A gallery wall is a dedicated wall in your home where you can create an assemblage, a mish mash of, well whatever you want.. art, photographs, keepsakes.. alongside original artwork, you might find family photographs, concert tickets from a memorable date, receipts, your first clunky old-school mobile phone, a Post-it note with a heartfelt or funny message.. you get the picture.. The beauty of a gallery wall is its freedom: there’s no need to stick to rules or worry about what's 'right' It’s a chance to embrace a maximalist approach, where more is more, and the mix is what makes it work.
This is an opportunity to let go of overthinking. You don’t need to curate it perfectly - layer paintings, photographs, wall hung sculptures, collages, and sentimental mementos into a rich and personal display. Or, if you prefer, keep it simple - just photographs, just paintings, or just keepsakes..there are no rules here.. though it can make it easier to hang and find a visual coherence if you stick to pieces on the smaller side - say 50 x 50 cm or under, this tends to work especially well, as they allow you to fit more into the wall while keeping it balanced and cohesive.. But if you want to hang a large statement piece amidst the ensemble.. don't let anyone stop you!
A gallery wall works beautifully in more intimate spaces, like a hallway or near sofas - where people come together and can get close enough to see the textures and detail of smaller individual pieces. Unlike a large statement piece, which dominates from afar, a gallery wall invites curiosity and sparks conversation and memory. It reflects the people and stories in the home, creating a space full of character, meaning, and warmth that feels alive, reflecting the stories and people that make a house a home.
The Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition offers great inspiration here with its famous “salon hang,” where every inch of wall space is used. This layered approach encourages you to think expansively and keep adding new pieces over time. The result is a living, evolving collection that feels dynamic and alive, blending memories and mini masterpieces into something truly personal.
Paul Smith’s creative philosophy also fits beautifully with this concept. He describes his approach as “childlike, not childish,” explaining, “My room and all the objects in it are childlike not childish; the difference is huge. Children are not cluttered with education and experience, which makes them really open and honest.” Incorporating children’s artwork or framing sentimental items alongside fine art adds a playful, authentic, and heartfelt quality to your wall.
Here we’ve curated a selection of works under 50 x 50 cm, perfect for creating a gallery wall. These smaller pieces allow you to mix textures, experiment with arrangements, and bring new life to your space. The beauty of this approach is that you don’t need to overthink it - if a piece speaks to you, it will naturally fit into the eclectic life story your wall is telling.
Explore the curated selection, browse a more expansive collection of smaller pieces and/or browse the full range of works under 50 x 50 at the gallery. A gallery wall is about creating a space that feels alive with meaning, reflecting the stories and people that make a house a home.
Browse all work under 50 x 50cm.
See also the curated collection Small is Beautiful which also features smaller works.