12 Christmas Gallery Wall Ideas Using Frames You Already Own

You don’t need a big decorating budget or a completely empty wall to make your home feel festive for Christmas. I’ve found that some of the easiest Christmas gallery wall ideas start with picture frames you already own, a few holiday prints, and family photos that bring back good memories.

Whether you’re decorating a small apartment, an entryway, or the wall above your sofa, the key is choosing pieces that look good together without crowding the space. Here are 12 ideas, along with simple tips for arranging everything and keeping your walls in good shape.

How To Create A Christmas Gallery Wall

A Christmas gallery wall is simply a group of framed pictures, prints, or holiday keepsakes arranged together on a wall. You can make one using three frames or fill a larger space with seven or eight pieces.

The easiest place to start is with artwork you already have hanging. Instead of buying new frames, take out the everyday prints and replace them with Christmas artwork. Once the holidays are over, you can swap everything back.

What you’ll need

• Three to seven picture frames, depending on your wall space
• Christmas prints, family photos, or holiday cards
• Kraft paper or scrap paper for making frame templates
• Measuring tape, pencil, and painter’s tape
• A level
• Picture hooks or removable hanging strips suitable for your wall and frame weight

Here’s how I’d put it together.

1. Choose your wall. Look for an area above a sofa, entryway table, dresser, or reading chair. You want enough room for the artwork without interfering with shelves, doors, or furniture.
2. Gather your frames. Start with three to five. Mix sizes if you like, but try to repeat at least one frame color or finish.
3. Pick a simple color scheme. Red, green, and cream feel traditional. Black, white, and natural wood work well for a quieter look.
4. Lay everything on the floor. Arrange your frames until the group feels balanced. Put your largest piece near the middle and build around it.
5. Make paper templates. Trace each frame onto paper, cut it out, and temporarily position the templates on the wall. This lets you check the spacing before hanging anything.
6. Hang your artwork securely. Use mounting hardware suited to the total weight, wall surface, and frame design. Check that each piece feels stable before moving on.

For a beginner, I’d start with one 11 by 14 inch frame and two smaller 8 by 10 inch frames. That’s enough for a simple display above a small table without making the wall feel busy.

You can always add more later.

The nice thing about a holiday gallery wall is that it doesn’t have to match anyone else’s. You can use thrifted frames, old Christmas cards, photographs, or inexpensive prints.

Here are a dozen ways to make it work in different rooms and decorating styles.

1. Classic Red And Green Christmas Gallery Wall

If you love traditional Christmas decorations, red and green artwork is an easy place to begin.

Choose a larger print of a decorated Christmas tree, then surround it with smaller pictures of wreaths, ornaments, candy canes, or snowy houses. A few cream colored backgrounds will keep the colors from feeling too strong.

I like the idea of using simple wooden or black frames here. They give all those colorful Christmas pictures something in common.

Budget tip: Replace the artwork in frames you already own instead of buying a complete holiday set.

Keep red and green as your main colors, with just a little gold or white mixed in. That helps the gallery feel like one display instead of several unrelated decorations.

2. Vintage Christmas Print Gallery Wall

There’s something comforting about old fashioned Christmas artwork. Vintage Santa illustrations, snowy village scenes, old holiday postcards, and classic winter landscapes make a wall feel warm without needing much extra decoration.

For this look, try mixing a few thrifted wooden frames with one or two antique style gold frames.

You don’t need actual antiques. Licensed digital reproductions and inexpensive prints can give you a similar look.

Practical tip: Use one larger vintage print as the centerpiece. Surround it with smaller artwork rather than filling every open spot.

If you’re shopping secondhand, check the frame backing, glass, and hanging hardware. A nice looking frame isn’t much use if the back is falling apart.

3. Minimalist Christmas Gallery Wall

Not every Christmas wall needs bright colors and lots of ornaments.

A minimalist gallery wall uses a few carefully chosen pictures, plenty of open wall space, and simple frames.

Try three matching black frames with artwork showing a pine branch, a simple Christmas tree, and a small winter landscape.

Hang them in a straight row or a tidy grid.

Budget tip: Three matching frames can be enough. There’s no reason to fill an entire wall just because you have the space.

The key is keeping the artwork simple. When every print has a similar background and frame style, the arrangement feels coordinated without much effort.

4. Rustic Farmhouse Christmas Gallery Wall

A farmhouse style Christmas gallery wall works nicely with wooden furniture, woven baskets, warm white lights, and natural holiday decorations.

Start with simple wood frames in light oak, medium brown, or a weathered finish. Fill them with pine tree artwork, snowy barns, woodland animals, or old fashioned Christmas illustrations.

You can add one small framed holiday saying, but let the pictures do most of the decorating.

Budget tip: Check thrift stores for wooden frames. You can leave them as they are or paint them in one matching shade.

I wouldn’t add too many different finishes. Two wood tones are usually enough to give the display some character without making it look scattered.

5. Christmas Family Photo Gallery Wall

A Christmas gallery wall doesn’t have to be filled with artwork from a store.

Some of the most meaningful decorations are family pictures you already have.

You might frame a photo from last Christmas morning, pictures of the kids decorating the tree, a family gathering, or an old holiday photo of your grandparents.

