This Less-than-$100 Hack Gets You a Stunning Gallery Wall

Cullen Ormond
·2 min read
living room with large off-white sectional sofa with peach and warm hued pillows and throw, grid-style gallery wall

A gallery wall has a way of commanding your attention — and it’s fair to spend minutes (maybe even a lot of minutes) gazing up at the framed memorabilia. These timeless, at-home exhibitions, as we could call them, unfortunately sometimes cost a lot of money.

Not only do you have to invest in expensive framing, but printing the photos is also a cost. However, therapist Valerie Moore found an inexpensive way to create a gallery wall in her cozy Connecticut apartment. The project was the proudest DIY in her home, and it only cost around $100.

“I love that I can change out the pictures at any time, and I have the ability to add to the wall,” Moore said in her house tour. “When I was growing up, my mother and family members always had pictures of beautiful Black art in their homes, and I knew that I wanted to incorporate that in my space.”

Learn how Moore created a stunning gallery wall in her home and how to get the hack for less.

corner of white living room with camel leather armchair, grid style gallery wall, and black tall shelves

Get Your Picture Frames

Moore purchased 16 large document frames from Walmart that only cost her $1.22 per item. If you don’t have a Walmart near you, there are plenty of other inexpensive places to buy frames — like searching for sentimental, unique frames from your nearest thrift store.

Mainstays 5x7 Front Loading Picture Frame
Mainstays 5x7 Front Loading Picture Frame

detail of gallery wall and black shelves in white living room

Use White Cardstock to Elevate Your Frames

Moore bought a pack of white cardstock for just under $4 from Walmart to achieve that classic, sophisticated gallery wall look. And here’s a pro tip: If you can’t find cardstock, look for acid-free mat paper, usually found at your local craft store.

gallery wall and leather armchair with round coffee table in white living room

Print Your Photos

Moore visited her local CVS, which she says has the “best photo coupon codes,” to print 16 photos in a 6×8 size. She included pictures of influential, powerful women like Venus and Serena Williams and Rihanna. And that’s one of the best parts of a gallery wall: You can choose however you want to fill your frames.

portrait of woman in her living room

Assemble Your Gallery Wall

Command Strips were a great, renter-friendly alternative to hanging the photos with nails, and Moore chose to hang her pictures symmetrically, going four across and four down. However, it’s not just the frames you can have fun with — you can also include sentimental items that aren’t photos on your gallery wall.

This gallery wall is just one aspect of Moore’s light-filled, calming Connecticut apartment. To see more, visit the full house tour.