Our master bedroom has changed dramatically in the last few days. What used to feel like a large, empty room with a bed is now much more personal and finished. The transformation started with frames and curtains—and then more frames—until the wall above the bed became a meaningful focal point.
Before we started putting holes in the drywall, the room looked pretty much the same as it did when we painted it nine months ago. It desperately needed curtains, but the biggest change would come from the gallery wall we’d been planning for months.
We had talked about a gallery wall above the bed for a long time and finally decided on large dark wood frames with wide white mats. We’re gradually upgrading frames around the house to higher-quality wood frames with real glass and big mats, so we looked for frames that matched that aesthetic. After checking several places, we chose large wood frames that balanced good looks and value. They were pricier than the cheapest options, but a sale brought the cost down to something reasonable for that size and quality.
At home, we made templates from leftover rosin paper and taped them to the wall to test arrangements. The first layout felt too perfectly aligned and formal, so we loosened the grid slightly to give the collection a more relaxed, lived-in look. That small tweak—loosening the rows and columns—made the whole grouping feel friendlier and less rigid.
Hanging the frames wasn’t too difficult despite the number of them. The frames we chose hang on one or two nails each, and because we had worked out the placement with paper templates it went quickly. We used a laser level to match heights across the bed and a yardstick to keep side-to-side gaps consistent. The arrangement is mirrored to some extent from one side of the bed to the other, which helped guide placement.
After hanging the initial set—seventeen frames—we realized the layout looked a bit like a stripe across the headboard. To fill the space above each nightstand and create a fuller, wall-to-wall effect, we added five more frames. In total we ended up with five large frames (11.5 x 14.5 inches with an 8 x 10 opening) and seventeen slightly smaller square frames (16.5 x 16.5 inches, some with 8 x 10 openings and some with 5 x 7 openings). We later nudged a few frames to balance a bare spot near the curtain, which made the composition feel more intentional and even.
Instead of generic art prints, we filled the frames with family photos. A bedroom is a personal space, so a family gallery felt right. Many of these photos had never been printed at a larger size like 8 x 10, so printing them made the wall feel more meaningful. We ordered prints in-store for pickup and found that it was an affordable, convenient option.
Going with colorful prints instead of black-and-white images was an intentional choice on such a dark wall. The dark wood frames and crisp white mats provide a classic, handsome backdrop while the colorful photos add warmth and cheer. The images also coordinate nicely with the brighter pillows and the headboard, tying the whole room together visually.
Our process for picking photos was straightforward. We scrolled through our family photos, flagged favorites, and then narrowed those down to the 22 images we needed. That two-step method—choose favorites, then choose favorites of favorites—made the decision easier. We didn’t force a color scheme; instead we selected moments that felt natural and candid rather than posed. Many photos feature people looking at each other, down, or off to the side, which keeps the wall from feeling like it’s staring back at you.
Once everything was hung we noticed recurring themes. About a third of the photos involve water—beaches, lakes, pools—likely because many favorites were taken on trips. The images also represent a range of places and moments: several states and different vacations, plus a few shots taken right on the bed the gallery now hangs above. It’s a small, amusing reminder of how much we travel and how often we enjoy simple, cozy moments at home.
When the project was finished, the formerly nondescript bedroom wall had become a photographic celebration of family life. It’s now one of the first and last things we see every day, and it already feels like one of our favorite displays in the house.
We do still have a few to-dos: better seating at the foot of the bed, a proper set of end tables, finished curtains, and an overhead light. For now the room feels complete enough to enjoy, and the gallery wall encourages us to keep documenting family moments—many of these photos were taken on smartphones or small point-and-shoots, proving you don’t need a fancy camera to create memories worth framing.
Clara was napping while we finished, so we used the moment to photograph Teddy and Burger together. There’s a good chance that shot will end up on the wall one day, continuing the loop of making and displaying family memories.
Psst- Want to know where we got something in our house or what paint color we used? Click the button below to view our home shopping list.
