One of the best things about decorating with photos is that it allows you to add plenty of character to just about any room, with little to no effort. Photographs are certainly not a new decor trend. Over the years that this art has progressed, people have been proudly displaying images on their walls, mantels, shelves, desks and nightstands.
But, with that said, there is a big difference between putting every single photo you adore onto any conceivable surface in your home, and using photos strategically. The key lies in how you display your photos, the size and style of the frames and the types of photographs you display. In this handy guide, you will be able to get some tips on how to start decorating with photos in your home.
Top Tips for Decorating With Photos
There are many, many tips and ideas for decorating with photos. Some may work for you; others may not. How do you know what is the right way? It’s simple – you experiment with a few different ideas to see how it looks in your home. Some of the ways that you can decorate with photos include the following:
- Create a gallery wall. These are massively popular, and for good reason. Gallery walls refer to a stretch of wall that is made up of photographs. You can place photos of the same size together to create a simple square, or use different sized images to create a visually interesting wall of photos. This works well to tell a story with your photographs. For example, you could create a gallery wall for each child, with images of them taken from birth to their current age. Or, you could create a gallery wall of you and your partner, with memories that capture important milestones. You can also theme your gallery wall according to colours, scenery or just about anything else you prefer. Pinterest is a great way to find inspiration for gallery walls, while you can also look at decor magazines for ideas.
- Play with sizing. Over-sized prints are always popular. You could get your favourite image block mounted, or printed on poster board. Smaller photo art prints can be framed and grouped together on a shelf, or displayed on a passage in a row. Pair large photos with small and medium photos to create visual interest. Even if you don’t go for a full gallery wall, you can use many of the same principles to create a photo series of varying sizes.
- Experiment with frames. Frames can make or break a photograph. A vital rule of decorating with photos is to choose your frame carefully. A very large, ornate or detailed frame may work with some images, but could overpower other images. Likewise, a plain white frame can work amazingly in a minimal home, but it may look a bit out of place in a home that favours bold or retro decor. You don’t even have to use a frame at all, either. Block mounting, canvas prints and frameless glass are just some ways to display photos without a traditional frame.
- Choose your photos wisely. In exception to family portraits, it is a good idea to put some thought into whether or not your photographs suit your home’s look and feel. Think about the colours of the photo, as well as its composition. If a photo ‘speaks’ to you, then by all means display it. Generally speaking though, consider the room and house to be sure that the photo will be the right choice.
- Do a test run. A good way to see how a gallery wall or photo display will look before hanging up actual photos is to make templates from cardboard. You can then place these on the wall to determine where you want them to hang, and how big each photo should be. It will much easier to plan ahead this way. You could also do a virtual test online using a tool such as Picmonkey or Canva. Play around with layouts to see what photos work well with others. This will allow you to determine the best approach for pairing your photographs once you find a look you like.
Looking for modern photo art that you can download and print to any size you like? Visit the digital print shop to see what’s in stock! These digital photographs make it as easy as pie to start decorating with photos!
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