Mix those with one or two seasonal prints to bring the whole arrangement together.

Practical tip: Print copies of your favorite pictures rather than displaying valuable originals. That way, you can change the arrangement without worrying about damaging an irreplaceable photograph.

Try keeping all the photos in the same frame color, even if they’re from different years. It’s a simple way to make the collection feel connected.

6. Black And White Christmas Gallery Wall

If your home already has black furniture, white walls, or simple modern decorations, black and white Christmas artwork can fit right in.

Look for line drawings of Christmas trees, snowflakes, winter houses, or pine branches.

Black frames with white mats are a good choice, especially when you’re mixing different sized pictures.

Budget tip: Print simple black and white Christmas artwork at home instead of paying for full color prints.

A little contrast goes a long way. You could use one bold black print in the center, then surround it with softer drawings that have more white space.

7. Christmas Gallery Wall With Wooden Frames

Wooden picture frames are useful because you can keep them up all year and change the artwork with the seasons.

For Christmas, fill them with winter landscapes, evergreen branches, wreath illustrations, and simple seasonal messages.

Light wood frames work nicely with cream and green artwork. Darker wooden frames can make red and gold prints feel a little warmer.

Practical tip: If you’re mixing wood finishes, repeat each finish at least twice so one frame doesn’t look out of place.

I’d rather use five affordable frames that work together than buy one expensive piece that doesn’t fit the rest of the room.

8. Christmas Gallery Wall With Printable Art

Printable Christmas artwork is one of the easiest ways to change your gallery wall without buying new decorations every year.

You can find digital artwork featuring snowflakes, Christmas trees, holiday sayings, winter landscapes, and simple botanical drawings.

Once you have the files, you can print them at home or through a local print shop.

Practical tip: Check the artwork’s print dimensions before printing. An 8 by 10 inch print needs to be formatted properly if you’re using standard letter size paper.

Matte paper is a nice choice because it helps reduce glare behind frame glass.

Keep your printed artwork in a folder after Christmas so you don’t have to buy or print everything again next year.

9. Small Apartment Christmas Gallery Wall

When you’re decorating a small apartment, a large gallery wall can make the room feel more crowded than festive.

I’d start with three small frames above a desk, side table, or compact sofa.

Use artwork with similar colors, and leave enough empty wall around the arrangement so it doesn’t feel squeezed into the space.

Budget tip: Use the frames you already have or choose lightweight matching frames that can be reused throughout the year.

Before hanging anything, check your lease and the condition of the wall. Removable picture hanging strips may work on suitable smooth surfaces, but they’re not right for every wall or frame.

If you’re short on floor space and want another decorating option, these wall Christmas tree ideas offer ways to decorate vertically without bringing in a full size tree.

10. Christmas Gallery Wall With Holiday Cards

Instead of putting Christmas cards in a drawer or stacking them on the kitchen counter, turn a few favorites into wall decorations.

Choose cards with colors that go together. You might use red and white cards, winter landscapes, or illustrated Christmas greetings.

Place them inside lightweight frames, or display copies on a suitable card holder.

I love how this idea can change throughout December as more cards arrive.

Practical tip: Use photo corners or removable inserts inside frames rather than gluing special cards in place.

Keep the original messages and photographs intact. After Christmas, save your favorites in a small keepsake box.

11. Neutral Christmas Gallery Wall

If bright red and green decorations don’t fit your room, try a softer Christmas color scheme.

Cream, beige, muted green, warm brown, and soft gold can all work together.

Look for artwork featuring winter trees, snowy landscapes, pinecones, simple wreaths, or neutral Christmas illustrations.

Natural wood frames and white mats help keep everything looking light.

Budget tip: Keep some of the winter themed pictures hanging after Christmas. Snowy landscapes and evergreen artwork can still look appropriate in January.

That’s one less decorating job when you’re taking down the tree and putting away the ornaments.

12. Christmas Gallery Wall For An Entryway

Your entryway is a good place for a small Christmas gallery wall because it’s one of the first things family and guests see.

Start with a larger holiday print above a console table or bench. Add two or three smaller frames around it.

You could use a Christmas tree illustration, a framed family holiday photo, and a winter landscape.

Keep the colors connected to whatever decorations are already in the entryway.

Best for: Entryways, narrow foyers, and hallways with a little unused wall space.

Practical tip: Leave room for coats, bags, and people moving through the area. Avoid frames that stick out into a tight walkway or sit where a swinging door can hit them.

If you prefer a single decorative piece instead of several frames, my guide to Christmas bedroom signs has more ideas for simple framed messages and holiday signs.

FAQs About My Christmas Gallery Wall Ideas

Final Thoughts About Christmas Gallery Wall Ideas

You don’t need a room full of new Christmas decorations to make your walls feel festive.

Start with a few picture frames, choose artwork that fits your home’s colors, and give yourself time to arrange everything before hanging it.

I’ve found that the simplest approach is often the most practical. Use what you already own, add a few inexpensive seasonal touches, and make sure the display still works with the furniture and space around it.

This Christmas, pick one wall and start with three frames. Once you see how they look together, you’ll know whether the space needs anything else.

And when January comes around, all you have to do is switch the artwork back.