This gallery wall makes us genuinely happy — and we didn’t overthink it into a what-should-we-frame paralysis. We did consider a few other options and ruled them out for clear reasons:
- One giant piece on each side of the window felt too symmetrical and repeated the big rectangular window in the middle, so it would effectively read as three large boxes.
- Open shelving would be excessive since the dining room already has built-ins on two walls; shelving next to more shelving felt like too much.
- Mirrors felt redundant because a large framed mirror already hangs over the file cabinet on the opposite office wall.
Instead, we used frames we already owned and arranged them in a balanced-but-not-perfectly-symmetrical grouping. Our goal was to fill the space with items that feel personal and make us smile. They don’t have to be perfect — imperfection suits this room, much like our cheerful green office chairs — and that relaxed vibe is part of what makes the wall work for us.
We naturally divided the grouping into “John’s side” (the right) and “Sherry’s side” (the left). John’s collection leans toward maps, typography and bold geometric shapes, so his side became a compact medley reflecting those interests.
Each piece on John’s side is meaningful as well as stylish:
- The map is a typographic map of Richmond by a local artist, composed entirely of words. I painted the mat in the same gray we used under the chair rail so the map would stand out.
- The handwritten piece is an enlarged copy of a tiny comment card from a meal we shared on our honeymoon in Alaska. We recorded what we ate and what we saw on that card and kept it as a souvenir, then had it blown up to fit a frame.
On my side I wanted something made by Clara; everything she paints is my favorite. We also framed a piece of sentimental textile — a leftover fabric from a small project that I’ve used before. The lattice pattern in the fabric echoes the lattice detail on the office chairs and complements the stark geometry on John’s side, which felt like a happy accident and tied the whole arrangement together.
Here’s the process we used to assemble the wall, though we’re flexible and sometimes work differently depending on the project:
- We checked our existing frames to see what would work and found five that fit the plan. Cost for frames: $0.
- We laid the frames on the floor and shuffled them around until we found a balanced, not overly symmetrical layout we liked.
- We hung the frames empty at first to see how they read on the wall instead of the floor.
- We hunted for artwork that could be trimmed or enlarged to fit the frames; sometimes art comes first, other times the frames do — it varies.
- We pulled the typographic Richmond map from another room and painted its mat to make it pop on the wall.
- We sifted through a keepsake box of ticket stubs and notes and found the honeymoon comment card, which we enlarged at a copy shop to fit its frame.
- I found a sentimental scrap of fabric that worked well framed and also recalled earlier projects where I’d used the same fabric.
- We chose a bold black-and-white print from our art file to balance the handwritten piece and the detailed map.
- We let Clara paint a large sheet of paper that fit one frame, using washable tempera so the whole experience was easy and fun.
- We bought a few large colorful sheets of paper to serve as mats in some frames, which helped fill the frames and add happy color to the office.
The result feels curated and lively without being chaotic. The palette varies — Clara’s painting is vivid while there’s also a black-and-white print — yet dominant tones like teal and chartreuse relate back to the chairs and the dining room curtains, so the arrangement reads as intentional. White frames help unify the collection, and we’ll likely add accessories in other accent shades, like orange or coral, to evolve the space.
From the dining room, the view works well: the office’s light walls contrast nicely with the dark built-ins in the dining room, preventing the two spaces from blending into one large rectangle. I’m also considering a new runner — something less matchy, perhaps in plum or a textured burlap — to break up the visuals even more.
As for cost, since the frames were already on hand, we only spent about $9 on large colored paper for mats and roughly $4 at the copy shop to enlarge the keepsake card — around $13 total for five substantial pieces that we enjoy every day.
We still have a few improvements on the list: a longer, darker rug; adding more permanent art to the other side of the room; installing window treatments like homemade Roman shades; and adding a lamp and side table for the leather chair corner. For now, though, we’re thrilled to finally have these walls filled after nearly a year of emptiness. It was a small, inexpensive project that brought a lot of personality into the room.
Have you ever blown up a tiny memento at a copy shop or let a toddler go wild with paint to create custom art? We expected to be meticulous about colors and composition, but giving Clara every color and watching her create freely was the best decision. My little artist made something we’ll cherish forever.
Psst — there are other posts where we’ve shared more sentimental framed pieces around the house, if you’re curious about framing keepsakes and memories.