One of the most common impressions many people have about picture hanging is that it’s expensive. And to some extent, that can certainly be true. Buying and framing a gallery of pictures is, like every project, a task that can get a little burdensome on the wallet.

But like every project, there are ways around that challenge. By starting with what you enjoy and what speaks to you personally, you don’t have to spend a small fortune on your picture wall.

If you want to hang pictures on your wall with a budget-conscious approach, you can’t go wrong with these five tips we’ve carefully curated. Read on!

Depending on how many pictures you’re hanging and how much you’re incorporating fine art into your gallery, about half the cost of picture hanging can easily go to just the frames. Sometimes, a frame might even cost more than the artwork itself. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

There are several ways you can limit your spending on frames so you can focus more on the pictures themselves. The first alternative is to hit the thrift stores. There, you can score a bargain on good quality frames and access a secondhand and vintage selection in various sizes, colors, finishes, and shapes.

Buy more than one of the frames you like, and try to choose those that would complement your pictures. With great thrift finds, you can create a uniquely eclectic gallery wall. You can also look at other places like IKEA, Target, Michael’s, Facebook Marketplace, and Amazon to source good affordable frames.

If the frames you can get or already have aren’t quite what you’re looking for, there’s always the DIY  route. Repaint or redecorate them to get that perfect look or even build them yourself, especially if you want a really specific size, shape, or a larger frame, which usually costs upwards of several hundred dollars. 

There are also non-traditional ways to frame your pictures if you’re open to taking it a step further. You can use frame tape or washi tape, a decorative type of masking tape that comes in different colorful patterns, and border it around your pictures as a faux frame. For prints, Polaroids, posters, and other similarly lightweight items, clipboards are another adventurous framing option. You can also place your picture between a couple of Plexiglass sheets and secure the DIY picture frame with a drawing board clip.

Finally, you can choose to go frameless entirely. It may even look better that way. We’ve got a few ideas for you to try, too: 9 Ways To Hang Art Without Frames 

In art, many factors affect the valuation of a piece, and one of those is the medium the artist uses. Paintings are the most widely produced in the category and often fetch some of the highest prices. The bigger the artwork, the steeper the price can be too.

But there are many mediums that are friendlier to anybody who wants good quality art on a budget. Rather than works on canvas, look to art on paper, including limited-edition and open-edition prints, photographs, posters, graphite sketches, book cover art, and illustrations. You can even browse digital art and print your own favorites yourself.

Another simple way to make the most of a limited budget is to look around you. You’ll find that there are more than a few items you can take stock of for your gallery wall.

The most obvious one is personal photographs. You can print memories of a trip or a special day and frame vintage heirloom portraits. You can also repurpose old calendar pages, letters, recipes, and postcards and transform them into framed pictures.

If you have a garden, another idea would be to take some of your favorite plants and flowers, press them, and frame them together with artwork or other DIY room decor.

You might have kids who will often try their hand at being creative. Your kids’ masterpieces can also be great and fun decor pieces that join your gallery lineup. There are several ways you can go about it too, which you can read more about in this article: 5 Unique Ways to Hang Kids' Art on Your Wall 

By looking inside your home instead of outside it, you can build a gallery wall that feels even more personal and unique to you without breaking the bank.

While your hanging hardware might not cost you as much as frames do, they still very much can be a sizable part of your budget. This includes your screws, wall hooks, picture hangers, and other tools. The good news is there are affordable options and alternatives to explore.

You can stick to something easily adjustable, like adhesive hangers or double-sided tape, or look to everyday items that you can find in your office or home.

One such item is a clothespin, which you can use to show off lightweight pieces such as postcards, letters, and posters. Pant hangers are also unexpectedly useful in picture hanging, and you can use them to display bigger prints. Just clip them onto your art pieces, and voila—you’re good to go.

You can also take binder clips and push pins from your study to create a quick and easy display. Use both together by mounting the clips onto the pins or tack pieces directly to the wall with one-step hangers.

Whether you’re envisioning a salon wall or planning to decorate with a gallery system, there’s no need to rush. It’s a good idea to start small and collect every piece over a period of time, and there’s no hard rule for this—you can take several months or follow the course of a few years.

This is a great strategy to spread out the overall cost of a gallery wall that might not be easy to build from the get-go, not just because of the expense, but also due to the works you may want to collect—they might involve renowned artists, antique pieces that are hard to acquire, or a specific type of art style. 

Build out your picture wall by starting in the middle. Begin with a tightly knit assembly of pieces or use a statement piece to anchor the whole display. This way, even though it’s a work in progress, your picture wall will still look complete and well-thought-out.

Now you know the myth about picture hanging being a heavy financial burden isn’t always on the mark. On the contrary, decorating with pictures is something anyone can achieve with the right resources and a little creativity, so don’t let the potential expense stop you from realizing your dream picture wall.

Which tip did you find the most helpful? Feel free to share any that we missed in the comments. And remember—a pretty gallery wall doesn’t have to cost a pretty penny!

Happy hanging!