I’m not gifted with a designer gene, and I’ve never had a decorator’s eye. In fact, my husband humorously describes our decorating and remodeling process as painful. We’ve lived in our current house for five years and are slowly putting our personal stamp on it by adding new paint, rearranging furniture, and hanging pictures and Scripture verses throughout the rooms. For Christmas a few years ago, my husband gave me this picture to hang in our master bedroom. We placed it above our bed, and it has remained the only thing on any of the walls in our bedroom until this month!
“I want to hang a wall gallery,” I announced to my husband.
“I’m unsure what you are referring to.”
“You know, an arrangement of different photos and expressions.”
“Oh, a wall collage?”
“No, a gallery. Not a collage. Anyway, I would like to put one in our master bedroom.”
“Why? No one sees our bedroom.”
“Exactly. This will be for us—not for show.”
And with that, I had my husband’s permission to proceed with creating my very first wall gallery (although he and I still disagree on its name, and he refers to it exclusively as a collage).
It would be fun . . . they said.
It would be easy . . . they said.
Armed with a coupon, I headed off to Hobby Lobby in search of the unknown. Despite having looked at two hundred layout options on Pinterest, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going for. So I bought almost everything that I liked—picture frames, expressions, Scripture verses, and the like. I came home and laid it all out and quickly made a “to be returned” pile of things that simply would not work due to spacing or color schemes. I spent a couple days collecting a few more pieces from other stores or from elsewhere in our house. Then I began the tedious job of trying to create the perfect layout.
For several days in a row, I stayed up way too late arranging the frames, texting the options to friends, and then rearranging based on their suggestions.
I finally fell in love with this layout.
My mistake, however, was that I was playing around with this layout in my scrapbooking room. When I moved the pieces up to our bedroom, I realized this layout wouldn’t fit. It was much too vertical. Disappointed and discouraged, I redesigned once again.
When I asked for opinions, I received similar feedback from several people: make everything more asymmetrical. This was difficult for me because I like clean, clear lines. Finally I settled for this one.
At this point I enlisted my husband’s help. He had the brilliant idea of unrolling wrapping paper to make a template. But as we moved forward, I still didn’t feel satisfied. We began rearranging again, which just led to more frustration. I picked up all the pieces, put them in the closet, and apologized to my husband for wasting his time. After sleeping on it, I started fresh the next morning with a new idea.
We liked it enough to take the plunge.
We made a few minor modifications along the way but were extremely satisfied with the final product.
In our gallery we have a picture of the two of us on the day Jason first held my hand, a wedding photo, and some recent photos. I hung up, twelve years later, a frame I made for Jason on our first Valentine’s Day together (don’t we look like babies?). We considered having photos of the children, but we decided this gallery was going to be about us as a couple and not our children.
We even have an interactive part of the gallery: I printed off a simple “I love you because . . .” picture and, using dry erase markers, we use it to write each other notes.
We added a cross, a marriage prayer, and a plaque with one of our favorite Bible verses, because our faith is the most romantic part of our relationship.
We added some other random items to help create different effects. For example, I added a mirror because every blog I read said I had to. My husband is still confused about its presence. Ha.
I’m sure by now you are wondering why I am sharing all of this with you since, after all, I am a marriage blogger and not a design blogger. I share it with you because this was the project that began to stir my heart toward the idea of creating a master bedroom sanctuary. While at first my husband was confused about my sudden passion for creating a wall collage gallery, in the end he enjoyed the process. He explained to our children that this was a celebration of our love. He surprised me by hanging up a picture just outside our bedroom door. It didn’t make the final cut for our gallery (because of the color), but before I could return it, he placed it on the wall. He thought it was the perfect expression to lead into our room—our sanctuary.
Because my husband and I have enjoyed what our bedroom is becoming, we want to offer a fun giveaway!
Enter through the Rafflecopter box below for your chance to win the following:
- A $30 gift card to Hobby Lobby (sight)
- Scented candles and lavender oil (smell)
- A $5 gift card to iTunes or the MP3 shop of your choice (sound)
- A copy of For the Love of Our Husbands (just because)
And for everyone, here is a free printable (JPG) of the “I love you because . . .” picture.
(Available in a darker shade as well).
Amanda says
Our bedroom could use some serious help.
Sheri says
Would love to update and redo my bedroom walls!
Amber B. says
We’re in the process of buying a new home and all new furniture so this would be amazing to be able to purchase wall decorations from Hobby Lobby.
Elizabeth D. Wright says
I keep our bedroom well maintained and neat. I would get a canvas print from Hobby Lobby if I were to win the gift card. thanks for the chance.
Jennifer Wolfe says
Nothing up on our walls yet. It needs a little help.
Amy A says
Love this idea! I’ve started something similar in our bedroom, but it still needs a lot of work!
Krisi says
We just moved into a new house and I would love this.
Kim says
We are moving soon and the room I am MOST excited to give a fresh look to is our master bedroom. I want an oasis of our own, too!
Katie Green says
Inspirational!
deanna says
Loved reading this!
