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Arranging a Photo Wall Display for Impact

October 15, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 12 Comments

In our Dallas house, we filled our entire stairwell space with a wall display of black and white family photos. It worked well in a space that would have otherwise been boring and blank.

Photos Along StairsAlthough for years we enjoyedย the look, I wanted something different forย our new Fayetteville home. Plus our Fayetteville stairwell is very narrow. I imagined if we hung our photos along the stairs, we would constantly brush against them resulting in forever straightening picture frames. That wouldย make me crazy.

Instead, we chose anย empty corner just outside our bedroom.

Empty Wall - Perfect spot for wall grouping

First off, this is not a post about how to measure so that you end up with flawlesslyย positioned frames.ย There are tons of pictures on Pinterest about templates and measuring if you are a stickler forย perfectly aligned pictures. I’m just not that worried about it. Ask my husband…I think I make him nervous with my free-spirited hammering.

Unless we are hanging a heavy piece of artwork that involves screws and toggle bolts, I do minimal measuring and try not to sweat it. The only real “prep” I do is placingย photos on the floor toย roughly decideย an arrangement. And the arrangement never ends up the way it starts. Even so, I do have a few tips that work for me.

1.) Pick a prominent frame/photo to serve as theย focal point.ย 

arranging a photo display - start by laying pictures on the floor

my original general design laid out on the floor

 

2) Locateย the center of your space (sometimes I measure this). Once I hangย the focal point photo, I typically abandon my first arrangement and begin holding up various photos until I find the next oneย that speaks to me. (You can use Command Strips if you are worried about nail holes, but I use picture hangers.)

3.) Hang photos 1-2 inches apart for a stylish, modernย look that doesn’t seem contrived. I like to think of my style asย Elle Decor meets Billy Reid, a bit eclectic yet not too over the top.

4.) After hanging a few of the center photos, live with the look for a few hours before adjusting or adding more. If something is off, you will notice. If you have a large collection of framed photos like I do, usually switching out the picture with a different sized frame will rebalance the lookย (rather than making another nail hole).

5.) Keep frames and photos in the same color family. They don’t have to be identical in shape, color, material, but they should complement each other. I used different color wood, antique frames, black and white and sepia toned photos.

6). Break the look up with something different to add interest. I hung aย wooden cross and small vintage oil painting.

7.)ย Wrap the wall with photos to make an impact in a small space.

how to arrange a photo display

The plant in the corner softens the whole look plus adding somethingย alive always makes me happy. (SaraBeth if you are reading this, your plant is doing well!)

how to arrange a photo display

This look may not beย for everyone, but after stressing about it (and calling in my sister-in-law for her opinion), I’m enjoyingย the final result. Plus I loveย having our family members together in one place.

photo wall display

Now, you know those photos you’ve been meaning to hang forever? Get to it.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.ย 

โ€œA photograph shouldn’t be just a picture, it should be a philosophy.โ€
โ€• Amit Kalantri

Musical Pairing:

Paul Simon, Kodachrome

Filed Under: Home, Memories Tagged With: black and white photos, home decor, photo wall display, picture arranging

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Comments

  1. Barbara Tate says

    October 15, 2014 at 8:03 am

    Great job. They look just right.

    Reply
  2. Colene says

    October 15, 2014 at 1:41 pm

    Perfectly imperfect! Love it!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 16, 2014 at 7:21 am

      Thank Colene!

      Reply
  3. Julie says

    October 15, 2014 at 5:14 pm

    I like when there are a lot of photos together arranged in a nice way so you can easily see everyone ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 16, 2014 at 7:21 am

      Thank you Julie! I love having all the family around. They are a lot quieter this way – LOL.

      Reply
  4. Alyssa / Ten Feet Off Beale says

    October 15, 2014 at 9:32 pm

    This looks amazing!!!! I think this is an awesome way to display photos anddd a great use of that space ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 16, 2014 at 7:21 am

      Thank you Alyssa! And thanks for visiting GraceGrits!

      Reply
  5. Dorothy Johnson says

    October 16, 2014 at 8:53 am

    I like it! Looks just right for that corner and your new house.

    Reply
  6. pat laster says

    October 16, 2014 at 8:58 am

    I like the looks of the photo wall. I have a stairwell that needs remodeling, er modeling after 80 years of plaster, wood strips for hangers and table leaves (leafs). Another project looms. xoxo

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 22, 2014 at 9:17 am

      Thanks Pat. Are you and Dot planning to visit me when you are at DH? Hope so!

      Reply
  7. Joyce says

    October 16, 2014 at 7:20 pm

    That’s wonderful to have all those black and white photos. I love old family pictures. Great song, too.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2014/10/october-on-tpt.html

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 22, 2014 at 9:16 am

      Thanks Joyce! I love old family pics too. Even people I don’t know – LOL.

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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