Once Mike and I made the decision to move (although who knows when that will be now), I announced I was going to fill our walls with my photography. Mike was on board with this announcement, such a smart man. Since then I’ve been obsessed with creating the perfect wall gallery. I’ve found some great tips and examples, and since I love sharing the wealth, I’m going to tell you about them.
Choosing the right spot for a photo display is key. You want to hang your pictures in common areas where others can view and admire them. Prime locations are hallways and staircase walls, but you can make any space into a gallery:
photo source unknown
Once you’ve decided on your space, it’s time to create your display! There are a bunch of options to consider:
- Create visual interest by placing frames high, low, and off-center. Include different sized photos—grouping several smaller 4″ x 6″ and 5″ x 7″ images around a larger 8″ x 10″ frames.
- Vary the heights and shapes of the frames within an arrangement while still keeping the display cohesive.
photo courtesy of Robeson Design Studio
- To really personalize your display consider mixing in other types of art in your grouping such as fine art, memory boxes, or artwork by your children.
photo courtesy of Pottery Barn
- Select the right frames: To make your photos pop (because they are the focal point, not the frame) simple combinations such as metal, black, or plain wood frames with neutral-colored mats are often the best choice. If you want a splash of color, match colored frames to a non-dominant hue in the photos you’re framing. Colored frames work well in neutral rooms.
photo courtesy of marthastewart.com
- If you’re gun-shy about hanging photos (like me), try hanging paper cut-outs first. It’s a good way to see how your arrangement will look without banging holes in your walls.
picture courtesy of HubPages.com
Have you created an amazing photo gallery that you want to brag about? Upload your examples to the TSAM Photo Fun Flickr group so we can copy you I MEAN gain inspiration. (If you don’t have a Flickr account, just link to your photos in the comments).
Want more tips on creating photo galleries (including wonderful tips for stair displays)? You can find them here thanks to HP, my awesome photo partners.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks so much for this, Heather! The hubby and I are in the process of decorating up our house and I wanted to do a photo wall. Your post gave me some great ideas! I can’t wait to get started! I will be going back to this page often
. That and the “When the cat’s away” and “Annie’s dance party” videos 
. Too cool!
This post was perfect because I’m actually starting a project for kids next week having them paint different sized canvases. Then I’m going to fill my walls with awesome kid art!
So your post was like… just at the right time.
We need a big open space for a wall of framed art/photos so we could do this. I love it!
Heather,
Love it, I think you need an original centerpiece…come build one!!
http://www.fourcheesephotography.com
I’ll give you a great deal cuz I think you guys are just good peeps!
take care
Great ideas! I have a hallway wall that I have a gallery of “quote” frames. It’s very inspirational and I love it.
Hey,
my parents have a superb Photowall. They bought a large corkboard and have it completly filled with pictures. They can switch them easily and the don’t have to worry about frames.
Jana from Germany
Love the idea to practice with paper cut-outs first. That is genuis.
I have always wanted one of those walls of photos, but the thought of all those holes (because I can just see myself re-arranging everything six times) has scared me and held me back from trying it.
If you have enough space, you can also experiment how to set up your layout on the floor. That’s what we did before putting ours up — except we practiced with the actual frames (pretty sure the cut-outs would work there as well).
I’ve never heard of a “memory box,” (featured in the Pottery Barn photo) or in this case a “memory frame.” That’s such a cool idea. I’ll have to try it some day.
Have you seen this one from Young House Love? It’s really well done.
http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/03/the-hallway-full-monty/
I’m working on gathering frames and pics for my own wall.
Woohoooo! My first ‘day’ back online – after *three* months – and I find this bit of awesomeness. Although this wasn’t technically what I came ‘here’ for, it’s a tremendous help to me. Our family has lived in the same house for 8 years, and I still only have pics up of my first 2 children – and now we have 4! I have tons of pics framed – of all 6 of our family members….but they’ve been sitting on a table forEVER, just because I don’t know how to go about hanging them – in what arrangement, etc. My husband gives me crap about it constantly. Hopefully I’ll soon be able to upload my copied, ahem *inspired* idea!
What a great idea. I think I might just do this. It will be good to get my photos printed and framed. I think I am ready to say I have some that are good enough for that.
That is very very cool… i’ve been printing big prints of my photos on Canvas which was cool at first but I would love to have one of these galleries somewhere in my crib.