what belongs on each wall.
My favorite thing about this gallery wall is that the art brings back happy memories every time I look at it. The small, thoughtfully arranged collection feels personal and finished without demanding the room’s attention.
UPDATE! I recently added a new cabinet in this spot. Below is a sneak peek.
See you here tomorrow for the Summer House Tour!
Wall color: Glidden Polished Grey
Related post: 10 Helpful Guidelines for Decorating Walls