Lay the whole composition out on the floor first, keep an identical gap of 5 to 8 cm between every frame, and hang from the middle outwards. The even gap is what makes a mixed collection of frames read as one deliberate arrangement rather than as clutter.
The measurement people get wrong
A frame's quoted size is the photo size, not the outer size. A 13 by 18 cm frame takes a 13 by 18 cm photo and measures perhaps 18 by 23 cm on the wall. When you plan a wall, work with outer dimensions, or the whole grid comes out larger than the space you measured.
| Photo size | Typical outer size |
|---|---|
| 10 x 15 cm | 15 x 20 cm |
| 13 x 18 cm | 18 x 23 cm |
| 20 x 30 cm | 25 x 35 cm |
| 30 x 40 cm | 35 x 45 cm |
Height and anchoring
Treat the whole group as one object and put its centre at eye level, around 150 to 160 cm off the floor - the same rule that governs a single mirror. Above a sofa or console, keep 20 to 30 cm between the furniture and the lowest frame.
Making it look composed
Odd numbers work better than even. Vary the frame sizes but keep either the colour or the material constant, so there is one thread running through. A passe-partout gives a small photo presence and adds calm to a busy wall; the product page says which frames include one.
Practical points
Cut paper templates the size of each frame and tape them up before drilling - it costs half an hour and saves a wall full of holes. Many frames have both a support leg and a hanging fixture, so the same frame can stand on a shelf later. And ordinary glass keeps dust out but not all UV: do not hang photographs you care about in direct sunlight.
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By Meike van Dongen · Veem, Amsterdam · 24 August 2026
