A practical gallery wall example

Six frames. Three ways to fill the wall above your sofa.

You do not need a matching set. Start with the frames you have, compare the space each arrangement needs, then make the layout your own.

Compare the layouts Plan with my own sizes

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The same six frames in every example

These are outside frame dimensions, measured edge to edge. A frame sold for an 8 × 10 in print may be larger on the outside.

1 × 16 × 20 in1 × 12 × 16 in2 × 11 × 14 in2 × 8 × 10 in

Measured clear wall area: 96 × 56 in
Sofa width reference: 84 in
Auto-layout gap setting: 2.5 in

About 244 × 142 cm of clear wall above a 213 cm sofa. The sofa illustration shows width, not a prescribed mounting height.

Compare the space each layout needs

Balanced arrangement: four larger frames centered above two smaller frames, with a sofa width reference.

01 / Balanced

A larger group, with a quieter row below.

57.5 × 32.5 in overall

The algorithm groups the larger pieces first and centers the rows. Compare how this narrower arrangement feels over your own sofa.

Gallery rows arrangement: five frames with aligned top edges above one centered frame.

02 / Gallery rows

Aligned top edges, with a wider spread.

64 × 38.5 in overall

This arrangement follows the order of the frame list and aligns the top edges within each row. It needs more width and height than the other two.

Stepped arrangement: two smaller frames above four larger frames, with offset rows.

03 / Stepped

Smaller pieces above, weight below.

57.5 × 32.5 in overall

Offset rows change the balance of the same frame set. Preview it alongside the centered version before choosing.

Generated with Frame Study’s layout engine. Overall dimensions include the gaps between frames. The 2.5 in auto-layout setting does not make every visible vertical gap identical when frames have different heights. Illustrative artwork is included in the planner.

Make the example fit your room

Measure your clear wall area. Choose the rectangle you can actually use above the sofa, allowing for shelves, switches and anything else on the wall. Enter its width and height in inches or centimeters.
Measure the outside of every frame. Enter the border-to-border width and height, in the orientation you want to hang it. Do not substitute the print or mat opening dimensions.
Compare arrangements and spacing. Start with a layout, adjust it, then keep an alternative before trying another. Frame Study can keep up to three alternatives in a project.
Check it on the actual wall. Use paper templates or removable markers suited to your surface. Decide the height from the real room, furniture and viewing position; the sofa illustration is only a width reference.
Save a plan you can return to. Download the editable project to reopen it later or on another device. A layout image is useful for getting a second opinion.

Frame-edge coordinates are not nail or hook positions. Measure the actual hanging hardware before marking the wall. Frame Study can calculate a single hanging point only after you supply its measured offsets; two-hook frames are not supported.

Try these three layouts yourself

The editable example includes all six frame sizes and the three saved arrangements. You can replace the dimensions with your own.

Download the example project Open the free planner →

In the planner, choose Project → Open a saved project, then select the downloaded .framestudy file. Opening it replaces the browser draft after confirmation, so download your current project first if you want to keep both.

Before you start

How wide should a gallery wall be above a sofa?

There is no single width that fits every room. In this worked example, a 57.5 in arrangement spans about 68% of an 84 in sofa, while the 64 in arrangement spans about 76%. Those are comparisons, not rules. Check your available wall area and compare the result at the viewing distance you normally use.

Can I use frames that are different sizes?

Yes. The examples above use four different outside sizes. Frame Study accepts up to 12 frames and supports inches or centimeters. You can move frames individually after using auto-layout.

Can I use my own photos?

Yes. Add photos inside the planner to preview your art. Project photos stay on your device unless you choose to share a downloaded file. A site link by itself does not share your project.

Do I need to create an account?

No. The planner is currently a free beta. One draft stays in the current browser; download the editable project if you need a separate backup or want to continue on another device.