This art wall makes us so happy — and we didn’t overthink it. We considered a few alternate options and eliminated them for specific reasons:
- One giant piece on each side of the window felt too symmetrical and repetitive next to the large rectangular window in the middle.
- Open shelving would add too much shelving since the dining room already has built-ins, creating shelving next to more shelving.
- Mirrors weren’t ideal because there’s already a large framed mirror on the opposite office wall, so that felt like overkill.
Instead, we used frames we already owned and arranged them in a balanced—but not perfectly symmetrical—composition. We aimed for pieces that feel personal and make us smile. They’re not perfect, but perfect is overrated. These pieces match the cheerful vibe of our chipper green office chairs, and the slight imperfection is exactly what we love about it.
We divided the wall into “John’s side” (right) and “Sherry’s side” (left). John’s grouping reflects his interests—maps, typography, travel, and high-contrast geometric shapes—so his cluster includes:
John’s arrangement is meaningful as well as visually appealing:
- The map is a typographic Richmond map by a local artist, made entirely of words. I painted the Ikea mat with the same gray paint used under the chair rail so the map would stand out.
- The handwritten piece is an enlarged copy of a tiny comment card from a meal we had in Alaska during our honeymoon. We recorded what we ate and saw that day and kept the card as a souvenir, then had it blown up to fit the frame.
On my side I wanted something made by Clara—everything she paints is my favorite—and I also liked the idea of framing a favorite textile. I used leftover fabric from Clara’s photo project (the same fabric I once used to reupholster a thrift-store bench) to add a tactile, personal element.
The lattice pattern of the fabric ties back to the lattice detail on our chairs and complements the geometric print on John’s side. Those unplanned connections feel like happy accidents—small moments of “meant to be.”
Here’s the process we followed to create the gallery wall. It’s one approach among many, but it worked for us:
- Went through our existing frames and found five suitable ones—total cost for frames: $0.
- Laid the frames on the floor and experimented until we found a balanced, not overly symmetrical arrangement.
- Hung the empty frames on the wall to preview the layout.
- Searched for art that could be trimmed or enlarged to fit the frames; sometimes the art dictates the frame instead.
- Selected the typographic Richmond map from another room and painted its mat to coordinate with the wall color.
- Dug through a memory box of keepsakes and found the tiny honeymoon comment card, which we enlarged at a copy shop.
- Pulled a sentimental piece of fabric from past projects to frame on my side.
- Found a high-contrast print from our art stash to balance the handwritten card and the detailed map.
- Let Clara paint on a large sheet of paper to create a colorful, custom piece for one frame.
- Picked up colorful paper at a craft store to use as mats that better fill the frames and introduce playful pops of color.
The result feels eclectic but cohesive: bold and happy without being visually chaotic. The color palette is varied—Clara’s painting is bright while John’s side includes a black-and-white print—but recurring tones like teal and an energetic yellow help tie everything to the chairs and nearby dining room curtains. White frames provide unity across the collection. We’ll likely add accents in other colors later, perhaps orange or coral on the desk, to see how the room evolves.
From the dining room, the office reads as a light-washed space opposite darker built-ins, which helps prevent the two rooms from blending into one large rectangular visual. I’m also on the hunt for a new runner that isn’t so matchy—maybe plum or a textured burlap look.
Cost-wise, since we already owned the frames, we only spent about $9 on large colored paper for mats and roughly $4 at the copy shop to enlarge pieces. That’s about $13 total for five substantial, meaningful pieces that now brighten our workspace.
We still have a few items on our office list: a permanent, longer runner in a darker tone; more permanent art for the opposite wall; window treatments, likely homemade Roman shades; and a lamp and side table for the leather chair corner. For now, though, we’re relieved to finally have something on those blank walls after nearly a year of staring at them. The frames sat unused in the playroom, and it only took a small investment to turn them into a joyful display.
Have you ever enlarged a small keepsake at a copy shop or let a toddler create custom art for your home? I expected to be meticulous about colors and composition, but giving Clara every color and letting her go made the piece feel uniquely hers—my little artist.
Psst — we’ve written about other sentimental things we’ve framed around the house in a separate post.