Gallery walls add so much visual interest to a space, and for little ones, it can be a wonderful way to encourage engagement as your baby grows and learns. Whether you’re adding to themed décor or simply curating a collection of baby memories, a nursery gallery wall can be a great addition to your home. However, it’s easy for these displays to look cluttered and mismatched, so with this in mind, here are some tips to ensure your nursery wall looks stylish and well-thought-out.

Determine the Style You’re Aiming For

There are numerous ways to style a gallery wall, so before you begin, think about the look you’re striving for in the nursery as a whole. Is the interior traditionally styled or have you gone for a modern, colorful look? If you’re aiming for something classic, you might want all your frames to match in colour and material to create a more cohesive look. If you want it to be fun and vibrant, you’ll have more freedom with sizing, colours and a mix of textures.

The same can be said for the art and prints themselves. For a cohesive monochromatic look, you might keep all your photos and prints in black and white, or go for a more dynamic blend of illustrations, graphic posters, and photos. As with any décor, though, don’t overdo it – nothing is worse than a gallery wall that has too much going on and looks over the top. Stick to one or two primary colors or textures, balanced with neutrals so everything ties together.

Choose Your Artwork, Photos, and Prints

The next step is to decide what you want to decorate your gallery wall with. This can be adapted as your baby grows and their own interests and personality shine through, but in the early stages, you might want to coordinate with a chosen theme or style.

While fun cartoons and illustrations are a great option, you could create a more meaningful and dynamic display by curating a mix of professional photos and intimate, personal snapshots. You can use professionally captured photos from a maternity shoot, newborn session, or a one-year milestone as the cornerstone of your wall. These images provide a timeless, high-quality foundation.

The remaining space can then be filled in with your own photographs of everyday moments—from the first smiles to the candid giggle. For this, a mirrorless camera is an ideal tool. A quality portable camera with a faster shutter speed will allow you to capture every fleeting moment without motion blur. Buying used camera gear is not just an affordable choice, but it’s a small, loving way to help protect the planet for your little one. These cameras also offer longevity that will see you through the newborn stage, toddler milestones, and beyond!

Plan the Layout in Advance

You’ve decided on the style, chosen the art—now you need to plan how you’ll position them on the wall. You don’t want to just start hanging frames without planning the layout first, especially if you have different sizes to arrange, as it can quickly look messy and unbalanced.

If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at some inspiration on Pinterest or Instagram to see how other parents have laid out their frames. Alternatively, use an old roll of brown paper cut to the size of the frames you have so you can lay everything out on the floor, or tape to the wall, and play around with different configurations to find what works best. While even numbers can look great if all the frames are the same size, an uneven number tends to look less regimented and more natural.

Make it Renter-Friendly

Hanging frames directly on the wall isn’t an option for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you need to miss out on creating a beautiful nursery gallery wall. Where screws or nails are not an option, command strips and other non marking adhesive hooks are a popular choice. 

Propping frames up on shelves not only makes your collection wall renter-friendly but it also makes it easier for you to update the prints and photos you have without the need to rehang them. Most shelf gallery walls are two or three shelves in height, which gives you plenty of space in between each to house the larger frames.

Don’t Overlook Textural Elements

Many gallery walls can easily become one dimensional, so focus on adding whimsy and softness to the arrangement. Incorporating fabric pennants, soft educational toys, and wooden frames painted in pastel shades or bold colors can be a great way to add interest and a fresh look to a classic style. This will create a nursery wall that’s Instagram-worthy while also being more interesting for your baby to look at.

A gallery wall is a cost-effective way to decorate in a personal and unique way, with illustrations, paintings or posters, and photographs that are tailored to you and your family. Make a statement, create a cute collection of your baby’s first photos, or add a chic edge with monochromatic shots—there are so many options that will jazz up any nursery and make it your own.

Panos Productions Photography is a trusted pregnancy and newborn photographer in Glendale, Los Angeles. Book your Los Angeles newborn session today.