The gallery wall is my favorite. I’ve been trying to collect different frames and things for one of our own. My husband and I have been living in our first house for 2 years now and our master bedroom is still as plain as can be. Around Christmas we were gifted with a new (to us) headboard which is nice, but doesn’t quite match the dressers and one nightstand that I’ve had since I was little. We feel blessed to have the little that we do have though (: But, we will definitely be trying to apply your sight, smell, and sound tips for a little upgrade! So, thank you!!
darbyd says
You’re welcome. “New to us” is always a favorite of mine. 🙂
Mindy says
We just repainted our master bedroom and I would love to add some decoration and make it more inviting!
Windai Tolbert says
My husband and I are just a few weeks shy of closing of building and purchasing our first home. We could definitely use this Hobby Lobby gift card to purchase a few decor items to the first place we’ll be able to call OUR HOME.
Kellie says
I have NEVER, in the 9 years we’ve been married, had a nice, neat, decorated bedroom. Would love to start here!
rejoicedover says
Thank you for posting this. I had seen a similar idea a couple of years ago, but couldn’t find my way back to it when I was finally ready to do our wall. Now I have some great ideas AND I love the interactive part of this! I’m going to add that to our wall. 🙂
Cindy B says
Love it <3
Caley says
What great inspiration! I’ve always tried to keep the bedroom tidy, but I love the aspect of making it different to the other senses as well. Definitely going to implement scent and more of the sound!
Amy says
Very nice….I wish I had more time to be creative, but that time will come again soon enough. Blessings~
Gina Bean says
We are hoping to buy or build a new house. This would be a great new slate to start with.
Lisa says
I found it incredibly sweet that your husband put up the one leading into your room. I know that must have touched your heart.
darbyd says
It did touch my heart. I still often smile whenever I read it. 🙂
Lisa says
I should remember to read what kind of comment is required before I post. I have lots of bare walls that need help, but not in the master bedroom. It’s papered with a busy print.
darbyd says
I have to fill out some question for the giveaway box, but I’d rather people comment what they feel or think than what I write. But, because you took the time to leave a second comment, I will go in and manually add your name another time. Thanks for entering. 🙂
elisabeth says
Love this post, Darby! The gallery you made is awesome and I really like that it’s just about you and your husband. Similar to you, I don’t have a decorating bone in my body but would love to use the HL gift card to do some similar designs. 🙂
Happy Friday!
Jen says
Our bedroom is not much of a haven because we still have a baby in there with us, but I love that concept for when we move her to a different room. Great giveaway!
Megan says
My husband and I just celebrated one year of marriage, but are still in a rented apartment, so we haven’t added any ‘home’y touches anywhere. We’re hoping to move in the next year and a Hobby Lobby gift card would be a perfect way to start!
Christine says
Love this idea!
Ingerlise says
I absolutely love this idea! I, like your husband am confused about the mirror though 🙂 Thank you for this post!
Bobbi Wineberg says
I would find frames to go with some of our photos and some letter artwork I’m learning to do and maybe vinyl to make my own quotes and verses. But first I’d have to go find paint to change the wall color.
Teresa R says
I would do a romantic gallery above our bed and do a scriptural one on the opposite wall above the tv
Katie H says
We’re moving soon and haven’t been able to hang a bunch of wedding pictures and decor yet. I’m saving that for the new place!
Shawnee says
Our master bedroom is full of a mismatch of things. Thank you for your article. My goal is to make it more of an inviting space and an oasis.
Elaine says
I really like what you did. I like the thought of the decorations in the master bedroom being just about husband and wife and not the kids. The strong marriage is what brought the children so it’s nice to be able to celebrate you and your spouse!
Sandy Cable says
I would just love a copy of your book 🙂
Tonia Harper says
I would love to redecorate our bedroom and make it a beautiful escape from everyday life a special place for my husband I. Currently we have been remodeling here and there when money and time allows. Right now its not much of a couples sanctuary we have a huge piece of exercise equipment on one side of it 🙁 so to decorate in the Lords love with marriage scripture…would be amazing!!
Rachelle says
I love the sign your husband had gotten..I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine..That sign was my very first Hobby lobby purchase. It is hung above our bed as well. I love the frame you had made him that you chose to put on your collage. Hope to make something similar for my husband. I also love the idea of the I love you because sign. I plan to get one of those as well. I LoVE Hobby Lobby and have only recently discovered the store. I could have spent hours and hundreds of $ in the sign and knick knack section. So many to chose from! Thank you for your wonderful blog and for being “real” with your audience. I love reading your posts because they are from the heart. May God bless you and your family.
Ashley C says
I’m currently planning out a gallery wall very similar to yours for our master bedroom, and I plan to go to Hobby Lobby this week to find some items 🙂
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
Joe says
I love the interactive part! I did that in our kitchen a few years ago but have often thought it would be fun to leave a little more personal messages.
Amanda Koehn says
I read your post a few days ago and THAT night my husband and I were working on the master bedroom in our new house and he, HE, used the word oasis in reference to our room! I shared your article and told him that I wanted to keep our room an oasis for us to retreat to! Thanks for sharing and for this giveaway!
Helen G. says
Our bedroom is on the main level of our house, so it ends up being a “catch up” room, including our baby’s changing room. 🙂 We could use some help and Hobby Lobby is almost too tempting to go into… I could do some serious unnecessary damage there! 🙂
Angela says
there is nothing on my bedroom walls and I want to turn our bedroom into a sanctuary for us to spend quality alone time in.