Photo walls are one of my favorite things. They are beautiful home decor and remind us of the moments in our lives that we love most. They are also wonderful for children, as a physical reminder of special times and how much they mean to us (I’ve never met a child that didn’t love to look at photos of him or herself - they think it’s the coolest thing). Like so many projects though it can feel overwhelming to get started. Here are some of my best tips for creating the photo wall you’ve always dreamed of:
1 - Find a photographer you love, and make photos a regular event.
Work with someone who will invest in the relationship with your family and give you images you’ll cherish. Make sure to set up sessions regularly with your photographer, especially while your kids are young. Over the time you’ll find you have a beautiful mix of images showing how your family has grown.
2 - Decide if you want to use the same size and type of frame for every image, or if you’ll mix it up.
You can’t go wrong either way, but make a decision early so you have a plan. Use frames of the same size and shape for a more traditional and classic look, while mixing it up is more eclectic. Generally though bigger is better. A few larger images will make a bigger impact than a bunch of smaller ones (and you’re more likely to actually see them everyday).
3 - Select one (or a couple) images from each session to feature.
People often ask me how to choose the images for their wall. I believe that albums are meant for telling your story (showing many images in one place), and wall art is meant for those singularly special moments that make you feel each time you look at them. Hang the images that speak to you the most.
4 - Mix it up with both color and black & white images.
Add interest by displaying both color and black & white images. Sticking with just one or the other can be a great option, especially if you prefer a monochromatic look, but don’t be scared to mix it up with the images that you love most.
5 - Select an area that will grow with your family.
Be sure to think about where you want to hang your gallery wall. You may not hang all of your images at once (unless you’re years behind on getting them hung - happens to us all!), so leave room for additional images in the future. Remember that if you’re limited on space, you don’t have to stick with just one wall. It’s okay to show your images in different spaces throughout your home.
Most of all, my biggest tip is to just get started. Choose even just one image that you love and hang it on your wall so you can enjoy it everyday. Once the first one is done you’ll likely feel invigorated to keep going and hang all of your most loved images. And remember, portraits can be switched out and moved, images can be swapped. If you want to change things or move them around you’ll always have that option. Over time you’ll create a photo wall filled with memories and events that you can look back on for decades to come.
