Updated August 6, 2026 — by César, editor at AestheticPoster
A successful gallery wall is always planned on the floor, never straight on the wall: cut a kraft paper template to the exact size of each frame, test the composition on the ground and with tape, then choose from 7 proven layouts—from symmetrical grid to organic—with the exact list of formats you need to buy for each one.
Key takeaways
- 7 tested layouts, each with its precise shopping list in formats A3 (297×420 mm), A2 (420×594 mm) and A1 (594×841 mm)—no guesswork.
- Universal spacing rule: 5 to 8 cm between two frames for a grid, up to 4–10 cm variable for organic placement.
- The kraft paper template (cut to the exact size of each frame, taped to the wall) avoids 90% of wasted holes—professional technique, zero software needed.
- Universal reference point: the visual center of the wall is placed at 1.55–1.60 m from the floor, average eye height when standing.
- AestheticPoster's 250 g/m² paper, matte or glossy, is available in the 3 formats used by all the layouts below—no custom sizes needed.
Why start with a floor plan instead of going straight to the wall?
Because the first mistake on a gallery wall is never the poster choice: it's the misplaced hole. Cut a template from kraft paper (or newspaper) to the exact dimensions of each frame you plan to use—297×420 mm for A3, 420×594 mm for A2, 594×841 mm for A1. Arrange these templates on the floor, in the room, to visualize the actual footprint before taping anything to the wall. Once the composition is validated on the floor, tape the templates directly to the wall with painter's tape: you see the final result, you can adjust to the millimeter, and you only drill once the plan is locked in.
What are the 7 layouts you can copy?
| Layout | Composition | Total dimensions (W×H) | Spacing between frames | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Symmetrical grid | 9×A3 | ≈101×138 cm | 6 cm regular | Entryway, wide hallway, straight stairwell |
| 2. Symmetrical duo | 2×A2 | Variable (frames a piece of furniture) | identical on both sides | Either side of a mirror, console |
| 3. Staircase | 5×A3 | Follows the slope | 15 cm horiz. / 10 cm vert. | Stairwell, sloped hallway |
| 4. Organic / eclectic | 2×A1 + 3×A2 + 4×A3 | ≈220×160 cm | 4 to 8 cm variable | Large living room wall, open-plan space |
| 5. Horizontal line | 3×A2 | ≈138×59 cm | 6 cm regular | Above a sofa or bed |
| 6. Vertical duo | 2×A3 | ≈30×92 cm | 8 cm | Narrow hallway, wall between two doors |
| 7. Focal + satellites | 1×A1 + 4×A3 | ≈140×190 cm | 10 cm around center | Office wall, bed headboard |
Layout 1 — Symmetrical grid (9×A3)
Nine posters in A3 format, aligned in 3 columns and 3 rows, with regular 6 cm spacing between each frame in both directions. Result: a block of 101×138 cm, clean and reassuring, that structures an entryway or hallway without requiring any particular artistic sense—alignment does all the work. It's the easiest layout to execute with a paper template: just one measurement repeated nine times.
Layout 2 — Symmetrical duo (2×A2)
Two identical posters in A2 format (42×59.4 cm), positioned at equal distance from a central point—mirror, wall sconce, console. The spacing between the two frames depends on the furniture being framed: account for the furniture's space plus 10 to 15 cm margin on each side. The rule that never changes: the same distance from center, the same hanging height on both sides, to the centimeter.
Layout 3 — Staircase (5×A3)
Five A3 posters arranged diagonally, following the staircase slope. The key measurement isn't the total dimension (it depends on the stairwell height) but the spacing between frames: 15 cm horizontally, 10 cm vertically between the bottom corner of one frame and the top corner of the next. The paper template trick is essential here: the slope fools the eye, better to tape the whole series before drilling the first hole.
Layout 4 — Organic / eclectic (2×A1 + 3×A2 + 4×A3)
The densest layout: two large A1 formats as visual anchors, three A2 as relays, four A3 to fill the gaps. Space occupied: around 220×160 cm. Spacing is no longer fixed (4 to 8 cm depending on pairs of adjacent frames), requiring the most trial-and-error on the floor—it's the layout where the kraft paper template pays for itself most, since balancing nine frames by eye on a wall without prior testing almost always results in starting over.
