Framing and Grouping Wall Art
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011
I went to a client’s home the other day and there it was – an end table with so many frames that it looked like a stack of dominoes, waiting to collapse. It starts innocently enough; 3 or 4 photos proudly displayed. But then someone graduates and another baby comes along and your table morphs into a cluttered mess . The only photos you can see are the ones that are front and center but you just don’t have the heart to remove a single one. So, I propose we move this party to the walls!
This post is not just about family photos, it’s about grouping artwork in general. You may have a group of antique prints, some fun photos from an old calender, or your kids’ artwork from their Picaso-esque period. When you choose the right frames and display them properly, it can make all the difference and turn crafty prints into super chic accessories.
Speaking from the personal and professional experience, this takes some planning, so let’s take it a step at a time.
Organizing & Framing your Art
- If you have photos you are ready to use, great. Decide if you are going to go with color or convert them to black and white or, my favorite, sepia. Be discerning and pick your very favorites. Not everything will make the cut and that’s okay. We want interesting photos that elicit emotion and that you want to see for at least a year.
- If you are looking for some interesting prints, check out Etsy and don’t limit yourself to prints, cards work great too.
- Choose a frame and stick with a color. You can mix modern and antique frames if they are all the same color.
- If you want more of a grid look then choose all the same size frames and space them evenly on all sides when you hang them. Usually 2-3″ is good spacing.
- For a collage look, choose different sizes and just make sure that edges of the neighboring frames line up on one side.
In terms of style, lately I like the floating frames that let your wall color show through. It looks especially nice if your prints are simple or your photos are black and white. If your wall is a boring beige, then this is your chance to consider an accent wall. You will rarely hear me suggest an accent wall but this is one place where it works well.
My Favorite Floating Frames
West Elm Steel Floating Frames
Now that you have some guidelines, start organizing your photos, unpacking those old prints and get framing!































