The absolute best way to add personality to your home is through artwork. It's one of the best personal expressions you can make at home. I love inspiring artwork, paintings, etc. However I really do love and appreciate photographs. Personal memories captured and displays.
A client of mine, husband and wife, are really eager to set up artwork at home and really more into family photographs than traditional artwork. They really want to find a great way to showcase their journey together as a family but in a chic 'magazine style' way. This is why I love my job. It's so fun to bring clients dreams to life.
In my opinion, when it comes to displaying personal photographs in the home, a chic, tailored grid gallery wall is the only way to go. Art walls can tend to look too cluttered and feel like a mess. So, I really want to help them create a cohesive collection for their home. Here are a few tips on making sure it looks elegant and chic. . .
I really love this look:
Matching frames. You want all the frames to be the exact same color, shape, size and you also want to make sure the matting is the same. Each image should be in exact proportion to the frame, in every frame for a consistent look.
Appropriate spacing. I like to keep the spacing between frames really tight. That way is looks polished. I tend to stay between 2-3 inches and no more than 4 for larger pieces. Don't worry about taking up the entire wall, it will make an impact!
Consistency. You can either choose to stay in a consistent color vibe or a consistent story. You want all of the pieces to have a common thread. I tend to lean towards black and white photographs so that it looks soft and not overwhelming.
If you don't want to display photos and you are in search of art, look for a similar color and content. I found a few beautiful all white photographs that I think would be fun together. You can use a theme like this for a stylish direction.
Share collections. If you aren't really the photo type, displaying collections is also a really fabulous way to share your style and personality. If you love music, records are a fun look. I once saw a collection of love letters from WWII. I also think tear sheet music is fun too.
Here are a few sources for frames I like. . .
Here are a couple I actually like with bigger spacing. This can be tricky so make sure the proportions don't look wobbly.
Notice how this small collection really makes a BIG statement on the back wall. You don't have to overdo it, sometimes a small, simple collection is all you need.
