Let the space itself and your own sense of style be your guides in grouping artwork. Below, the shape of a hallway and stairwell dictate the arrangements.
What keeps this composition neat and orderly is the way the photos are grouped in distinct “columns” that climb the walls, with the wooden stair railing “framing” the arrangement. Look at the large butterfly at the top left above, for instance, and the pairs of pictures arranged closely underneath. Having the columns consist of different sizes of photos keeps the overall effect feeling organic, not overly staged.
Precise measuring is essential when creating an intricate arrangement like this one. To achieve this surround-scene effect, mark walls with painters’ tape in the desired grid based on size of art, using the midpoint rule and spacing the pieces no more than 2 inches apart on all sides. What keeps this display from looking too composed are the variances among the photographs’ sizes and orientations.