Typically it’s good to take a break from endlessly scrolling by means of your feed — and endlessly scroll by means of somebody’s particular person Instagram web page as a substitute.
Welcome to The Grid.
Lined up in neat rows of three, every Instagram submit all of the sudden is a part of an even bigger image. A peek right into a person’s soul… or a minimum of their content strategy.
And Instagram energy customers know simply methods to work this viewpoint to their benefit with artfully deliberate posts that, collectively, create a stunning Instagram grid structure.
In the event you haven’t thought of what your individual rows of squares add as much as, it’s about time. Right here’s all it’s essential find out about constructing an attention-grabbing Instagram grid to develop your following and engagement.
Bonus: Claim your free pack of 15 creative Instagram post templates made by Hootsuite’s professional graphic designers. Easily customize them in Canva, and start getting more engagement today.
Why your Instagram grid layout matters
When someone follows you for the first time or navigates to your profile to check out your content, your Instagram photo grid is an opportunity to showcase your vibe or brand at a glance.
The grid gives you a birds-eye view of a user’s posting history. This is your first impression of their body of work: a visual, big-picture introduction to their personal or professional brand.
For individual users, creating a beautiful grid may not matter — sure, color coding your posts could be a fun personal challenge, but if you’re just on the ‘gram to connect with friends, not amass an audience, branding likely isn’t too important.
But for brands, creatives, or influencers, consistency and style are critical, particularly if your account is focused on aesthetics or lifestyle.
After all, your grid is a quick and easy way to get your message across. Plus, anyone viewing your profile is thinking about following you. This is your chance to show exactly what you offer.
Are you avant-garde or on-trend? Will your content soothe or bring the drama? Is your brand consistent or chaotic? One look at a grid, and they’ll get the (sorry, not sorry) picture.
10 creative ways to design an Instagram grid layout
Great grids for Instagram start with a vision. So we’ve scoured the platform to dig up some of the best grids on Instagram to inspire your own look. Think of these as your Instagram grid templates.
Commit to a color combo
This is probably the most common grid style going — not that I’m calling anyone lazy (don’t @ me!), but it really doesn’t get much easier than this.
Pick a color palette (pinks and greys?) or a certain tone (high contrast neons?) to feature in every photo. Viewed together, your gallery will look like a matching set, even if the content of your pics varies. Home and lifestyle influencer
Travel Instagrammer @rachelontheroad_ solely options images from a desaturated palette of cool blues, pinks, and greys. A neon inexperienced pic, as an example, would appear jarring and misplaced right here.
In case your journey vacation spot (or dwelling or workplace) isn’t adorned like an Insta-ready backdrop, one simple method to verify your images all communicate the identical visible language is just to make use of the identical filter for each photograph to assist create a constant tone.
A variation on this theme? Utilizing a normal filter or coloration palette, but in addition working in an “accent” coloration or filter each few posts, too. Perhaps your Instagram feed is generally dreamy, sepia-toned boho fantasy, however each few rows, we see a vibrant pop of forest inexperienced. Woo! You’re enjoying with hearth!
We couldn’t inform you precisely what Lightroom preset @lemons.for.days is utilizing however… most likely one thing known as, like, “Peach Dew Goals.”
Repeat your self
There’s one thing soothing about scrolling a feed that provides you a similar factor over and over. There’s little question what you’re going to get when each photograph follows the identical template.
Within the case of ornamental cakemaker @takemehome_cake, every creation is photographed from the very same angle on the identical backdrop. The colour might differ on account of seasonal lighting, however the result’s a pleasingly predictable feed the place the person product will get to pop in opposition to an countless grid of gray.
Create a checkerboard impact
By alternating the type of images you submit, you’ll simply create a checkerboard look in your grid. Strive alternating textual content quotes with images or mixing close-up photographs with panorama images. Going backwards and forwards with two distinct colours can work, too.
Influencer @jillian.harris alternates full-frame images with pink-border pics to create a novel grid look.
Meals blogger @feedthepudge alternates meals posts with ones of his personal face to supply selection for anybody scrolling by means of.
Vancouver health studio @cmmngrndyvr mixes vivid graphics with darkish and moody images.
Scorching tip: when you’re utilizing text-based posts, hold the background coloration or fonts constant to actually make the sample clear. Verify and mate.
