From the moment we painted that brick wall in the sunroom, we couldn’t wait to hang some art. After returning from a whirlwind trip on Friday, we finally found the time to get it done. It’s surprising how a few pieces on the wall instantly make a room feel more lived-in. We’ve learned over nearly seven years of renovating that hanging art is one of those finishing touches that changes the whole vibe.
For this sunroom we’re keeping to a budget and using what we already own while we save for larger projects—Clara’s big-girl room, a guest bathroom refresh, and a front porch and carport makeover are all on the horizon. So, rather than spending on new pieces for the sunroom right now, we dug through piles of art we’d been saving and set out to arrange a gallery wall from what we had.
The result is an eclectic, asymmetrical grouping that felt much better on the wall than in a stack on the playroom floor. We brought in a variety of frames and art-sized objects and experimented until the cluster felt balanced both in itself and with the room’s furniture. We also paid attention to the angle of the ceiling, subtly echoing its slope with the arrangement. Some pieces tie into the pillow colors, while a few darker works add visual weight so the composition doesn’t feel too light or matchy-matchy.
We didn’t use exact measuring—our goal was a casual, collected look rather than a rigid grid. After hanging each piece we stepped back, held the next one up, adjusted it until it felt right, and then attached it. For reference, if you prefer a precise grid you’ll want to measure carefully, but for an eclectic wall this relaxed approach works well.
On the right side of the arrangement are two maps: a North America map from an old calendar and an antique map of Richmond that’s moved with us from house to house. It’s a little obvious that this corner became the “map side,” but the colors in the top map complement the room, so they were good candidates. We fully expect the wall to evolve over time, and the map corner might change as we swap pieces in and out.
The left side mixes unexpected pieces that somehow play nicely together. The large brown object is a doily stretcher we found at a thrift store this summer—it was cheap and geometric, and it finally found a home here. It also helps balance the wooden side table on the opposite side of the room. Nearby are two painterly works: one a watercolor print, the other paint on a wood canvas. The lower piece was given to us at a book tour stop and always made us smile; Clara especially loves the beard, the sharks, and the little boat. Above them is a portrait of Burger, an amazing painting a reader’s husband made for us. It captures his expression perfectly.
We hung most of the pieces at night, so process photos are limited, but we can share the brick-hanging method that worked for us:
- Use a masonry bit for your drill to create a hole in the brick or mortar (mortar is easier).
- Insert a plastic anchor into the hole and tap it in with a hammer.
- Screw in a screw so it’s firmly held by the anchor, leaving about half an inch exposed for hanging the frame’s wire or a picture hook.
This technique provides a strong hold—enough for heavy frames and even mirrors. If you need to remove anchors later, we’ve had great success patching painted brick or mortar: pull the anchor out with the hammer’s claw, fill the hole with paintable caulk, and touch up the paint. The textured surface helps hide repairs, so holes aren’t permanent eyesores.
Less involved than hanging on brick were two prints we’d been eyeing for a while; they’re now on the opposite wall above a temporary table and chairs. We envision swapping that area for a storage piece that will be more functional and better proportioned to the seating, but for now these prints work. The bike prints are currently held up with masking tape to test placement; I plan to make simple wood frames for them unless the taped look grows on us (it won’t).
We expect the arrangement to shift over time—especially the map cluster—but even this first iteration is a big step toward making the sunroom feel like a real, usable room instead of storage. It’s lovely to sit on the sofa and look through the slider into a space that feels finished. We’ve only painted and moved existing furniture so far, but adding art has transformed the room more than we’d imagined.
Psst—We also finally wrote about Sherry’s mom’s pre-Christmas visit over on Young House Life. There you go.