There comes a point for us all when we look at our pictures and just feel bored. They need changing, so you dig through your photo collection to find the best prints that will give a good change to your walls.
The problem there is that the frames you have were picture perfect at the time you ordered them. The wood went with your décor, the metal added a touch of elegance to your hallway, and the huge ornate swept frame looked prestigious above your mantel.
If you’re tired of the same displays, there are things you can do to change things up. Just the one change has the potential to transform an entire room.
- Resize the frame
This is handy for walls that look a little bare with only a couple of frames and a massive space between them. If you can’t find something larger to fit the display and design of your wall, enlarge the frame.
You don’t always need to enlarge a print to get a bigger picture frame. It is possible to keep the same picture size and increase the size of the mount so the same size of picture fits into a larger picture frame to fill more of your wall space.
- Hang frames without precision
Straight displays tire out fast. You get bored and start to fascinate with the millimetres from the top of the picture to the picture rail below it. The whole point of beautiful frames is to give you a pleasurable display that enhances the memories captured in your photographs. When you start to dwell over minute details, you’re missing out on the beauty within the frames.
The simple trick to get rid of the OCD of hanging the frames is to deliberately alter the display to get rid of straight edges. Hang an oval picture in the centre, surround it with landscape photos, and mix it up with portrait. Have them all at different hanging levels.
To add a dramatic impact to it, hang a huge mirror on the wall opposite your display to take advantage of reflection and give the illusion of it being larger. You’ll find it will make your room feel larger too.
- Display ideas with a difference
This is for those who are fascinated with themed gallery displays. On the one wall you can have multiple themes. Take five framed photos for example. They could be grouped together to one side of the wall. One in the centre, perhaps a map of a walking trail, and surrounded by that could be four pictures you took when walking the trail.
Beside that you could have a centre display piece with another theme. Perhaps a family photo collection in the centre, the whole family and individual photos of each person in the family. Don’t forget the pets. And to the right, another theme; this time perhaps a holiday. That could be changed up after each holiday, whether it’s every year or every two years. Whenever you have new pictures, swap them over.
A multi themed display would look great when done with picture rails to make a feature wall stand out.
- Use arts and crafts items found at fairs to mix things up
Art fairs are taking place near enough every other weekend. They are a great place to pick up handmade items, such as crochet items, tapestry, and a variety of other arts and crafts projects.
These can look wonderful when displayed together with framed pictures. One idea would be a tapestry with the word home in it, surrounded by pictures of the family. Or if you have snaps from the Blackpool Illuminations trip, frame a Blackpool tea towel and surround it with pictures of the lights.
- Picture mounts are the simplest to change
No picture frame is complete without the picture mount. They are there to protect the photos within, but used creatively, they can add a dramatic effect to the appearance of the photos.
For framed photos with bland mounts, this post here will show you the untapped potential from getting creative with picture mounts.
- Use boxed frames for added extravagance
For items of significance, such as medals, or great finds from around the world trips, the worst thing you can do is keep them in drawers. The best thing to do with them is to get them on display.
Framing is not limited to print photos. You can get great box frames such as for framing football shirts, or even a poppy.
To compliment items bought as souvenirs, one idea is to use a printed map as the backing for the framed item. It makes for a superb addition to a wall display because it mixes the collection up.
- Surround a clock mechanism with a dozen smaller pictures
This is the ultimate in home design and costs little to do. All you need is the clock mechanism, for which you can find on ebay for under £10. Put that together, hang it on your wall, and for each hour of the display, use a small photo frame. There’s room there for a dozen of your best photos and you only need the smallest of frames, making it cheap to create.