Ten June: Living Room Tweak List: A Gallery Wall

Living Room Tweak List: A Gallery Wall

Oh, hello fabulous new gallery wall!

One of the reasons I love blogging so much is that I've got an instant (talented!) audience for feedback. In the past, you guys have helped me with choices like how to spruce up my built in wine rack and what to do with my plantation shutters in my living room. When I first shared my living room tweak to do list with all of you, a few of you mentioned that it might be a good idea to liven up the wall behind the sofa.

I originally intended to make the wall into an "entryway" with a built-in shelf, perhaps a bench and a place to throw your stuff when you first walk in the front door. But the space just doesn't work for that much stuff, so we decided to move that area into our breakfast nook where we created a mini mudroom. And then I more or less forgot to do something with this poor little empty wall.

So at your suggestion (thank you!) I added "tackle wall behind the sofa" to the living room tweak to do list. But I still wasn't quite sure what to do with the space, so I simply decided to build around the mirror that was already there and work with (free!) items that I already had around my house to create a whimsical, fun gallery wall.

Since I learned the process from many of you, I won't spend too much time on my "how to" for the wall. The quick version is that I laid out my items on the floor, traced newspaper in the shape of each item and then played with the newspaper shapes by taping them onto the wall.

Once I got the look right, I nailed through each newspaper sheet and started hanging!

Let's take a little tour through the gallery wall, shall we?

These panels were finds in the clearance aisle at Target some months ago.

Next to some tiny framed fabric sits one of my favorite pieces- a photo taken from our trip to Puerto Rico last spring. I snagged a Groupon for one of those photo-to-canvas deals and paid only $40. It's honestly one of my favorite things in my house and such a fun memory to see every day!

Next to a picture of one of our favorite places in the world (Sanford Stadium!) is a shadow box I picked up from Goodwill for $1. I popped it open and replaced the watering can and plastic flower that you can see in the photo below with some moss and our initial.

The "Bless This Home" sign you see above turned into a new chalkboard for the wall!

The rest of the wall hosts lots of family photos and other fun souvenirs, including my DIY clothespin art frame that I moved over to the gallery wall from the other side of the room.

It took me awhile to get used to the busy wall, but now it has grown on me. I love it!

And the most exciting part? This project is the last thing on my living room tweak to do list!

LIVING ROOM TO DO LIST:

1.~~update mantle~~
2. ~~add art on wall next to TV~~

3. ~~update TV stand~~
4. ~~paint trim a crisp white~~

5. ~~paint walls a new neutral color~~
6. ~~add new rug~~

7. ~~figure out pillow sitcheeyation~~

8. ~~deal with the plantation shutters~~

9. ~~spruce up wall behind couch~~

I'll give a full before and after tour of the whole living room later this week.
What do you think of my new gallery wall?!

Sharing with:
Between Naps on the Porch
Thrifty Decor Chick