Tips to Create a Gallery Wall with Vintage Art

Today, I’m sharing my tips to create a gallery wall with vintage art from France. For Sunday favorites with Cindy and Mary Ann, I thought I would start with a gallery wall, and then announce our new website and the reopening of our shop! Yep, we have been working on another website called Our French Finds, and it’s live TODAY! I hope you will check it out and visit our shop!

We just returned from a buying trip and we found some beautiful oil paintings. Before they go live in the shop, I thought I would have some fun creating a gallery wall.

I have a process in creating a gallery wall, but really I do believe that if you have several pieces of art you like, there is no wrong way to go about it. I’m just going to share my tips and tricks that work for me!

Start with a blank slate.

When creating a gallery wall, I prefer to start with a blank wall. For this space, I removed everything. I switched out the pillow for summer. I like to add the pillows back so I can see where to position the art. I then use kraft paper on the wall (above the pillows) and a piece the same size on the floor or a flat surface.

Make a mock-up of the art.

Using black construction paper and a white pen, I made mock-ups of each piece so I could easily move them around on the wall. Once I had determined the general position of each piece, I hung each piece of art over the mock-up. Then I removed everything, except the nails, and hung each piece of art.

Step back and make minor adjustments.

I can’t promise that my plan for creating a gallery wall will result in fewer holes in your wall. I always have to move a piece or two up or down. I’m fearless when it comes to pounding nails in my walls. That’s why they make spackle. Now, if the wall were wallpapered, obviously, I would not have this same attitude. Note: I have no wallpaper.

Add in some unexpected pieces.

Once I’ve finished a gallery wall, I always feel the need to add one or two extra pieces. This time, I added a small vintage ashtray and a plate we found at a flea market in Paris.

These are the best hangers to use when hanging plates on the wall. They’ve been around forever, and they work. When you no longer want to hang the plate, soak it in water. The Disc is designed to be removed safely without damaging the glaze on the plate.

They are about $5 each, but well worth the price if you want to hang porcelain, china, earthenware, or glass.

Other favorite finds:

Our French Finds is open!

Visit our Shop: Our French Finds, and our new website by the same name, right here! Brent and I have a passion for France, and while we still love being home near our kids and working on projects around our house, entertaining, and crafting with sticks, we also enjoy traveling! And France has our heart. That is why we are adding Our French Finds as another passion project, along with Most Lovely Things!

After almost three weeks in France collecting lovely items, we’ve returned home and given them a good scrub, resulting in over 100 new items in the shop. I hope you’ll take a look. You can visit the shop here and the new website here.

Make your own table runner.

I’ve been making these lately, and although I don’t have a post just yet, I thought I’d share this simple idea. It’s perfect for summer, entertaining, birthdays, or simply gathering together at any time! You’ll need a few supplies, and then you’re set.

It would also be a fun project for kids! I make simple graphic designs, but do whatever makes you happy! And if you make one, please tag me on Instagram, and I’d love to share yours!

That’s it for me this week! Let’s see what Cindy & Mary Ann have going on!

Cindy Hattersley Design

Read Cindy’s Sunday Post here!

Classic Casual Home

Read Mary Ann’s Sunday post here!