Doorways have always been a puzzle for interior decorating and picture hanging. That strip between the top of the door frame and the ceiling and even the spaces on the side can look really awkward—they’re not big enough to make a statement piece but also not small enough to ignore. Like the liminal space of picture hanging, it’s just sort of… there.
But as picture-hanging nerds, we’re always up for a good challenge. We’re not just about entire gallery walls in your living spaces – we also like to fuss about bathroom walls, entryways, and doorways. What can we say? It’s a full-time job to make your space look fabulous!
Today, we’ve curated some of our favorite examples of doorway picture hanging that we think did an amazing job in making a forgotten zone an attention-catching interior accent feature. Let’s dive in!
But first, how do you get those frames up there?
We always encourage everyone to consider this question when looking up gallery wall ideas – when the inspiration hits, it needs to be grounded by its logistics. And that’s what we’re good at. Before we dive in, here are the two basic things you need to account for:
Your wall substrate
Your frames’ weights
We offer picture hooks for drywall, wood, plaster, brick, cement, and concrete walls. After identifying your wall type, you can narrow down your options by considering the weight of your frames. Each hook has a specific weight rating, so if you're uncertain, choose one with a higher rating than the weight of your frame.
For drywall, wood, and plaster walls:
For brick and concrete walls:
With that out of the way, allow us to show you 7 of our favorite examples of doorway galleries!
Open the Door to a New Look: Doorway Gallery Ideas You’ll Adore
Opposites attract.
One of our favorite things about design theory is that opposites can clash, but when curated correctly, they often create a harmonious look. This principle applies to colors on opposite sides of the color wheel: blue and orange and purple and yellow create vibrant and dynamic contrasts.
Similarly, this photo illustrates how opposite shapes can balance each other. The curves of the doorway are complemented by the angular squares and rectangles of the picture frames surrounding it. Having them in different sizes is also a playful touch, breaking up the wall between the doorway and the ceiling's edge.
Frame your boundaries.
Open-concept homes have been getting more attention, especially in smaller living spaces, to help open them up and make them appear larger than their actual square footage. However, if the recent COVID pandemic has taught us anything, it's that delineating spaces for specific purposes still has its benefits. It's nice to have a space only for work, another for resting, and maybe another for entertainment. After all, you wouldn’t want your bed frame to be in the same open space as your kitchen.
In Melissa Cripe's apartment in Louisiana, for example, having a wide doorway lessens the boundaries between one room and another, but hanging frames around the perimeter helps define those boundaries.
Large frames make equally large statements.
Not to say we’re playing favorites… but this is our favorite!
There’s something so novel about churches turned into homes. This one, in particular, kept the door opening as it is (good choice!) and played up the blue accents with contrasting door paints and complementary wood-toned frames. And if you’ve noticed, the door somehow appears smaller, a perspective trick made possible by adding larger frames above it to deceive how our eyes perceive sizes.
When you put up large-sized frames, the art will really make its presence known and envelop the whole room.
Vertical lines carry the eyes upward.
In Rachel Lee's historic home, the picture frames are stacked vertically to lead the eye upwards, creating the illusion of a larger space. Simply arranging frames this way can quickly impart a sense of grandeur to the place.
This type of arrangement not only adds visual interest but also emphasizes and works with the unique features of the home's design. The rounded arch contrasts nicely against the angular squares and rectangles of the picture frames beside it.
Frames make for great interior accent colors.
Looking for hallway gallery wall ideas? Here’s a good one.
In homes or apartments with multiple rooms, the layout can risk a dormitory-like appearance. The key to making each space feel uniquely yours lies in the details: color accents, decorations, and – you guessed it – pictures! This particular example stands out in a way that only the color red can. While red might seem overwhelming to some—too bright or dominant—in moderation, it exudes elegance and sophistication.
Think of the classic fashion staples: red lipstick, red bows, red heels, or a red bag. The same principle applies to interior decorating. In the photo above, a uniform red picture frame arranged around the doorways unified the space, transforming a plain hallway with empty walls into a striking, cohesive visual statement.
Who says a door has to look like a door?
The door in the photo actually leads to a closet, so it’s not precisely an entryway gallery… but it caught our attention, so we couldn’t let it go! The owner, Crystal Wyatt, had the genius idea of blending the door in with the wall using paint and several picture frames.
Doors effectively signal the boundaries of a room, so designing it as an extension of the wall was a great way to make a studio-sized apartment look bigger.
Hanging frames on the door itself is such a fun, quirky way to add little touches of personality to a room. Just make sure to use sturdy hardware so the frames don’t clack and jostle around when opening and closing the door!
Assorted picture frames: the maximalist’s staple.
Everything in this photo of Luke Edward Hall and Duncan Campbell's home is a dream: the vintage green wall paint, the eclectic assortment of frame sizes around the doorway, the imposing large frames above the door almost reaching the edges of the wall, and the convex mirror all come together to create a profound and compelling vision.
Art is a living, breathing being in this home, climbing up the walls, teasing its boundaries, distorting proportions, and demanding the attention of anyone passing through the hall. This maximalist space has been designed by someone who is not afraid of color, magnitude, and novelty. Needless to say, it’s a vision we’re seeing loud and clear.
Final Thoughts
Once you’ve gotten to know your place and become comfortable in it, you start seeing all the opportunities to make it feel like home. This includes switching up the classics and putting your own spin on them or outright defying the tried-and-true principles. That’s definitely what some of the people in the photos above did!
Did these examples inspire you to glam up your door and entryway? Let us know below!
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