With spring just around the corner, you may be looking for some inspiration to freshen up and revamp your home decor. A great way to give your space a personalized update is with photos. You may be surprised to hear that there are many options to showcase pictures besides the typical photo print and frame.
Wood-burned images, metal prints, or photos hung on fairy lights are all ways to display photos that will both capture attention and share your favorite memories. To help you get started, we reached out to photographers from Whidbey Island, WA to Atlanta, GA to share their expert tips on clever ways to display photos in your home.
Think about your photo display before you shoot
We ask our clients to style their photo shoots to match their home decor. Before your photo shoot, walk through your home and identify places where you would want to hang your photographs. Look at the colors, textures, and themes around you and incorporate them into your outfits and props for your photo shoot. – Judah Avenue
Edit photo to black and white for added elegance
Stunning black and white photographs in classic black frames can add a touch of elegance to a home. Consider adding a set of small to medium-sized black and white prints at eye level down long hallways. – Steve J. Giardini Fine Art Photography
Or play with color schemes
A very popular style right now when displaying photos is a super colorful collage display. Adding various color schemes adds visual interest. This type of style is gorgeous to display going up staircases as well as on main walls in a living room. – Jennifer Parrello Photography
Utilizing a color wheel is a great method to determine which colors complement each other. Orange and blue are complementary colors, so make sure your photos match the furniture and items you have in your house. – Here Today Photo
I suggest choosing a color scheme for family photos that matches your decor in your home. For example, if you like earthy tones, you can wear brown or ivory colors and get photos done in a field. If you have a more Pacific Northwest vibe, go for bold green trees with a splash of burgundy, rust orange, or navy blue – colors that match nature. – Portraits by Dawndra
Try a large frame and custom mats
When I moved into my new house I knew I wanted a modern display of some of my favorite family pictures. The most cost-effective way to hang such a large photo display is to get simple large frames and order custom mats. The whole project costs just under $180, which is a steal for an installation this large. – Michelle Enebo Photography
Go for a gallery wall
Gallery walls are a great way to have an ever-evolving story of your family and life. Don’t overthink it. I love mix-n-matched frames and a very organic approach to hanging. This works best in a hallway between bedrooms or even the staircase wall. – JJ Ignotz Photography
Oftentimes you want to display more than one or two photos on a wall to tell a story. A good way to do this without your wall appearing messy or frantic is to tie all the images together with one theme. Try mixing in some artwork with your family portraits in similar colors for a cohesive and collected look. – Elizabeth Mae Photography
Add dimension and personality to your gallery walls. For gallery walls in well-lived rooms, mix and match large and small frames to create visual interest. Choose pictures where everyone isn’t looking at the camera, so the viewer gets pulled into a moment of connection versus looking at a holiday card. Adding elements like wreaths, hats, and clothespins to your gallery wall gives context to your family’s story and makes your photo display stick out. – Kara Chappell Photography
Show off your family and its history
Choose a main wall in your everyday living space or hallway for family photos and keepsakes. When selecting photos from the session, always choose a full family image as the primary focus and balance that with individual portraits and groupings of children. – Danielle DeFiore
Create an “ancestor wall” by displaying old family photos in all different frame finishes, shapes, and sizes. Hang the photos in a collage format with other family heirlooms including old keys, jewelry, or a shelf with old journals, to create interest. – Hayley Jo Photo
Use floating shelves
One way to display photos is by using floating shelves. When displaying your artwork on a wall, don’t place them too far apart, and don’t leave too much open space. Ideally, you would want the artwork to be 2 to 3 inches apart from each other. – Makito Umekita
Layer your photo display
One of my favorite tricks for creating texture and coziness in a space is to layer photos on a standing surface instead of hanging on the wall. Start with a larger photo in a frame that can lean against the wall from a dresser, shelf, or console table. Then, add a second one just slightly overlapping at about half the size. Complete the look by tucking in a small Polaroid or photo printed on cardstock to add visual texture and to quickly refresh the look of your space. – Emily Keeney
I love a display ledge or multiple that allows me lean and layer framed photographs, art, and florals in one spot. I can change out prints to match a color scheme going on in the room or even change seasonally. This method encourages me to print more often and engage with the images more so they don’t get stale in the room and become overlooked. – Let’s Spread Beauty Photography and Design
Print on canvas
One of my favorite ways to display photos is to have them printed on a canvas. A canvas turns a photograph into a gorgeous piece of artwork that brings your memories to life. You can either create a collection of smaller canvases that together tell a story or you can have one large canvas that is the room’s statement piece. – Linda Gutierrez, Little Snaps Photography
Divide your canvas into three
Over the years we have seen so many creative, remarkable ways families have shared their photos hanging in their homes. Our personal favorite has been canvas textured print on ⅛ moissanite divided into three sections. The placement of their photos was truly unique as the architecture had many curves and leading lines that led your eyes directly to the photos from their wedding day, with natural light exposing the border of the moissanite frame. – Astray Photography
Repurpose items in your house
Use a vintage clothing hanger. By clipping the photo and hanging it, you have a cool, inexpensive way to hang a photo that can be easily changed out. Another way you can display photos is by using an old window frame by simply taping an unframed photo to it. You can use several images. I recommend museum-quality glass so you have fewer reflections. – NashCO Photo
Brighten up a room with fairy lights
Hang some fairy lights on the wall, arranging them back and forth a few times so there are at least three rows. Then, using small clothespins from a craft store, pin some square prints randomly on them. This is a great way to brighten up a child’s room or a home office. – Becca Jean Photography
Transfer your images onto wood, metal, or acrylic
I highly recommend pyrography also known as the burning of images into wood. The act of bringing nature and your beloved photographs together is a beautiful thing. As an Arizona photographer, I love to be in tune with the Earth. Bringing the outdoors into your home through pyrography is a great way to do this. – Saaty Photography
One of my favorite ways to display photos in your home is with unique art prints. Say goodbye to standard framed prints and hello to your images printed on metal, wood, or acrylic, mounted on bamboo blocks, or even mounted to appear like they are floating off your wall. It is a simple way to turn your photograph into a statement piece for your room. – PMA Photography
Photographs can now be printed on many unique surfaces, from wood to metal. Metal is excellent for a high-end modern look and is very easy to hang. One of my favorite metal displays is a triptych – one image that spans over three separate metal panels. – Amy Galbraith
Be mindful of the lighting and type of material you print on
If the space you’re wanting to hang your photos in gets a lot of bright natural light, consider using a thick fine-art matte paper for your prints. The natural texture in these papers provides a nice subtle detail in brighter light. In dimmer rooms, it’s worth trying a lustre print, whether the slight gloss on the paper can catch the ambient light. – Ryan Flynn Photography
Think about eye levels
Many families with young children display portraits above their couch, piano, or at adult eye level in their hallway. Children do not live at your eye level. Display photos at your child’s level in their bedrooms and throughout your home. If you’re worried about the frames or canvas getting ruined, use double-sided gorilla tape or blue sticky tack to adhere the print directly to the wall for a safe, child-friendly display. – Jaclynn Wilkinson Studio
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