Picture Rails Are Back—Here’s How to Style Them

Gallery rails—also known as picture or art rails—are seeing a huge renaissance in modern designs. Usually a long horizontal rod, gallery rails use hanging chains to hold art, frames, and other wall decor. Massively popular in the Victorian era (especially the late 1800’s), gallery rails are finding their way into todays trad and modern homes alike. And it’s no question why—they’re practical, beautiful, and infuse a space with historic charm. 

What Is a Gallery Rail?

A gallery rail is essentially a horizontal strip of molding or a horizontal rod, usually mounted high on a wall near the ceiling, designed to hang artwork from cords or chains. The benefit: you can hang lots of pieces of art without putting nails or hooks directly into the wall.

Why Decorate with Gallery Rails?

There are plenty of reasons why gallery rails and rods can be a smarter choice than hanging a gallery wall of art in piecemeal. Because you’re only hanging one rail, you avoid a confetti’s throw of nails, screws, and holes in plaster or drywall. This makes gallery rails or rods a great low-damage solution for rentals, historic homes, or for people that like to frequently change their decor.

Each piece of artwork hangs from cords or chains, and it’s easy to rearrange them without complicated tools. On top of that, a gallery rail system easily accommodates different frame sizes, shapes, weights, and thicknesses, which allows for ultra-layered, completely unique arrangements.

How to Decorate with Picture Rails

Thanks to their historical roots, gallery rails or rods instantly add a sense of  architectural character to a room. Different rails and rods create different effects: thick, traditional moldings immediately feel historical and significant, where brass rails feel a little more warm and transitional.

The horizontal line mounted high up on the wall instantly draws the eye up and creates an illusion of height. On top of that, lines of vertical chains or cables create a almost frame each piece of art, as if every one has been thoughtfully exhibited.