Hi Friends! In today’s post, How to Make a Wall Collage: From Planning to Hanging, I’m sharing what may be one of my favorite spots in my home – my vintage-inspired wall collage. I found the perfect spot for it under our staircase, centering it above a vintage white dresser where I can easily change elements with the seasons.

Unlike a traditional gallery wall that focus mainly on photos or artwork, this style combines signs, small shelves, wall vases, and decorative objects to create depth and interest. It’s like creating a little curated collection right on your wall.

A collage wall with various vintage themed items - all white, cream with black details. This wall sits over a vintage dresser. This space is a part of our living room.

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Why I Love This Style of Wall Collage

What I love most about this approach is how easily it can change throughout the year. I swap out flowers in the wall vases, change small decor pieces, and rotate different signs to keep the space fresh. Having both fixed elements (like the frames and architectural pieces) and changeable ones makes it fun to update.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how I create these layered wall displays, from choosing your wall space to arranging different pieces. I’ll share all my tricks for making it look cohesive while keeping it flexible enough to update. Whether this is your first wall collage or you’re looking to try something new, these tips will help you create a display you’ll love.

The white and black wall collage featuring vintage pieces and artwork with my succulent pumpkin on the dresser below.

Here’s What You’ll Need

For Planning:

For Hanging:

Primary Option (What I Used):

Alternative Hanging Options:

  • Picture hangers
  • Double-sided tape
  • Drywall anchors (for heavier items)
  • Traditional picture hooks
  • Wire hanging kit

Cleaning Supplies:

  • Microfiber cloth
  • Rubbing alcohol (for cleaning wall before applying Command strips)

Tools:

  • Hammer (if using nails)
  • Screwdriver
  • Level
  • Pencil for marking

Quick Tip: I always buy extra Command strips – they come in handy for adjusting pieces or adding more support where needed.

Planning Your Perfect Spot

Before you start collecting pieces for your wall collage, let’s talk about choosing and planning your space. You will need to assess the amount of space you have to determine if you are going to create a smaller collage or fill an entire wall with a larger one.

I picked this spot under our staircase in our living room because it was a naturally framed area that needed some personality. You might have a spot above a dresser, sofa, or even a blank dining room wall that’s calling for attention.

Once you’ve chosen your wall, here’s what to consider:

The Basics of Your Space

  • Measure your total wall area – I like to use painter’s tape to mark the outer edges
  • Check what’s nearby – furniture placement, light switches, or architectural features that might affect your design
  • Think about eye level – you want most pieces centered at standing eye height
  • Consider your room’s lighting – natural light during the day and lamps at night can change how things look
A blank slate. space on the wall where out staircase is.

Creating Your Color Story

My wall collage uses whites and creams to keep things calm and cohesive. When choosing your color scheme, think about:

  • Your room’s existing colors
  • Whether you want a monochromatic look for a more cohesive look or pops of color. This comes down to a matter of personal preference and style.
  • Seasonal changes – will you want to add different colors throughout the year?
  • The finish of your pieces (shiny, matte, distressed)

Think about how you’ll update your display too. I left space for swapping out flowers in the wall vases and changing small decor pieces with the seasons. Having both permanent and changeable elements makes your wall collage more versatile.

pink roses in the wall vase, a bird sitting on greenery, stacked books and branches for a valentines/spring vibe to this monocromatic collage wall.

Building Your Collection

The first step was to start gathering pieces for my wall collage, I took my time collecting items from vintage markets and antique shops. I filled in gaps with new pieces that had that vintage charm – like the “Stay Awhile” sign and architectural pieces. This mix of old and new keeps things interesting, provides a more decorative look while staying true to the vintage style.

What to Look For:

  • Wall vases for fresh or faux flowers
  • Interesting picture frames (empty frames work too!)
  • Dimensional pieces like architectural salvage
  • Various sizes of decorative plates or baskets
  • Signs with meaningful words
  • Unique objects like vintage-style clocks
  • Small shelves for layering
  • An art print, your own artwork or eclectic collections of canvas prints

Creating Balance

The trick is mixing different sizes and shapes. For example, I used:

  • Larger pieces like the architectural drawing as anchor points
  • Smaller elements like the wall vases for height variation
  • Round clocks to break up square frames
  • Both flat and dimensional pieces for depth

Shopping Tips

  • Browse antique markets and thrift stores for unique finds
  • Check places like HomeGoods and Target for vintage-inspired pieces
  • Look for pieces in similar finishes to keep things cohesive
  • Don’t feel pressured to buy everything at once – building slowly helps you find just the right pieces
  • Keep an eye out for seasonal items you can swap in and out

Remember, everything doesn’t need to match perfectly. As long as your pieces share a similar style or color palette, they’ll work together beautifully.