(Want somewhat assistance on the graphic design entrance? There are tons of nice tools and templates on the market to create visuals that pop.)
Design row by row
Suppose outdoors the field… and contained in the, um, row. Uniting the photographs on every row by theme or coloration can create a strong influence
Sorry when you’re squeamish about freshly tattooed pores and skin, however this instance from @spooky_skeleton_wizard needed to be shared. This tattoo studio alternates rows of sketches with rows of latest ink.
The trick for this one, after all, is that you must submit three photographs at a time, or the alignment might be off.
In the event you’re daring sufficient to experiment with panoramic photographs for considered one of your rows — a trio of images that add as much as one lengthy, horizontal picture — many customers submit the identical caption for each to make it clear they’re three components of an entire, like photographer @gregorygiepel did together with his architectural photographs.
Break outdoors of the field
Although the grid by nature crops your whole Instagram images to a sq., modifying your images to a distinct form inside that sq. can create a definite search for your Instagram photograph grid.
Circles? Rectangles? The selection is yours! Most Instagram editing tools may help create these distinctive borders.
Pet meals model @iams did circle frames for its photographs for some time.
…whereas charity @writers_ex makes use of a collection of off-kilter shapes in its signature colours to model every submit.
Get recent with fonts
Usually together with textual content in your posts can contribute to a placing, font-forward total look. There are many accounts on the market specializing in info-images, however even sprinkling in a text-heavy picture among the many images could make for a trendy show.
Strive interested by your Instagram grid just like the web page of {a magazine} — by strategically scheduling photographs with phrases and visuals, you’ll be able to create a ramification with steadiness that’s filled with fascinating moments to attract the “reader” in.
@nikerunning has a mixture of daring text-forward posts, illustrations, and images, however as a result of they submit every of those parts repeatedly, it feels intentional and cohesive. The lesson? You possibly can have completely disparate substances in your design palette, however when you use them repeatedly and with steadiness, your grid will look pulled collectively.
Making a grid that’s all-text-all-the-time works, too. The trick is to stay with a constant coloration palette and font choice to verify every submit appears to be like nice subsequent to the final, like @mr.pugo right here.
Flip your grid into the rainbow
You want each endurance and an amazing coloration sense to drag this look off. The aim is to submit repeatedly in a single saturated coloration and slowly transition to the subsequent shade within the rainbow together with your subsequent rows of posts.
To really get the complete impact of waterbottle firm @mybkr’s shifting palette, you’ll have to scroll, however they undergo durations of being impressed by the colour of 1 bottle after which transfer on to a different… from sage to child blue, for instance.
Embrace the border
Making a constant look may be so simple as making use of a border to all of your photographs.
Influencer @kwn.li makes use of a white border on all their photographs, however you could possibly create a signature look with any coloration scheme. The free Whitagram app is one choice to rapidly apply this edit, with borders and backdrops in all types of various shades.
Flip your posts right into a puzzle
This structure is a tough one to drag off on a day-to-day foundation, however for an enormous announcement or marketing campaign or to launch a brand new account, a puzzle grid definitely packs a punch.
A puzzle grid creates one massive, interconnected picture out of all of the squares. Individually, these posts most likely seem like nonsense. However seen collectively, it’s a murals.
Give Montessori account @hetmamapunt a spherical of applause for this visible feat, will ya?
Take into account somewhat chaos
On this fast-and-furious social media world, there’s a sure appeal to the no-polish-no-worries look.
Undertake the chaotic power of the “extraordinarily on-line” set by mashing up memes, screenshots, TikTok reshares, rapidly snapped meals pics, poorly lit impromptu photograph shoots, and no matter else you may discover in your digicam roll.
Journalist Taylor Lorenz’s meme account is an ideal instance of this ethos. Suppose “Discover Web page” gone haywire.
Seen as an entire, your grid takes on a stylish cluttercore vibe. In case your model is at one with Gen Z, this unplanned, untamed, wild, and inventive Instagram grid type could possibly be for you.
6 ideas for planning an Instagram grid
In fact, none of those modern grids for Instagram occur by chance. You gotta grind for that grid! Listed below are some issues to remember as you’re planning out the large image.
1. Preview first
Earlier than you submit it: map it.
