DIY White Frame Gallery Wall: IKEA Hack

My daughter, who is a freshman in college, was in charge of wall art in her dorm room. So we put together the DIY Gallery Wall: Gold Frames for the shared living area and came up with this white frame gallery wall for her bedroom. And like the gold frame gallery wall, this one also had to fill up an entire large open wall!! After a ton of research for the best prices for our small budget, a little frame matte-hack evolved! Let’s get to it! DIY White Frame Gallery Wall: IKEA Hack.

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DIY White Frame Gallery Wall: IKEA Hack

First Thing First:

I know the first thing you will say is – hmmm….. aren’t these college girls only 18 y/o?

Probably because that is the first thing my Mom asked me 😉

So, I do have to admit that these “cocktail” choices are a little funny/ironic, and they might be better suited above a bar cart for people who are actually “legal” to drink alcohol!

But….. they are just so stinkin’ cute with all of the trendy bright colors and the retro throwbacks, that I didn’t give the “spirits” too much thought.

Ok, I just wanted to get all of that off my chest before we begin in case someone addresses it.

Let’s get to it!! DIY White Frame Gallery Wall: IKEA Hack.

DIY White Frame Gallery Wall: IKEA Hack

Here are the supplies that we used listed first, and then linked down below with sizes:

Etsy Cocktail Download
Ikea Fiskbo – frames
Walgreens and Office Depot – for printing
Hobby Lobby – poster board 10 pack
knife/pencil/scissors/double-sided tape

Supplies:

Etsy Cocktail Poster Download – set of 6

DIY White Frame Gallery Wall: IKEA Hack — source: Etsy (April Lane)

Set of 6 White Frames:

(3) 19.75″ x 27.5″ Frames (for 18 x 24 prints)
(2) 16 x 20 Frames
(1) 12 x 16 Frame (for 11 x 14 print)
(3) 18 x 24 Prints
(2) 16 x 20 Prints
(1) 11 x 14 Print
*(4) White Poster Boards (22 x 28) Here/pack of 10 – in store only or Here/each online

*You will only need to do mattes for 4 frames/prints.

DIY White Frame Gallery Wall: IKEA Hack

Total Cost of 10 Gold Frames Project

The total cost for 5 frames/prints = ~$170.00.

I wanted to share the total cost and the cost breakdown – so that you could shop around for prices if you need to.
This cost breakdown will give you something to compare prices with – for printing places or frames.

Cost Breakdown:

Set of 6 White Frames:

Etsy (Cocktail) Poster Prints Download = $18.00 (+ tax) = $19.49

Prints:

18 x 24 Office Depot Prints = $11.99 x3 = $35.97 (+ tax) = $38.94
16 x 20 Walgreens Prints $18.99 x2 = $37.98 (+ tax) = $41.11
11 x 14 Walgreens Print $11.99 (+ tax) = $12.98

Frames:

19.75 x 27.5 Frames $9.99 x3 = $29.97 (+ tax) = $32.44
16 x 20 Frames $6.99 x2 = $13.98 (+ tax) = $15.13
12 x 16 Frame $4.99 (+ tax) = $5.40

White Poster Board (pack of 10) = $2.99 (+ tax) = $3.23 ($1.28/4)

So, where can you get your digital downloads printed?

Printing Places:

Walgreens
Office Depot/Office Max
Walmart
Staples
Shutterfly
Zazzle
Vistaprint

Ok, let’s get to the actual project! DIY White Gallery Wall: IKEA Hack.

DIY White Frame Gallery Wall: IKEA Hack

Step #1: Gather All Supplies

The first thing you will want to do is:

purchase your Etsy Cocktail print downloads (or other prints you choose)
then decide which print will go into what frame size (this takes some planning- see below)
order/purchase all of your prints (in the different sizes)
purchase all of your frames last

TIP: The reason you will want to get those prints ordered – is because you might end up needing different frame sizes.

We had originally planned for different sizes (for prints & frames), but some places only print SPECIFIC sizes.
And the larger prints get very expensive – so that might change your (frame) plan also.

We really loved the sizes that April (Etsy Owner) used in the larger gallery wall photo above – and she was kind enough to send us the reference photo below.

And that’s how we knew that we would need to find (budget-friendly) options that worked with these sizes.

Plus the Ikea Fiskbo frames all would work – except we changed:

the 9 x 12 print – to 11×14 print
the 18 x 24 prints would need a matte – hack – to fit the 19.75 x 27.5 frames

Step #2: Prep 4 Frames

Here are the 4 Fiskbo frames that you will be adding mattes to:

(3) – 19.75 x 27.5
(1) – 12 x 16
The 16 x 20 frames don’t need any mattes.

Then you will simply remove the backing from all 4 frames.

I went ahead and laid down some leftover cardboard underneath the frames – just to make sure they didn’t get scratched (or dirty – lol)!!

You can also remove the backing from the (2) 16 x 20 frames at this stage also – just to get all of the trash and clutter out of the way at one time.

Just don’t forget that these frames have a plastic liner that needs to be removed also.

I think it might even be on both sides – can’t remember – so double check. 😉

Step #3: Make Mattes for 4 Frames

Now that you’re frames are prepped it’s time to add the white poster board mattes to the 4 frames.

Make sure that your work surface is clean so that the poster board doesn’t get dirty.

You will simply lay your cardboard backing (from the large frames that you just removed – 19.75 x 27.5) and place onto the white poster board.

I placed the shinier side of the poster board up – because I wanted it to have a glossier look when finished.

I also didn’t want it to get dirty by laying it directly on our hardwood (yep – oops! I didn’t protect mine as you can tell)!

Now just trace it with your pencil on the long and short sides.

It will look like this below.

And then cut a little on the inside of your pencil mark – just so that it is a tiny bit smaller than your traced line.

Go ahead and place it in your frame to double check the size – shiny side UP (or the side you want to show UP).

Repeat these steps for the 2 other 19.75 x 27.5 frames, and the 12 x 16 frame.

This is the 12 x 16 matte pictured below.

Step #4: Attach & Insert Prints Into 6 Frames

Now it’s time to add the prints to the frames.

Measuring Mattes:

Unroll one of your 18 x 24 prints (they come rolled), and place it on top of the poster board (with the poster board side UP – that you want to see).

TIP: You will want something to hold it down straight – I used a lightweight ruler and my tape dispenser (to keep it from curling).

After playing around with the placement of the poster print – I knew that we would have a 7/8 inch margin on each of the vertical (longer sides).
These will be the mattes (poster boards) that show.

And then we would have a 1.75″ margin on the shorter sides (horizontal).

So you will have more poster board (matte) showing on the top/bottom verses the sides – FYI.

Then just add your double-side tape to the 4 corners and maybe another one to the middle (if needed).

TIP: Keep your ruler or something on your poster – so that it doesn’t move. Otherwise you’ll have to remeasure – trust me!!

Then repeat for the 2 other large frames and 1 small frame.

This is what the large frame with matte will look like pictured below.

And here below is the smaller frame with matte.

Just realized that I didn’t take pics of the measurements for the small frame – ugh!!
So just do the same method and it should look like the one below.