Washi Tape Gallery Wall
There's something refreshing about an easy and affordable way to display artwork and mementos. If you're on a tight budget, live in a space where you're not able to easily poke holes in walls, have sloped ceilings or awkwardly shaped rooms, or work in a spot where you're always changing things up, the washi tape gallery wall can be an amazing way to add colour and interest to your space. Plus, I really love that it's a casual look and doesn't feel too precious.
You really don't need more than a roll or two (I get most of mine at DeSerres because I like purchasing individual rolls rather than a pre-packaged collection), a pair of scissors, and whatever works you want to pin up. It's really as easy as that, but there a couple of things I'll mention that are pretty important:
A few things to keep in mind
ensure you're working with washi tape (I've made the mistake of assuming similar looking tape was of the washi variety before, but it was decorator's tape, which is far less delicate and does not easily come off (it will destroy your prints); and
you probably won't want to use washi tape on any expensive or irreplaceable pieces. This method is better served for those pieces that are cute but don't really need to live protected in full-time in a frame.
I recently stayed up late on what I'll affectionately call a creative binge, where I couldn't stop myself from making one collage after another. The next morning as I was cleaning up the remnants left behind, I quickly realized that I had no plan for what to do with the little masterpieces I had made. Realizing how much I enjoyed putting them together, I figured I'd display them on a blank wall in my office that has slanted ceilings and a large window. The only risk was wasting some tape at less than $5 a pop.
I'll get more into this topic in a future post, but many of my favourite gallery walls include different types of items. This endeavour was completely impromptu, but it was clear to me that I didn't want to take things too seriously, so I also grabbed some childhood photos of me, my husband, and our siblings, some fortunes from takeout meals, postcards, and so on. It was so much fun bringing it all together in the 15 or 20 mins it took, and it's a gallery that can grow easily across the room and change with my mood.
A mixture of collages, childhood photos, engagement photos, postcards, Etsy prints, and leftover scraps from paint projects
I opted to use tape in one colour to keep the messy look feeling a bit more cohesive
Collages and fortune-cookie-fortunes surround the office window, which is centred below a sloped ceiling
More personal touches include old love notes, a petition to keep my then-boyfriend's (now husband's) moustache, and tearaways from a sign at my previous workplace
Other applications I love:
Below are some other galleries that range from big to small, and that stand out based on the artwork chosen and the feeling they evoke. Such a simple roll of tape can instantly take a wall from drab and boring to full of life and personality, and work can easily be swapped out and rearranged without worry.
My favourite part about the washi tape gallery is that it acts as a really simple way to play with artwork and practice implementing a salon wall with zero commitment or hassle, and with seriously minimal expense. It's an ideal way to decorate in temporary spaces, and there's something comforting about eliminating the risk of poking a hole in the "wrong" spot, which means there's more freedom to take some more quirky and whimsical chances with your display