Have you ever hosted a party with friends at home? With so much eagerness, you show them your family’s portraits in your living room. “That was me when I graduated in high school. There’s my mom and dad’s wedding photo! Oh, that’s me and Grandma when I was 10.” You ramble on, but suddenly, you notice your guests’ attention going elsewhere—some are already checking out the dinner table (and probably sneaking a few cupcakes), while the nice guys feign interest in what you’re saying, but their fake smiles betray their impatience. One thing’s for sure: they are not impressed.
You know what, your family photo display at home will look so much better with a makeover. Gone are the days when using just any photo frame lying around the house would do. Time to get crafty and creative! Turn your visitors’ reaction from meh to amazed with these out-of-the-box ideas:
1. Go metal.
Metal adds a touch of sleek and modern elegance to your snapshots, making it ideal for homes with minimalist design. It also lasts longer than other materials, so it’s a more economical choice for preserving memories. Some online photo printing services offer metal photo printing for wall decor; you might want to check them out.
2. Play with the frames.
Get frames of the same or complementary colors. Make sure that the frames match the color scheme of the room where you will put up your photo display to give it a more consistent look.
Can’t find matching frames? No problem! You can get frames of the same color with different textures and designs instead. This difference in texture will make your display more interesting, while the sameness in color will still make it appear uniform. With these frames gracing your living room’s wall, your future guests would think you’ve put a lot of thought into designing your room.
3. Tweak the color of the images.
Combining colored images with black-and-white ones can spell disaster style-wise. For a more stylish look, scan the colored images and convert them into black and white with Photoshop. Doing so will also allow you to use different frames to go with the photos since you have their monochrome color scheme to serve as the unifying element.
4. Turn your memories into a photo collage.
You can strategically place your photos, framed or not, beside each other by hand. Another great option is to have a wall collage of your photos printed in your desired material and size through an online photo printing service. Having all your favorite memories together in one place can give your living space a homey feel. It can also serve as conversation piece for guests visiting your living space.
5. Add a pop of color.
Using photo mats with eye-catching colors like fuchsia, turquoise, or green in a black frame is a great way to spice up your photo spreads. Just make sure that your chosen color matches the look and feel of the room. For some DIY inspiration on photo matting, check out this video:
6. Inject an interesting element into the arrangement.
This may be in the form of distressed frames, antique clocks, and even the on-trend wooden letters. Displaying your family photos alongside these interesting elements can give your photo arrangement either a shabby chic or an elegant appeal.
Displaying photos artistically can be quite challenging, especially when you are used to just winging it. But a little research and experimentation, along with the new photo printing technologies we have today, can turn your family photos into gorgeous wall art that you can proudly show off to your guests.