You possibly can mock it up in photo-editing software program, or use Hootsuite’s app integration that allows you to preview your structure earlier than it goes dwell… consider it as your Instagram grid template.
Proper now, it’s for private accounts solely, however enterprise account performance is coming quickly.
Create an Instagram grid structure of as much as 9 photographs, after which schedule them to go up within the actual proper order via the Hootsuite dashboard.
2. Preserve it constant
Creating an amazing Instagram photograph grid means sticking to a plan. One off-beat photograph within the mistaken coloration, the mistaken filter, or within the mistaken order can throw your entire look out of whack.
Simply think about if make-up firm @bareminerals tossed in an image of an evening at a neon-tinged rave to their earthy skin-toned, rigorously curated grid. Chaos!
3. Be certain it matches your model
In the end, the aim of a grid isn’t simply to impress your mates together with your dedication to utilizing a particular Lightroom preset filter. It’s to construct a unified search for your model.
So, when you’re a recruiting agency for high-level executives, having a playful rainbow grid won’t fairly match the skilled and severe tone you’re going for. A monochromatic, text-based collection of posts, however…
4. Benefit from picture modifying instruments
In case you haven’t figured it out but: Instagram is a visible medium… and it’s exhausting to place collectively an amazing grid except the person footage additionally are nice.
Fortunately, there are tons of nice photo editing tools on the market, in addition to professional recommendation round each nook… for instance, our guides to taking great Instagram photos and staying on top of the hottest Instagram trends.
5. Don’t neglect: Reels are a part of your grid, too
Your Instagram Reels can dwell in your grid alongside your principal posts, so don’t neglect to pick out an acceptable Reels cover photo. Or use considered one of our professionally-designed Reels Cover Templates to create a constant search for your Reels.
Every of @airbnb’s Reels have a rigorously chosen cowl photograph of a rental dwelling, seen from a street-level exterior. It creates a way of consistency together with your different Instagram grid posts.
6. Schedule your posts upfront
Preserve your attractive IG grid lively and up to date with the assistance of a scheduling instrument that permits you to drop simply the precise filtered pic (or three) at simply the precise time. Hootsuite’s dashboard, for instance, makes it simple to prep your finest images at your comfort. Get that grid going!
In fact, creating an amazing grid is only one strategy to seize consideration on the ‘gram. For extra advertising ideas and tips to take your account to the subsequent degree, check out our ultimate guide to Instagram marketing here.
Instagram grid FAQs
How do you submit a 3×3 grid on Instagram?
If you wish to do a grid structure on Instagram, you’re going to want to do some pre-planning.
Mock it up in photo-editing software program, or use Hootsuite’s Instagram Grid planner integration to preview your structure earlier than it goes dwell.
(Be aware: proper now, it’s for private accounts solely, however enterprise account performance is coming quickly.)
Create an Instagram grid structure of as much as 9 photographs, after which schedule them to go up within the actual proper order via the Hootsuite dashboard.
How do I alter my grid on Instagram?
Altering your grid on Instagram begins with deciding in your new look. Would you like the posts to all be in a selected, constant coloration palette? Ought to every picture on the grid contribute to 1 massive image? What’s your visible aim and the way does it tie in to your Instagram model?
Peep a few of our inventive inspiration sources above to determine what you need your Instagram account to seem like, or discover 2023’s biggest Instagram photo-editing trends to spark some concepts to your massive grid makeover.
Earlier than you begin including your new photographs, delete or archive something that you simply’ve beforehand posted that doesn’t match your required look.
Now it’s time to begin plotting out your recent content material.
Both mock it up in photo-editing software program or use Hootsuite’s Instagram Grid planner integration to preview your structure earlier than it goes dwell. (Use these Instagram editing tips to provide your photographs a constant aesthetic.)
Create an Instagram grid structure of as much as 9 photographs, after which schedule them to go up within the actual proper order via the Hootsuite dashboard.
Begin constructing your Instagram presence utilizing Hootsuite. Schedule and publish posts on to Instagram, have interaction your viewers, measure efficiency, and run all of your different social media profiles — all from one easy dashboard. Strive it free at present.
Develop on Instagram
Simply create, analyze, and schedule Instagram posts, Tales, and Reels with Hootsuite. Save time and get outcomes.
