‘Structure will set you free!’, something someone special (and frustratingly right, gah!) said to me as I threw a tantrum about not knowing what to post on Instagram. However, once I discovered the concept of Instagram grid layouts I felt like a whole new person!
Having a set routine of what to post definitely changed my relationship with Instagram and if you’re feeling this way at the moment, here are 7 interesting, creative ways to play with your own Instagram Grid Layouts!
We’ve also snuck in a great resource to a PSD template if you want to try perhaps the trickiest one of the bunch
You may have mastered the art of flatlays and filters, but let’s keep it mind that it is the entirety of your gallery is more important than individual posts; it is where all the juicy parts of your profile are, like the FOLLOW and CONTACT buttons!
Save your sanity, put a structure in place to ensure you can keep your consistency up.
8 Instagram Grid Layouts You Can Try For Yourself
Here’s a breakdown of 7 structured ways you can layout your Instagram feed to keep it visually exciting, organized, and beautifully you!
Instagram grid layout #1: Checkerboard
Just like your floor tiles at home, here’s where you can alternate posts one after the other!
There are many ways to tile your Instagram posts, some of them are really obvious like this feed by BossBabe.Inc
One of the most popular ones is to post a photo and a quote one after the other like this example. Other IG influencers opt to use variations of colors to tile their feeds, for example, every second image might be white, or have lots more white space, alternating with a ‘busier’ image.
No matter how you do it, tiles, otherwise known as ‘checkerboards’ can be used in a variety of ways.
Instagram grid layout #2: Horizontal Lines
This is one of the best Instagram Grid Layouts, however you need to watch out that you don’t annoy your existing followers.
READ MORE: What you need to consider before you start slicing and dicing photos for Instagram
The best way to play this is to narrate a story in three consecutive posts. Your left to right posts should ideally be related to each other to maintain consistency with aesthetics and with the story. It does not have to be the same subject all the time, it could also be the same location or the same mood.
We love this example by @andrewinla
Instagram grid layout #3: Vertical Lines
To create this type of Instagram grid layouts you have to be fairly strict in what you post!
This is one of most common examples where you’ll see an entire row of words or quotes, running vertically down the page.
By doing this, you entice your new visitors to keep on scrolling through your feed. Some curious how long you’ve been keeping this up for! But others because they’re enjoying your creativity.
To achieve this look, simply pick 3 styles of images and post them consecutively. As you post, they’ll each ‘shuffle’ across the page and you’ll see that your ‘rows’ move from left to right as you post.
Instagram grid layout #4: Treat your feed as a puzzle and tell a running story
This is some serious feed goals, but it also involves a serious amount of creative planning. Your feed could fit 9-12 photos without having to scroll yet. Why not fill those 12 blocks with tiny bits of split photos. When carefully put together, it would be a total eye-candy. Netflix’s @the_oa has mastered this layout style.
We don’t recommend that you do this type of layout as a regular thing, perhaps if you were just starting out a new Instagram account, or you have a HUGE campaign coming out, then it might be appropriate. You’ll need to heavily consider your existing followers reaction to a barrage of weird tiles – but still! top points for creativity!
Instagram grid layout #5: Stick to one filter or color scheme
(For the ultimately consistent in Instagram grid layouts!)
Creating a consistent look and feel for your brand across all marketing is incredibly important, so don’t let it fall by the way over on Instagram.
Choose a filter, colour scheme or editing process and stick to it consistently. You can still apply creative techniques mentioned above, but it’s ultimately more important that your images still look like they’re part of a ‘family’, like @stellamariabaer has done perfectly here.
The best thing about our app Plann is that you can edit your images together from right inside the app, you’ll see in a single glance how they’re all going to work together as a family.
Here’s one of our favourite editing steps to achieve the same look for all images.
Instagram grid layout #6: White Borders
The ultimate in perfectionism, adding white borders can give a real sense of calmness.
Doubled with a ‘vintage/summer’ style filter (like our Filters: Quozi, Texas, Summer or 70’s!), or our specific VINTAGE overlay to create this effect), you really can create your own unique style like this amazing style from @lady.austin
Instagram layout #7:’Across-the-Grid’ with BONUS PSD download!
Perhaps the HARDEST of all Instagram Grid Layouts, is the ‘Across-the-Grid’ style.
It’s where all images run across the screen mashed up together, but still look great as individual posts!
Check this out!
It’s incredibly hard to achieve and definitely needs more than 5 minutes of thought, and if it’s something you’d like to try for yourself, Stephanie the absolute rockstar behind this look at @wearewildbloom is willing to share a complete PSD template with the exact steps so that you can try this for yourself!
(You’ll need Plann to import the images and post, so this would become an additional step in your planning process.)
For full instructions on how to achieve this look, PLUS A FREE PSD DOWNLOAD, CLICK HERE.
Instagram layout #8:The three-in-a-row
Instagram layout #9:The alternating color scheme
Instagram layout #10: The strategic grid
Instagram layout #11: The gallery
If you are a blogger who shares outfit photos a creative Instagram grid layout that you could try is a ‘gallery style’ grid.
Share three photos (or three carousels like the lovely @indiamoon_) after one another to share multiple angles and close-ups of the one outfit.
Instagram grid #12: The tonal feed
Love a certain filter and color scheme? Embrace that vibe and make it your Instagram grid layout! We are feeling totally inspired by @aleksandrazee and her tonal grid… absolutely stunning in our opinion.
Instagram grid #13: The educational grid
Instagram grid #14: The storyteller’s grid
Instagram grid #15: The photographer’s grid
Ready to think outside the square and refresh your feed?
Plann will help you perfect your new Instagram grid layout with our unique drag and drop feature. Plus, you can edit up to 120 images in advance using our Image Editing Filters. No need for emergency Instagram filtering on the fly, group together your editing style and create a beautifully consistent Instagram Grid Layout!
Download Plann now from the iOS and Android stores and get started.
Are you doing something creative we should check out?!
Drop your Instagram handle with your style so we can update our post to include you!
