As most of you know by now, I love a gallery wall. I love them because they create visual interest to a space and are a great way to showcase items and images that have meaning. Gallery walls can showcase many different pieces such as, family photos, sculptural items and fun pieces of art

I had the opportunity to work with Melissa Skoda (who is our amazing LSH photographer) to create a super adorable gallery ledge in their daughters playroom. Melissa is an amazing photographer and one of her goals for 2020 was to get more of her images up on their walls. We know this is a common feeling that many people have so we decided to share the process and create a step by step on how we created her 9 frame gallery ledge. The steps and template outlined below is easy to follow and will allow you to recreate this exact one in your own space. All the pieces can be found at Ikea* and printing can be ordered online. The best part about a gallery ledge is that you can move the frames around and change out the photos as often as you like without making a ton of holes in the walls. This 9 frame gallery ledge template can be made for roughly $300 - 350 CAD (price may vary depending on which printer you go with. Full list of recommended printers in the steps below.

Remember to have fun and don’t overthink it.

Template: 9 Frame Gallery Ledge

1. Find a place in your home where you would like to create your gallery ledge. This one is perfect for over a couch, over a bed, above a bookshelf

2. Pick your photos. This may be the hardest part as we have so many photos on our computers and they usually aren’t very organized! Select 20-40 of your favourite photos and put them into a folder. Start with your most recent family photo shoot or photos that stick out in your mind. Then go through your library and finish selecting the rest. Don’t worry if they don’t all match, pick your favourites first and then narrow it down later.

3. Purchase your Ikea products:

Frames

Knoppäng Frames

2 x (31x41) cm frame ($12.99) + 2 x (8x10) prints) https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/knoppaeng-frame-white-60427293/

2 x 50x 70 cm frame ($24.99 CAD) + 2 x (16x20) inch prints https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/knoppaeng-frame-white-80427305/

1 x 61 x91 cm frame ($29.99 CAD) + 1 x (20 x30) inch print (with matte) https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/knoppaeng-frame-white-80427287/

Sondrum Frames

2 x (20x25) cm frame $7.99 CAD + 2 (7x5) inch prints https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/soendrum-frame-white-60378481/

2 x (31 x41) cm frame $14.99 CAD + 2 (8x10) inch prints https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/soendrum-frame-white-00378484/

Ledges

2 x mosslanda 115 cm $14.99

1 x mosslanda 55 cm. $9.99

https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/mosslanda-picture-ledge-white-90292103/

4. Select photo sizes. Once your frames arrive it is easier to visualize which photos should go in each frame. Lay the frames out in the frame template format and pick which images should go in each frame. (Don’t take the frames out of the packaging so you know what sizes the frames are. If you take them all out of the packaging before ordering it will be confusing). Put a sticky note on each frame with your print size and short description of your photo and then order your prints straight away so it’s fresh in your mind. Use the image sizes listed on the ikea product with the matte insert and refer to the product list above for print sizes. For the 3 largest frames choose images that have a higher resolution (300 DPI) or ones that aren’t taken on an iPhone. If you would like to include IPhone photos use them in frames 8x10 inches or smaller. I used some iPhone photos in my gallery wall but kept those for the smallest frames.

5. Order your prints from the notes you made. Make sure that you are using the print size on each frame with the matte insert and refer to the product list above to see corresponding print sizes. For some of the frames you will order slightly bigger print sizes as some of Ikea’s sizes aren’t standard. List of online printers I suggest are below: Shutterfly, Costco, or WHCC (this one is my fave but more geared toward photographers). I've also been meaning to try Poster Jack (an online Canadian printer) but I haven't tried them yet. Make sure to ask for 'no colour correction' when printing so that your colours look as they do on screen and always print on satin, lustre or matte paper to avoid shine. Do not use gloss paper under a frame.

6. Hang ledges

7. Assemble frames. Once your prints have arrived assemble each print and frame set one by one. You will need a large clean space, green painters’ tape or masking tape and a lens cloth. Tape the prints to the matte on each corner and secure them in each frame. If your fingerprints get on the photo you can clean with a lens cloth.

8. Add all of the frames to the ledge using our design as your guide. Once you are happy with where they are sitting, take off the smaller frames so you can secure the large frames with the command strips (so they are secure to the wall). Then add your smaller frames back on the ledge and your gallery wall is complete. The best part about a gallery ledge is that you can move the frames around and change out the photos as often as you like without making a ton of holes in the walls. I hope we made this guide as easy as possible for you.

* Normally I would suggest selecting all of your frame items online and picking the Click and Collect option at checkout, however at the time of writing this post Ikea stores are closed due to COVID - 19 and click and collect isn't in operation. You can order online and ship to your home for an extra delivery fee. Alternatively you can take the time to choose your images now (this is the part that takes the most time) and order your frames when when Click and Collect is back in service.