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How to Make This Gallery Wall Idea in Under an Hour

Looking for ways to decorate a wall on a budget? Create this simple, inexpensive gallery wall with vintage botanical prints in under an hour.

In this post, learn how to quickly and easily refinish frames to make a gallery wall in your home.

And if you have frames laying around that you aren’t using, even better!

I had a gallery wall in my former home that doesn’t coordinate well with my aesthetic here at the new house.

So I refinished them (again) using a different method and I love how they turned out!

Wait until you see!

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If you’ve got empty wall space that you haven’t figured out what to do yet, consider making a gallery wall.

Whether you make one of family photos or some other prints that you love, it’s a great way to update a space and make it your own.

Here’s what I say to that – no.

While they may feel like they are going out of style, when done well with things that you love, it is a great way to warm up a space and add your personality.

What are the Rules for a Gallery Wall?

To me, there are no rules but here are some thoughts to keep in mind.

  • Keep gallery walls straight and level
  • Make a mock of your wall first before hanging
  • Mix up the sizes and types of frames for an informal look but consider staying in the same finish to keep it cohesive.
  • Use the same frames for a formal look.
  • Fill the wall by going high and wide
vintage botanical print gallery wall in my former home

The Evolution of My Vintage Botanical Print Gallery Wall Idea

After remodeling my former dining room, I had a blank wall that needed something.

Inspired by a fellow blogger, I made this vintage botanical print gallery wall using frames that I already had.

Years ago, we use to have a HUGE gallery wall of family photos in our finished basement.

I purchased the frames at Michaels when my kids were very young.

Fast forward a few years to when I repainted the walls down there and never put the family photos back up.

vintage print gallery wall

So I have several 8×10 frames of them laying around that I used for this project.

If you don’t, you can easily purchase new frames from Walmart, Target, Amazon, Michaels…so pretty much anywhere.

After painting some of the rooms here at the new house, my vintage botanical prints were a little dark for the look I’m going for here in our new home.

We recently painted the front entry hall (what a difference that was) and I had some empty walls.

So I decided to quickly makeover these frames so they would go better with the aesthetic of my vintage farmhouse.

Here’s how I did it.

vintage botanical print gallery wall ideas

Supplies Needed

If you don’t have craft or paint supplies on hand, you’ll need to get some.

For this project I used:

vintage botanical print gallery wall ideas

Directions for Refinishing Picture Frames With Rub ‘n Buff

I swear Rub ‘n Buff is so easy to work with.

Since I had some laying around I was planning to use on a mirror, I had just enough to refinish six wood frames.

Now I had to cover black frames, so if yours are not dark, you might not need to use it as much because a little goes a long way where Rub ‘n Buff is concerned.

Since moving into our new home, my daughter unloaded all of our picture frames onto the library shelves.

So I quickly grabbed my vintage print botanical frames and got to work.

Here’s how I refinished the frames in under 20 minutes.

remove backing from frames to prepare for painting

First, I popped each picture and glass out of the frames.

Then I squeezed some Rub ‘n Buff into a plastic cup.

I dipped an old paintbrush into the cup and applied it to the frame until it was fully covered.

how to refinish frames for a gallery wall

If you’ve never worked with Rub ‘n Buff before, it goes on quick and smooth, so a little goes a long way.

After covering each frame, I allowed them to fully dry and cure for 24 hours before inserting the vintage botanical prints and hanging them on the wall.

gallery wall ideas with vintage botanical prints

Before hanging, I layed each frame out on the floor until I had the desired spacing.

And measured the distance between each frame plus the distance to where it would hang.

I determined where I wanted the first row to hang, then leveled the line so the frames would hang evenly.

thrift shop finds - the mirror
Before hanging the gallery wall.

I marked the wall where each frame should hang.

And then installed picture frame hooks with a hammer.

Once the first row was hung, I repeated the process for the second row.

front entry hall makeover project
After hanging the gallery wall using vintage botanical prints.

I have more frames that I can refinish, so I may print out 3 more botanical prints and create a third row.

What do you think?

Should I add another row?

Gallery Wall Idea With Vintage Botanical Prints

Looking for ways to decorate a wall on a budget? Use what you have and create a simple, inexpensive gallery wall with botanical prints.
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Calories:
Cost: $20

Equipment

  • 1 Tube of Rub 'n Buff
  • 1 Hammer
  • 1 Picture Frame Hooks

Materials

  • 1 Tube Rub 'n Buff
  • 1 Old Paintbrush
  • 6 Picture Frames (however many you have)
  • 1 Hammer
  • 1 Picture Frame Hooks
  • 6 Vintage Botanical Prints

Instructions

  • Remove backing, glass and pictures from each frame.
    remove backing from frames to prepare for painting
  • Squeeze some Rub 'n Buff into a plastic cup or something similar.
  • Grab and old paintbrush, dip into Rub 'n Buff, and apply to frame until it is evenly covered.
    vintage botanical print gallery wall ideas
  • Allow to fully dry for 24 hours.
  • Insert vintage botanical prints.
  • Lay frames out on floor or table in the manner you want to display on the wall.
  • Measure the distance between frames, plus distance to each spot where frame will hang.
  • Decide where to hang the first row and make a level line.
  • Measure and mark where each frame will hang.
  • Using hammer, install each picture frame hook.
  • Hang frames and repeat for each row.
    painted piano with vintage mirror, houseplants, vintage area rug and gallery wall with vintage seed prints - front entry hall makeover project

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4 Comments

  1. You have inspired me to create a gallery wall with vintage botanical prints. Love the finished look, Stacy.

  2. I really like your gallery wall Stacy….but Im thinking another row would really make a statement ? Just my opinion ..

    1. Thanks and I agree – I only used 6 frames with the downloads I printed out at the former house so only updated those for now. The rest are still boxed up from the move. Just used what I had available and on hand to update the space.