Getting the Gallery Look

It's everywhere these days - walls covered with collections of photos, paintings and various assorted works of art. The look might be ubiquitous, but it's not boring. Every room puts its own spin on gallery style, with endless variations on color, shape and organization.

Whether you're displaying your collection of Picassos, or showing off your preschooler's finger paint masterpieces, there are many different ways to structure your "gallery" wall. Here are some of my favorite examples:

Kit Pollard

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Neatly organized and from the same family of paintings, this small collection is understated, elegant and sophisticated. The paintings' expressionist lines are interesting, though, and add energy to the otherwise calm space.

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There's no rule that says that artwork must be two-dimensional. I love the way these objets are elevated to masterpiece status by the use of frames. It's fun and feels young, but the neat organization of the frames adds sophistication.

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How cool is this wallpaper? It's a funny, casual take on the gallery look that I think would be incredible in a tiny powder room, or covering the walls in a kids' play area.

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There are a couple of things that I really love about this gallery. One is the sense that the art was organized organically - it started with a picture or two and grew around it. Nothing feels too forced (even if it was all hung at the same time). I'm also drawn to the use of different color frames. I especially love the mustard yellow frame on the top right. It's got energy and personality and draws the eye.

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The gallery look doesn't have to mean filling a wall with tons of tiny holes. I love the look of one or two simple shelves stocked with artwork. In this case, sticking with black and white photos gives the whole space a sense of sophistication and clean elegance.