My vintage booth filled with spring items, frames, bunnies, plants.
My vintage booth, I purchased many pieces for my collage wall at thrift and antique stores.

Getting Your Layout Just Right

The hardest part of creating a wall collage is figuring out where everything should go. I’ve learned the hard way that it’s much easier to plan your layout on the floor first! Here’s exactly what I did for this space:

Start with a Floor Plan

  • Measured my wall space under the stairs
  • Used painter’s tape on the floor to mark out the same size area
  • Laid out all my pieces within these tape lines
  • Took photos of different arrangements with my phone
  • Stepped back (and walked away) to look at it with fresh eyes (this helps me tremendously!)

My Layout Tips

  • Start with your largest piece (mine was the architectural drawing) as your anchor
  • Build around this anchor point, keeping your heaviest pieces near the center
  • Leave breathing room between items – I usually keep about 2-3 inches between pieces
  • Balance out your dimensional items – I spread out the wall vases and clocks
  • Work around fixed elements like light switches (you can see mine on the right)

Getting It Just Right

  • Try different arrangements until it feels balanced
  • Take photos of options you like – they help you see what works
  • Pay attention to how your eye moves around the display
  • Make sure smaller items aren’t lost in the mix
  • Think about how you’ll reach items you plan to change seasonally

Once you’re happy with your floor layout, take a quick pic before moving anything to the wall. Trust me, this photo will be your best friend when you start hanging! I first shared this strategy in my basket wall post.

Quick Tip: If you want to preview your layout directly on the wall, trace each piece onto kraft paper, cut out the shapes, and tape them to the wall with painter’s tape. These paper templates let you see exactly how everything will look and adjust your design before making any holes or applying Command strips.

Taping the wall space where the collage is going.
Taping off the floor in the same shape and size as the wall to lay out the pieces.
Laying the artwork, vintage pieces, picture frames, etc on the floor within the parameters of the tape.

Finally, Time to Hang!

Here’s the good news – hanging everything was actually the easiest part! I’m a huge fan of Command strips for wall collages because they’re both secure and forgiving. If something’s not quite right, you can easily adjust it without leaving holes in your wall.

What I Used:

  • Command strips for frames, signs, and wall vases
  • Small nails just for the clocks (they need to move!)
  • Level to keep everything straight
  • Clean microfiber cloth for wiping walls before applying Command strips

Hanging Tips:

  • Start with your center/anchor piece
  • Clean the wall surface before applying Command strips
  • Press and hold each Command strip firmly for 30 seconds
  • Double-check your level as you go
  • For 3D items like wall vases, use extra strips for security

Quick Tip: Wait at least an hour after applying Command strips before adding any weight or decorative items. This gives the adhesive time to really bond to your collage wall.

A close view of the wall showing an old black and white photo of my mother and her sisters, a house print, clocks and a stay awhile sign.

Keeping It Fresh

Just like my coffee bar area, I purposely design spaces in my home that can easily change with the seasons. This wall collage was created with that same flexibility in mind. Those wall vases aren’t just pretty – they’re perfect spots for swapping out greenery or flowers as the seasons change.

Quick Seasonal Updates

  • Switch out flowers or greenery in wall vases
  • Change small signs or framed quotes
  • Add seasonal elements to the dresser below
  • Rotate different pieces from your decor collection

Maintenance is simple too. A quick dusting with a microfiber cloth keeps everything looking fresh, and Command strips make it easy to remove and rearrange pieces whenever you want to switch things up. The key is keeping your base pieces neutral – like these white frames and architectural elements – so seasonal changes always look intentional and cohesive.

This wall collage decorated for Christmas with a large arrangement, tea lights and stars.

A wall collage is such a fun way to add personal style to any blank wall in your home. Whether you’re working with a small space like my staircase area or a large wall, the key is taking your time to collect pieces you love and planning your layout carefully. Remember, your wall collage doesn’t need to be perfect – it just needs to be perfectly you.

Start with a color scheme you love, gather pieces that make you happy, and don’t be afraid to make changes as your style evolves. That’s the fun part about creating your own wall collage – it can grow and change right along with your home.

I hope today’s post, How to Make a Wall Collage: From Planning to Hanging, inspires you to tackle this easy DIY project in your home. It’s a great way to showcase your style and is a great place to display some of your favorite pieces.

Happy decorating friends!

My signature - a drawing of me holding a coffee cup that says Create.

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