Kraft-paper templates and a single reference line turn a pile of frames into a composed display.
The difference between a gallery wall that looks intentional and one that looks accidental is planning on the floor, not on the wall. We traced every frame onto kraft paper, cut the templates out, and arranged them on the ground until the spacing felt balanced — roughly two to three inches between pieces.
Then we taped the paper templates to the wall, stepped back, and adjusted before a single nail went in. Marking the hanging point right on each template means every nail lands exactly where it should. A long level and a pencil reference line keep the whole arrangement anchored to the stairs.
This costs almost nothing beyond the frames you already own and an afternoon of patience. Mix print sizes and leave one deliberate anchor piece slightly larger to give the eye a place to start.