You make a photo wall in four steps: choose your photos and frames, lay out the arrangement on the floor first, tape paper templates to the wall and only then hang everything. Keep 5 to 8 cm between frames and hang the centre of the whole arrangement at eye level, around 150 cm. Light frames can also be hung without drilling, using adhesive strips.
A photo wall turns an empty wall into something personal. But without a plan, it quickly becomes a messy collection with too many holes in the wall. In this article you'll find photo wall ideas that look calm, which arrangement suits your room and how to hang photos and posters, even without drilling.
Step 1: choose your photos and a common thread
A photo wall looks calm when there's a common thread. For example, choose:
- frames in the same colour, such as all black or all natural wood;
- all photos in black and white, or all in colour;
- one theme, such as the family, travels or the children over the years.
Start with one large focal piece in the middle and build the smaller frames around it. A photo mosaic works well for this: from afar it's one picture, up close you see dozens or hundreds of photos. That way you get lots of photos on the wall with just one frame. Are your best photos still in an album? Then first read how to digitise old photos.
Step 2: choose an arrangement
| Arrangement | What it looks like | Works well for |
|---|---|---|
| Grid | Identical frames in rows and columns, with the same spacing everywhere | A sleek, modern interior |
| Salon style | Different sizes mixed together around one large centrepiece | Playful and personal |
| One line | Frames with their bottom edge or centre at the same height | Above a sofa or sideboard |
| Shelf | Frames standing on a picture ledge, even overlapping | Anyone who swaps often or doesn't want to drill much |
Step 3: plan your photo wall on the floor first
- Lay all frames on the floor and move them around until the arrangement feels right.
- Cut out the shape of each frame from paper or cardboard.
- Tape the paper shapes to the wall with painter's tape.
- Mark on each sheet where the nail or hook should go.
- Leave it for a day. Then adjust and hang.
Keep 5 to 8 cm of space between frames. Hang the centre of the whole photo wall at eye level, about 145 to 150 cm from the floor. Above a sofa, leave 20 to 25 cm between the back of the sofa and the lowest frame.
Hanging photos without drilling: which method?
Don't want holes in the wall, for example in a rented home? You have a few options.
- Adhesive strips. Handy for light frames and posters. Check on the packaging how much weight they hold and allow plenty of margin. Stick them on a clean, smooth wall. On textured or freshly plastered walls they hold less well.
- Small picture nails. Strictly speaking not drilling, but they do leave tiny holes. These are easy to fill later.
- A picture rail. One rail at the top of the wall, then hang frames on cords and slide them wherever you like. Ideal if you change things around often.
- A picture ledge or sideboard. Stand frames instead of hanging them. A large frame leaning against the wall looks relaxed.
How to hang a poster: with or without a frame?
A poster in a frame stays the most beautiful and the flattest for longest. Without a frame, you can hang a poster with a poster hanger, a wooden strip at the top and bottom. Tape and adhesive putty are tempting, but often leave marks or small tears, on the poster and on the wall. Want a frameless poster that still looks sleek? Then choose a print on brushed aluminium: you hang it like a painting.
A photo wall with a photo mosaic as the centrepiece
Hundreds of photos and only one wall? A photo mosaic solves that. You choose one main photo that becomes the big picture, and 10 to 300 other photos that form the tiles. Hang it in the middle and place a few smaller frames around it with your favourite single photos. It also makes a lovely gift for grandparents. Which size fits? Read our poster size guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much space should you leave between frames on a photo wall?
Keep to 5 to 8 cm. With large frames it can be a little more. Above all, keep the spacing the same everywhere so it looks calm.
How high should you hang a photo wall?
Hang the centre of the whole arrangement at eye level, about 145 to 150 cm from the floor. Above furniture, leave 20 to 25 cm of space.
Can you make a photo wall without drilling?
Yes. Use adhesive strips for light frames, a picture rail or a picture ledge. With strips, always check how much weight they can hold.
How do you hang a poster without a frame?
Use a poster hanger with a strip at the top and bottom, or hang a print on aluminium. Avoid tape, as it often damages the poster or the wall.
How many photos do you need for a photo wall?
For a photo wall of separate frames, 6 to 12 frames is a good start. If you want to show many more photos, a photo mosaic as the centrepiece is handy: it fits up to 300 photos in one frame.
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