30 Unique Photo Wall Ideas to Display Family Photos and More
Creative arrangements to showcase memorable moments in the hallway, bedroom, living room or office.
Displaying your family photos and art collections is a creative and easy way to inject color and personality into your space. It's a wall decor idea for all areas of the home, including the bedroom, hallway, mudroom and office. Plus, there are various ways to decorate your walls, especially if you want to showcase framed (or frameless) black-and-white images or memorable photos from weddings, graduations or family travels. With so many photo wall ideas to explore, we're sharing some of the cutest (and cheap) photo arrangements that'll turn drab walls into conversation starters.
As you browse through these unique photo displays, consider where you want to arrange your gallery wall. A photo wall is a maximalist design trend, so it's important to think of your space's size when planning the layout. Any part of the home will suffice, including above any dressers, mantels or seating. Use varying large and mini frames, curate a theme and incorporate a mix of hanging techniques — like photo ledges, picture rails and stapled photo collages. Plus, you can curate expensive-looking photo arrangements with gold frames, eye-catching wallpaper and painted backdrops.
Overall, when it comes to decorating your walls with photos, let your imagination take the lead. There's no right method, as it's all about what appeals to your aesthetic. Even better, nostalgic design and meaningful decor accents are one of the interior design trends of the year, so displaying your sentimental photos are far more in style than you may think.
Hang Photos Above Seating
Curate a photo gallery wall right above a bench in your entryway or mudroom. Similar to Living With Lolo's design, keep the colors neutral with simple black frames and black-and-white images. Installing picture lights can bring attention to the photos when the lights are dimmed.
Use a Mix of Photos, Art and Objects
Molly Torres Portnof of DATE Interiors incorporated a fun mix of paintings, photos and objects (like mini instruments) to the empty walls of this room. The arrangement even includes an assortment of small, large and medium-sized photos in black, white and gold frames.
Use a Floral Backdrop
This statement entryway by Susan Hayward Interiors features a regal, Victorian-inspired wall of artwork. The traditional floral wallpaper brings color and a luxurious allure to the gold frames and period pieces. Treat a collection of photos in a similar way.
Use Antique Brass Frames
The art arrangement in this eclectic pre-war Brooklyn apartment by Mendelson Group showcases antique brass frames in rectangular shapes of varied sizes. Consider using the same asymmetrical layout for your family photo wall.
Create a Yearly Couple Gallery Wall
Blogger Kelli of Lolly Jane mounted photos of her and her husband each year to create a photo wall in their primary bedroom. And while all the frames are white, the various sizes and and styles lends visual interest.
Assemble a Peel-and-Stick Gallery Wall
Blogger Kristi dressed up her entryway in just 10 minutes with her bright and colorful collection of family photos. She used the photo wall service, Mixtiles, to create the peel-and-stick display, where she can easily swap out the style, shape and design.
Paint Half of Your Images
Use a range of coordinating hues to paint your family photos or favorite works of art into unique color block moments. Since you want to create contrast, go for colors on opposite sides of the color wheel. Think pairing yellow with purple or blue with a pastel orange shade.
Consider a Photo Hoop Display
This photo display is far from boring and incredibly easy to DIY at home! Replicate the look with a gold spray-painted hula hoop, faux flowers and a clear fishing line where the photos will be clipped.
Cover the Wall With Plaid Fabric
Plaid fabric can surely make an impressive backdrop for your photo arrangement. Seamlessly pin photos, prints and notes straight to the wall using thin cork squares.
Curate a Theme
Blogger Linda curated a pretty-in-pink theme for her daughter's bedroom, where a lovely art collection is featured above her desk. Copy the design by wrapping photos around a mirror, where they can be admired as you work or as your children play.
Wrap Images Around the TV
The area around the TV doesn't have to be a bore. Print your favorite family photos, choose your frames and let them frame your TV. This way, everyone will take notice of your cherished moments, even when invested in their favorite show.
DIY a Photo Wall Pocket Organizer
Blogger Ashley created a photo wall pocket organizer, which displays her three happy children on plywood. Underneath each black-and-white photo is a pocket to store their drawings and paperwork. And instead of printing her photos on glossy, luster or baryta paper, she used metal photo prints from Mixbook.
Transform the TV Wall Into a Picture Wall
Explore the amazing photo options with your Samsung Frame TV. After choosing a theme — florals and greenery in this case — decorate the surrounding wall with photos to match. Use traditional hanging techniques or photo ledges with sliding collage frames.
DIY a Sliding Photo Frame
Blogger Ananda made her photo collage in just three simple steps — and you can too! The frame is designed to hold three 8 x 10 photos, so after you make one, DIY more to create a photo wall where you can easily slide your images out and replace them.
Let Photos Tell a Story
Here's another photo wall designed by Torres of Date Interiors, but this time, it's in her client's bedroom. The display may be simple, but the black-and-white photos focus on the cherished memory of her client's wedding. Using gold frames is a delicate touch that makes the entire arrangement classy and elegant.
Hang a Four-Part Photo Wall
The entire design of this apartment (another project designed by Mendelson Group) is eccentric. The uniform frames of the four-part photo wall add contrast to the geometric nature of the ottoman below. Placing four large family photos in a room with a similar layout can create cohesion between the walls in the space.
Make a Photo Tile Puzzle
Blogger Agnes used mini hexagon tiles to display photos of her children in a puzzle-like design. It's a fun activity where kids can take turns putting the pieces together. Once done, attach magnets to the back of the tiles using hot glue and place them on a magnetic board to showcase on the wall.
Keep It Simple
This understated photo wall complements the neutral tones throughout the room, from the pale green walls to the blue sofa. The black-and-white photos are adorned in metallic picture frames of different sizes for visual appeal.
Spruce up a Bookshelf
Susan Hayward Interiors created a photo wall within a floor-to-ceiling, built-in bookshelf. She chose to place landscape photos alongside coastal-inspired accessories, including a white seashell.
Feature One Statement Piece
Interior designer Max Humphrey transformed this Portland, Oregon, basement with a breakfast nook and a small collection of artwork. Create a similar striking arrangement with your family photos by featuring one large statement piece and a collection of smaller ones for more interest.
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
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