A Gallery Wall Built Entirely From Thrift Shop Frames
Nine frames, none of which matched, all of which cost under five dollars. One can of spray paint pulled them into a set.
[ADD IMAGE HERE] — Nine spray-painted charity shop frames arranged above a console table. Vertical shot, 1000x1500px.
The rule that makes mismatched frames work
Charity shop frames come in every finish there is: gilt, pine, black plastic, that particular 1990s grey. Left alone they read as clutter. Spray them all one colour and the eye stops seeing nine objects and starts seeing one arrangement.
The shapes can stay different. The sizes should stay different — that is what stops a gallery wall looking like a grid of certificates on an office wall. Only the finish needs to agree.
What it cost
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Nine frames, two charity shops | $26 |
| Matt spray paint, one can | $9 |
| Picture hooks, pack of 20 | $6 |
| Art, printed at home on cartridge paper | $0 |
| Total | $41 |
The paper template trick
Lay every frame on the floor and shuffle them until the arrangement works. Then draw around each frame on newspaper, cut the shapes out, and tape the paper to the wall instead of the frames.
You can move paper as many times as you like. Mark the hook position through the paper with a pencil, hammer the nail straight through it, then tear the paper away. Nine frames, nine holes, no second attempts.
Spacing. Five to seven centimetres between frames. Any closer and it reads as one solid block; any further apart and the arrangement falls into separate pieces.
Hanging height
The centre of the whole arrangement should sit at eye level — around 145 cm from the floor — not at the centre of the wall. Above a sofa, drop the lowest frame to about 20 cm above the backrest so the two read as connected rather than as furniture with art floating above it.
What to put in them
- Pressed leaves and flowers, which cost nothing and photograph well
- Fabric offcuts stretched over card — a good use of upholstery samples
- Pages from damaged secondhand books, especially botanical or map plates
- Free public-domain prints from museum archives
- Two or three of your own photographs, mixed in so the wall has some depth
Project at a glance
- Cost — $41
- Time — Half a day
- Skill — Beginner
- Rental safe — Small nails only
Questions people asked
How many frames do I need for a gallery wall?
Odd numbers sit better than even ones. Seven to eleven fills a standard sofa wall. We used nine.
Should gallery wall frames match?
Not in shape or size, but one shared element ties them together. Spraying every frame the same colour is the cheapest way to get it.
What spray paint works on old frames?
A matt acrylic spray works on wood, plastic and metal frames alike. Wipe them with soapy water first and let them dry fully — spray will not grip over old polish.
Next project
Renting and want colour without nails? The peelable arch wall is the companion piece. For the room around it, see why three lamps beat one ceiling light.