Creating A No Commitment Gallery Wall

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ICantEven #BigLots #CollectiveBias

Ok, let’s talk about commitment.  I have commitment issues.  True, paralyzing commitment issues.  Yes, you heard me correctly.  I struggle with committing to home decor.

My struggle is most evident when it comes to wall decor.  The self-doubt and fear start to trickle in and I end up not doing anything.  What if I don’t like it?  I can’t constantly rearrange things on my walls.  My walls will end up looking like Swiss cheese if I keep moving these pictures around.

Combine this commitment phobia with a true love for gallery walls, and we have a serious conundrum.

I see beautifully curated gallery walls on Pinterest, and I think to myself, “I want that!”  But then I can’t commit long-term to any one set of photos or frames.  After all, who doesn’t love swapping out seasonal decor and photos?

The Space

Let’s take a step back here and talk about my awesome living room.  This is truly the heart of my home.  It’s quite large, so I have the space divided into two main areas: a TV/couch area and a play area for the twins, who are almost three.

There is a large back wall that spans both spaces, and it was super beige… and super blank.

Yes, that is a trampoline you see.  Like I said, twins.

The Commitment

As my twins approach their third birthday, mom guilt has crept in.  I have literally no family photos on any of my walls – mainly due to the fear of commitment discussed above.  Something had to change, and I finally made a decision.

Those are 6-foot-long floating shelves.  They are the perfect no-commitment solution for someone who wants a gallery wall.  You can layer frames, rearrange decor with the seasons, and never have to worry about leaving nail holes behind.  Perfection.

Filling My Wall

I popped over to Big Lots, my new go-to place for all things home decor.  My twins have a knack for destruction, so I’m always looking for the most bang for my buck when it comes to home decor.  You never know what will fall victim to their next sharpie attack!  It’s easier to get less worked up about the wear-and-tear that two toddlers take on a home when you don’t spend tons of money to begin with!

Big Lots has a fantastic selection of frames and wall art, and they are all exceptional values. This makes it a great choice if you want to refresh a room or update your style, without sacrificing your budget or quality.

I was able to find a variety of fun black and white frames, as well as a wall decor piece that reads “discover.”  It seemed like the perfect addition to a family photo gallery, don’t you think?

Once I got home, I spent some time arranging the frames until  everything looked just right. Think about creating variety in color, height, and shape of frames.  Also think about adding a non-photo element, like my “discover” piece.  How symmetrical or random you want your arrangement to be is entirely a matter of personal preference.  Do what makes you happy!

Then I sat down with my laptop and poured over nearly three years of family photos.

Something to Consider when Overlapping Frames:

Think about what parts of the frame will be covered by the frame overlapping in front of it.  If the right 1/4 of a frame is going to be covered, consider selecting a photo that has the subject on the left side of the picture.  It is much easier to select photos this way when you already have your frames and arrangement selected.

The Outcome

I absolutely love how my new no commitment gallery wall turned out.  The photos bring so much warmth into this space that was previously quite cold.

I’m also glad I went with both black and white frames.  I think the white frames and white matting brightens up the wall, and the mix-match vibe gives me so many options down the line.  I can’t wait to add in seasonal decor and play around with my new gallery wall!

Thanks again to Big Lots for making this project possible!

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