For my inaugural blog post I’ve decided to highlight a staple in almost every maximalist home- THE GALLERY WALL!

A Brief History of the Gallery Wall:

The idea began in 17th-century France with the Salon de Paris, the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts. Paintings were displayed floor-to-ceiling, edge-to-edge, with little space between them. This dense arrangement maximized display space while emphasizing abundance. The style symbolized prestige and cultural sophistication, making it popular in aristocratic homes and royal palaces.

Today, the gallery wall is a hallmark of maximalist and eclectic interior design. Styles range from symmetrical grids (modern, clean) to salon-style abundance (layered, lush, collected).

Popular subjects include photography, abstract prints, vintage finds, mirrors, textiles, and even sculptural objects. With platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, gallery walls are now an aspirational design feature, representing creativity, curation, and identity.The gallery wall evolved from aristocratic art shows to Victorian family displays, to today’s curated expression of personal taste.

Its essence has always been about storytelling through abundance—a perfect fit for maximalism.