Layout 5 — Horizontal line (3×A2)
Three A2 posters aligned in a single row, regular 6 cm spacing, total width 138 cm—designed for a standard sofa or bed (140–160 cm). Proportion rule: the line's total width should cover 60 to 75% of the furniture's width below it, and the bottom of the frames is placed 15 to 20 cm above the backrest or bed headboard.
Layout 6 — Vertical duo (2×A3)
Two A3 posters stacked, 8 cm spacing, total height 92 cm for a width of just 30 cm—the narrowest layout of the bunch, designed for a tight hallway or the blank wall between two doors. The center of the whole thing aligns with the universal reference point of 1.55–1.60 m.
Layout 7 — Focal + satellites (1×A1 + 4×A3)
One A1 poster in the center, four A3 arranged in a cross around it, 10 cm spacing from the central frame. Space occupied: around 140×190 cm, vertical, suited to an office wall or bed headboard that needs a clear focal point rather than a diffuse composition.
What spacing should I leave between frames?
For a regular grid (layouts 1, 5, 6): 5 to 8 cm everywhere, the same value repeated on all sides—that's what gives the impression of rigor. Below 4 cm, the frames look glued together; above 10 cm, the composition falls apart visually and no longer reads as a whole. For organic placement (layout 4) or cross arrangement (layout 7), spacing can vary from 4 to 10 cm depending on pairs of frames, as long as it remains visually coherent once the templates are taped to the wall—that's exactly what the paper-testing method lets you verify before drilling.
How do I test my layout before drilling?
- Cut a kraft paper template per frame, to the exact dimensions of the format (297×420 mm for A3, 420×594 mm for A2, 594×841 mm for A1).
- Arrange on the floor, in the room, respecting the spacing of your chosen layout—this is when you can compare multiple layouts side by side without damaging anything.
- Tape to the wall with painter's tape, one template at a time, starting from the center frame or the 1.55–1.60 m reference point.
- Step back and check at normal viewing distance (2–3 m)—spacing that looked right up close can appear too tight or too loose from a distance.
- Drill through the paper, at the marked point for each hook, then remove the templates: the holes are already in the right place.
Which formats should I choose by layout?
The 7 layouts in this article use only the 3 formats from the AestheticPoster catalog: A3 (297×420 mm), A2 (420×594 mm) and A1 (594×841 mm), available in 250 g/m² paper, matte or glossy finish. For a first gallery wall, layouts 1 and 5 (grid or line, all A3 or A2) are simplest to execute without room for error. For a more ambitious wall, layout 4 (organic) leverages all three formats together and remains the most-recommended arrangement by decorators for a living room. Choosing between A3, A2 and A1 mainly depends on the viewing distance available in your room—see our complete guide to A3, A2, A1 formats for distance reference points by size.
FAQ — gallery wall
What spacing should I leave between frames on a gallery wall?
5 to 8 cm for a regular grid, the same value repeated between all frames. For organic placement, spacing can vary from 4 to 10 cm depending on pairs of frames, as long as you test on the floor before drilling.
How do I know how many frames for a gallery wall?
It depends on available space: count 9 A3 frames for a wall around 100×140 cm (grid layout), or 9 mixed A1/A2/A3 frames for a large wall of 220×160 cm (organic layout). Measure the wall first, then choose the layout whose total dimensions best match.
At what height should I hang the center of a gallery wall?
1.55 to 1.60 m from the floor to the visual center of the whole thing—average eye height when standing, a reference point used in museography that works for all layouts in this article.
Do I need software to plan a gallery wall?
No: a kraft paper template cut to the exact dimensions of each frame, tested on the floor then taped to the wall, is enough to validate a composition before drilling—it's the method used by most professional decorators.
Can I mix A3, A2 and A1 formats on the same wall?
Yes, it's actually the basis of the organic layout (2×A1 + 3×A2 + 4×A3): large formats serve as visual anchors, small ones fill the gaps, with variable spacing of 4 to 8 cm between adjacent frames.
Compose your gallery wall
All layouts in this article use AestheticPoster's 250 g/m² paper in A3, A2 and A1 formats, identical in print quality regardless of finish chosen. Browse our decoration posters collection to pick the visuals that will make up your wall, or check our guide on 25 ideas for decorating your living room wall for more composition inspiration.
César, editor at AestheticPoster — I tested all 7 layouts in this article with kraft paper before documenting them, templates taped and all.
