Bring your personality into a room with a gallery wall of pictures, photographs and artwork. With this easy how-to guide, you can take some shortcuts to create a unique display.

1. Make a plan

To create a gallery wall, start by laying framed pictures on a rug. It’s easy to try out different arrangements while they’re on the floor. Once you find a layout that clicks in your mind, take a photo with your phone. That photo can be used as a reference to replicate the layout on the wall.

2. Make something new

Creating your own original artwork is an easy way to make your gallery wall more unique. Try framing fabric: it creates an eclectic look when you mix textiles with artwork and photographs in frames of different shapes and sizes. You could even frame artificial plants.

3. Make your mark

When it’s time to hang your artwork on the wall, start with the largest piece that will typically sit in the centre of the display. Mark the top corners of the biggest frame on the wall, and put a hook halfway between the two marks. Once this central piece is up, you have a reference point to work outwards; first with the medium-sized pieces and then the smaller ones around the edges.

4. Make it personal

To give you an excuse to photograph the world around you (if you didn’t already need one!), take lots of shots of your home town/city, and your family and friends. These photos really make a house feel like a home. Using lots of different frames also gives you a reason to get the photos printed. We all take so many digital photos these days, having these ones printed and framed can feel extra special.