A picture gallery should have impact. It should be an attraction and not a distraction. It should show commitment to the space instead of appearing fickle, you kind of wanted to do one but this will do attitude. A picture gallery could take the place of anything as vast as a wallpaper or something as forward as an over-sized painting. It isn't in the background, yet it blends with the background while pulling the furniture pieces together much like an area rug would.

Take a look at the image below. I can't count how any times I've seen people hang dinky sized pictures in such a manner. In relation to the size of the furniture, those photos are doing anything but bringing balance to the space.

The correct way to do it would be as such: Imagine that the picture gallery is an area rug except it's on the wall. Better yet, imagine that the picture gallery is a reflection of the area rug being projected unto the wall. Like an area it should be properly scaled to accommodate the furniture in the space. When done this way it won't be lost in the furniture but will act as the anchor to the space.

There are many ways to put a picture gallery together, it's up to you the size of the photos and the quantity, but the scale should denote presence. Don't be afraid to hang them high (again, making the ceiling look taller), and don't be afraid of taking them lower than you normally would to extend the overall look of the space.

Below are some examples of ways to hang a picture gallery. Notice how large and impactful they appear in relation to the furniture.

Here are examples of picture galleries done right.

Notice how this photo gallery almost looks like it's taking the place of wallpaper.

Here the photo gallery scales the entire wall, top to bottom, left to right. 

A picture/photo gallery is a statement piece, so let it make it's statement and good luck!

Have you ever wondered how Pottery Barn gets their beds to look so high end and polished? Or seen a display at Macy's and wondered why yours never comes out that way? It's actually quite easy once you learn the details that goes into dressing a bed. It's a lot simpler than it looks, and the outcome will yield more than the effort put in.

The trick to getting that professionally staged look is in the pillows and the way they coordinate with the bedding. 

Note: This is a fail safe way, feel free to color outside the lines.

There are many bed pillows from the neck roll to the boudoir, but you really only need 3 types: The euro sham, the king or standard sham (depending on your bed size), and the standard sleeping pillow. Everything else is extra, but these basic three are all you really need to get that beautiful bed look.

 EURO SHAMS 

More often than not people forgo euro shams. Not because they don't want them but because they have no idea what they are or what they're used for.


Euro shams are like the basics or foundation of a great looking pillow display. You will almost NEVER see a staged bed without them. For some reason people look right through them and only see how beautifully made the bed is. Without euro shams it's nearly impossible to get that staged bed look. The standard size for euro shams are 26x26. You often have to buy these separately, but this is a good thing and I'll explain why later.

The amount of euro shams need is dependent on the size of your bed.

A twin will only need one. A full size will need two. A queen will need between 2-3 (depending on you), and a king will need three.

Euro shams that are 26x26 should be filled with inserts that are 28x28. This will give it that full plumped look. If your euro shams are 28x28, find inserts that are 30x30. Don't worry, they're out there. But for now, 26x26 euro shams are more than enough.

Euro shams are where you can get crazy with colors and texture. This is where most of your beds personality comes out and it's where you're going to really set the tone for your overall bedding.

This is also the best place to switch out pillows as the seasons change. Observe how easy it is to go from one look to another.

KING/STANDARD SHAMS

King and standard shams are the decorative pillows that will often come with a bedding set. They aren't meant to be slept on, just for display. For bed sizes twin and full, use standard shams. For bed sizes queen and king use king shams.


COORDINATING PILLOWS WITH BEDDING

There are simple rules to coordinating your pillows with your bedding. The rules are as followed:

1. Standard sleeping pillows always coordinates with your cover & flat sheets.
2. King and standard shams coordinates with either the duvet or the blanket/quilt.
3. Euro shams coordinates with either the duvet or blanket, but only in the case where the 
     sham isn't coordinating with one or the other.
     For example: If the king/standard shams coordinates with the duvet, then the euro shams 
     must coordinate with the blanket. If the king/standard shams cordinate with the blanket, then 
     the euro shams should coordinate with the duvet. 

Here are a few examples of how this works.

The example below does the opposite. The euro shams coordinate with the blanket at the foot of the bed while the king shams coordinate with the duvet. Notice also how they chose to use two shams (standard and king), forging the sleeping pillow for the standard sham but keeping with coupling it with the sheets.

Once you feel you've mastered this basic method, you can then venture out and try something a little more complicated such as the example below. The example below does the same as above, trading in the sleep pillow for standard shams but keeping with coupling it with the sheets.

If you take the time to look at staged beds you will see that the same rules are applied over and over again. It's really that simple.

Good luck! :-)

Black, maroon, navy, hunter green; Dark walls can be intriguing and tempting when trying to achieve a cozy space, but they can also go terribly wrong if done improperly. Dark walls can make any room feel smaller and cozier, but it can also make the space feel daunting, heavy and cave-like. If you are going to be bold with those weighty shades there are a few ways to go about it to avoid creating a dark abyss. 

Solution: Photo and mirror galleries, lighting, and paneling.

Random Note: One of the main reasons people stick to lighter wall colors is because it's safer and easier to live with. 
 

1. Break up the darkness with a contrasting photo gallery. You could argue that photo galleries can be used in any situation pertaining to wall color, light or dark, and this is true, but the key word in this case is contrasting. Meaning, the gallery you use to break up a dark wall should be lighter, therefore adding contrast and brightening the wall without taking away from it.

• To break up the wall simply means to place some sort of color or object (photos, mirrors, lighting, etc.) on top of the preexisting wall and essentially breaking up with the flow of color on the wall.

Below are two examples of a photo gallery breaking up a dark wall.

Notice in this bedroom how two large, nearly white, pictures are used to break up that dark blue/black section of the wall. This allows you to bring back some light into the space without taking away from the dark wall.
   
       2.   Use a mirror gallery to not only break up the wall but to make the space appear larger 
             and brighter. Keep in mind that dark paint will instantly make a room appear smaller, 
             this would be a great way to reintroduce the true size of the room.


In the photo below, in addition to a wall gallery above the bed, we have two very large mirrors placed above the side dressers. Placing these large pieces in front of the table lamps will reflect more light and add a feeling of openness to the space. While these aren't considered mirror galleries, they serve the same purpose.

  

       3.   If the dark wall is an accent wall (An accent wall (a.k.a a "feature wall") is a wall 
             whose design differs from the design of the other walls in the room. The accent wall's
             color can simply be a different shade of the color of the other walls, or have a 
             completely different design in terms of the color and material.), shine some light on it. 
             To do so, add overhead lighting that will shine directly onto the wall, or use       
             sconces.This feature not only brightens the area but creates interest where there 
             was none.

        4.   Paneling adds both interest and structure to any wall, light or dark. Imagine a smooth 
              black wall that simply goes on forever and ever like an abyss waiting to suck and drain
              its next victim. It's boring. It's stark. It's doing nothing but existing. Because dark 
              colors are normally associated with sophistication it is easy for paneling coupled with 
              dark walls to bring sophistication into any space. It's a great way to elude the abyss 
              look.

Observe the images below. Notice how what could have been bland dark walls have turned into a thing of sophistication.

 

The final image below incorporates both paneling and an overhead light that illuminates the dark feature wall.

 

So if you're one of those individuals who likes to play it safe with light colors for fear of a heavy, boring room, these are some tips that should put your mind at easy and encourage you towards the "dark side".