Some people say gallery walls are fading in favor of larger-scale art. Maybe that’s true for some spaces, especially walls covered with a lot of tiny frames. Still, a curated collection of frames grouped together feels timeless. Think about classic homes in movies — a framed collection often accents staircases and foyers. One modern use I love is building a gallery wall around a television. That big black screen can dominate a wall, so surrounding it with framed pieces softens its presence and gives your eye more attractive resting points. And when the TV is playing a nature documentary, the image practically reads like art anyway.
We first experimented with a frame gallery around our living room TV about four and a half years ago. The room has changed a lot since then, including paint and a few swapped frames and prints, but the gallery has held up. We get a lot of questions about layout, what to frame, how to hang items, and where to source art, so here’s a straightforward guide for creating a TV gallery wall that looks intentional and lived-in.
Preparing the TV Wall
Mounting the TV and hiding cords makes the gallery approach cleaner and more polished, but it’s not strictly required. We recently mounted a new TV and used an in-wall power kit to conceal cables, which took about an hour and made the whole wall look less cluttered. If you don’t want to mount your TV, a stable media console or secondhand dresser works well as a base—just be mindful of the TV’s height and the visual balance of the grouping.
How to Arrange and Hang Frames
There are a few reliable methods for planning a gallery wall around a TV. Choose the one that fits your comfort level and the size of your collection.
Method 1 – Lay Frames Out on the Floor
Place the frames on the floor with an empty rectangle in the layout to represent the TV. Shuffle pieces until you like the arrangement, then transfer that composition to the wall. This tactile method gives you a clear sense of scale and spacing before you make a single hole.
Method 2 – Paper Templates
Cut paper templates to the size of each frame using newspaper, brown paper bags, or printer paper taped together for larger sizes. Tape the paper shapes to the wall and move them around until the composition feels right. When satisfied, replace the templates with the actual frames. This is especially useful if you want to see pieces on the wall before committing to nails.
Method 3 – The Big Sheet
Arrange frames on the floor on a large sheet of craft paper or wrapping paper, then trace each frame and mark hanging points. Lift the paper up to the wall and use it as a full-size template. This hybrid approach combines the floor layout’s ease with the accuracy of wall templates and works well for medium-sized groupings.
Method 4 – Hang as You Go
If you’re confident, start by hanging a few anchor pieces and build around them. I recommend establishing the center and spacing above the TV first, which then guides how pieces on the left and right should align. This approach lets you tweak spacing in sections rather than dealing with the whole wall at once.
Ways to Make the Grouping Feel Cohesive
There’s no single rule for mixing frames and art, but a few consistent choices will pull a diverse grouping together:
- Mats: White mats unify a mix of frame styles and sizes, creating a cohesive “family” of pieces.
- Color palette: Repeating a few colors across different pieces—greens, blues, pinks, neutrals—ties disparate works together. Even three-dimensional decorative objects should follow the palette so nothing feels out of place.
- Spacing: Aim for consistent spacing—about 2–3 inches—so the collection reads as a single composition rather than scattered islands. Treat the TV like another frame and maintain the same spacing around it. Step back to view the arrangement from the main seating area to make final adjustments.
What to Frame
A varied mix of artwork, prints, family photos, small objects, and found items makes a gallery wall feel personal and interesting. If you use identical frames in a strict grid, you might prefer more uniform art, but an eclectic layout invites variety. Below are examples of items that work well in an eclectic TV gallery:
- Family photos framed with mats for a polished look.
- Small decorative objects like faux antlers or sculptural pieces painted or chosen to match the palette.
- Original small paintings or prints from independent artists.
- Postcards, exhibit ephemera, or book pages that have color or composition you love.
- Photographs you took and had printed—simple, high-contrast images often read well at small sizes.
- Maps or collages backed with cork for a tactile element.
Frames don’t have to be expensive to look good. Reasonably priced frames with included mats can be found at mainstream retailers, and small original works or prints from Etsy or independent artists add personality at a modest price. Mix finishes—white, light wood, thin gold—to introduce subtle variety while the mats and palette keep the wall unified.
When hanging, don’t worry about making mistakes. It’s easy to patch small holes and move items until the arrangement feels right. Start, experiment, and adjust—frames hide a lot, and the process is part of the fun. If you’re dealing with a lower media cabinet and a blank wall above it, a gallery or a larger statement piece can fill that space affordably and effectively. Happy framing—may your walls feel intentional and your arrangements feel like home.
*This article originally included affiliate links and product references; all recommendations above reflect practical options for sourcing frames and small artworks without requiring luxury purchases.