Christmas Wall Art: Hanging a Set Without the Clutter
Most of the clutter I see in December comes from good intentions. A candle goes on one shelf and a ceramic tree on another, and by the 10th every surface in the lounge has something festive on it. Christmas wall art works the other way round. You pick one wall, hang a small set of prints there and leave the rest of the room as it is.
If you only read one paragraph, make it this one. Choose a set of three or six prints that share one accent colour, and put them in matching frames. Leave 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) between frames and hang the set so its centre is at eye level, about 57 inches (145 cm) from the floor. The print sets are instant downloads, so you can do the whole job in an evening.
Why Christmas wall art in a set looks calmer than a shelf of objects
Things on a shelf fight for attention. Each piece has its own height and colour, plus a shadow of its own, so your eye keeps hopping from one to the next. Framed prints lie flat on the same plane inside matching edges, and the wall reads as a single piece.
A set also puts a limit on things. Three prints over a sideboard, or six above a sofa, is a decision you have already made, and you are less likely to add a fourth reindeer the week after.
Planning a Christmas gallery wall
Measuring and spacing
Get the tape measure out before you buy a single frame, and measure the wall or the furniture below it. As a rough guide, the set should cover about two thirds of the width of the sofa or sideboard underneath. Any narrower and it tends to look lost on the wall.
Keep 2 to 3 inches between frames. Closer than that and the frames start to merge into one block, while wider gaps make them look like separate pictures that happen to share a wall. Above a sofa, leave 8 to 10 inches between the top of the sofa back and the bottom of the lowest frame.
Before any hooks go in, I cut a paper template to the size of each frame and stick them up with masking tape. Leave them for a day and look at them as you walk past. Moving a sheet of paper is far less work than filling holes in the plaster.
Mixing sizes
Three prints look good in one size, side by side. With six you have two options: a 3 by 2 grid in one size, or two A3 prints in the middle with four A4 prints around them. A grid looks calm and a little modern. Mixed sizes feel more relaxed, and which one you like better is honestly down to taste.
If you mix sizes, keep one line straight, either along the tops of the frames or through their centres. That is enough to stop a mixed wall looking accidental.
Keeping one accent colour
Limiting the colour is the quickest way to make different designs look as if they belong together. Red script on cream is the classic choice for minimalist Christmas prints, and it sits happily in most rooms. Deep green works just as well. Pick one and check that every print in the set has some of it.
Where our Christmas print sets fit
Our printable decor shop, EverAfterDesignRoom, has three Christmas sets. The set of three costs $7 and suits a sideboard or a hallway. The set of six is $10 and fills the space over a sofa or a dining table. The thirty print Christmas gallery set is $12, which is more than one wall needs, but it means you can swap prints in and out through the month.
They are all instant downloads. Buy a set on the evening of the 20th and you can have it printed and framed on the wall before bed. You can browse the printable Christmas print sets whenever you are ready.
In a set of six I like to swap one print for something personal, such as a line drawing of the dog. If that appeals, have a look at the custom line art and watercolour portraits at OpenHeartLines. Pet line art starts at $20 and arrives as a digital file in one to two days, so it fits the same frames as the rest of the set.
Printing your printable Christmas decor
At home or at a local print shop
A decent home inkjet copes well with A4 and anything smaller. Set it to its best quality mode and pick the paper setting that matches what is actually in the tray. Our guide on how to print digital art at home goes through the settings step by step.
For A3 and larger, or if your printer leaves streaks, take the files to a local print shop. Ask for a fine art print on matte stock. Check one proof before they run the rest.
Paper weight and finish
Go for at least 200gsm. Thinner paper ripples inside the frame once the heating comes on, while 250 to 300gsm has a bit of weight to it and feels like a proper art print.
For most rooms I would choose matte. Fairy lights and lamps bounce off gloss, and the glass in the frame makes the glare worse.
Frames, hanging and storage for holiday wall art
Frames that look expensive
Matching frames make more difference than expensive ones. Buy them all at once from the same range, in plain black or natural oak. A thin frame with a white mount looks far more considered than a chunky frame without one. One cheap trick that rarely fails is an A4 print in an A3 frame with a mount.
Hanging without nails
Adhesive picture strips are good for renters and for anyone with crumbly plaster. Check the weight rating on the pack against each frame, then press every strip for a full 30 seconds. Glass is heavier than it looks. For anything above A3, think about swapping it for acrylic.
A picture ledge needs only two screws. The frames lean on it rather than hang, so you can rearrange them every year without making new holes.
Storing the set flat
When January comes, leave the prints in their frames. Stack the frames face to face with a sheet of card between each pair, then slide them into a flat box or under a bed. Tape your paper templates to the lid with the measurements written on them.
Next December you open the box, stick the templates up, check the gaps and hang the frames. It takes about twenty minutes.
A shopping and order timeline for the first week of December
If you are decorating and buying presents in the same week, doing things in this order stops everything landing on the weekend.
- 1 December: measure the wall and choose a set of three, a set of six or the gallery set.
- 1 December: order any custom portrait gifts, since personalised pieces take 1 to 2 days.
- 2 December: buy frames, mounts and adhesive strips in one trip.
- 3 December: download the print set and print it, at home or at a print shop.
- 4 December: tape up the paper templates and leave them for a day.
- 5 December: hang the set and check the gaps with a tape measure.
- 6 December: print and frame the custom portraits once the files arrive.
- 7 December: write the gift tags and post anything that has to travel.
Giving one print as a gift
A set of six often has one print you like too much to share a wall with the others. Frame it on its own and wrap it in brown paper, and you have a small present for a neighbour or a teacher. I write the year on the back in pencil.
For close family, a framed pet portrait or a map of the street someone grew up on usually means more. There are more ideas in our guide to personalised Christmas gifts.
When you are ready to plan your own wall, the Christmas print sets download straight away. If you want something personal in the middle, the custom portraits and keepsake prints are usually ready within a couple of days.
Frequently asked questions
What size prints work best for Christmas wall art?
For a set of three over a sideboard, A4 prints in matching frames are usually right. Above a sofa, a set of six in a mix of A4 and A3 fills the space better. Measure the furniture first and aim for the whole set to cover about two thirds of its width, with 2 to 3 inches between frames.
Can I print the Christmas print sets at home?
Yes. The sets are instant downloads, so you can print them on a home inkjet as soon as you buy. Use matte paper of at least 200gsm and your printer's highest quality setting. For A3 or larger, a local print shop will give you a cleaner result and can usually print straight from a USB stick or an email.
How do I hang prints without putting nails in the wall?
Adhesive picture strips hold most framed A4 and A3 prints if you check the weight rating on the pack and press each strip firmly for 30 seconds. Swapping the glass for acrylic makes larger frames lighter. A picture ledge needs only two screws and lets the frames lean, so it is also easy to change the set each year.
When should I order a custom portrait to give at Christmas?
Order in the first week of December if you can. Personalised pieces are usually prepared within 1 to 2 days and arrive as a high resolution digital file, which leaves you time to print and frame the portrait yourself. If the finished gift has to be posted, allow a few extra days for printing and framing as well as delivery.
