How to Beautifully Display Photos and Prints on Your Walls
Whether you have one supersized image or a group of family snaps or illustrations to show off, exhibit them like a pro
Got some photos and prints to display? You could choose to hang a group of frames together as an eye-catching gallery wall, or showcase one particular large image. Whichever option you go for, the key is knowing how to position them. Follow our expert tips to help you make the most of your photos and paintings.
Oversize for impact
Got an expanse of wall to fill? In a contemporary, streamlined space, it works well to go for a supersized print rather than a collection of smaller photos. The more pulled-in the shot, like this one, the bigger the impact.
Choose a stylised image for a modern finish – either a black-and-white classic or something midcentury iconic.
Got an expanse of wall to fill? In a contemporary, streamlined space, it works well to go for a supersized print rather than a collection of smaller photos. The more pulled-in the shot, like this one, the bigger the impact.
Choose a stylised image for a modern finish – either a black-and-white classic or something midcentury iconic.
Make photos incidental
One of the best ways to display photos is to dot them among other curios. This wall of shelving is the perfect way to show off snaps – alongside books, houseplants, and even tiny shoes.
Get your display right by sticking to a colour theme, with two main shades, such as black and white, and a third accent colour mixed in.
Check out these space-enhancing display ideas for compact interiors.
One of the best ways to display photos is to dot them among other curios. This wall of shelving is the perfect way to show off snaps – alongside books, houseplants, and even tiny shoes.
Get your display right by sticking to a colour theme, with two main shades, such as black and white, and a third accent colour mixed in.
Check out these space-enhancing display ideas for compact interiors.
Feign an accidental display
Two screws, a length of string and some pegs – that’s all you need to create a cute gallery like this. You could also dot a few photos beyond the string using short lengths of washi tape.
Perfect for above a desk in a home office, it’s the kind of display idea teens will buy into for their bedrooms, too.
As before, keep to a colour theme if you prefer a neat finish, and steer clear of any pegs that aren’t wooden, black or white.
Two screws, a length of string and some pegs – that’s all you need to create a cute gallery like this. You could also dot a few photos beyond the string using short lengths of washi tape.
Perfect for above a desk in a home office, it’s the kind of display idea teens will buy into for their bedrooms, too.
As before, keep to a colour theme if you prefer a neat finish, and steer clear of any pegs that aren’t wooden, black or white.
Lean and overlap frames
Picture shelves are a brilliant invention – once up, they allow you to vary and rearrange your picture gallery as the mood takes you.
Don’t just prop matching frames in a row, though. Instead, try choosing a variety of sizes and overlap them. Leave the odd gap and group some on the floor, too, for that boho chic vibe.
Search for picture frames in the Houzz Shop.
Picture shelves are a brilliant invention – once up, they allow you to vary and rearrange your picture gallery as the mood takes you.
Don’t just prop matching frames in a row, though. Instead, try choosing a variety of sizes and overlap them. Leave the odd gap and group some on the floor, too, for that boho chic vibe.
Search for picture frames in the Houzz Shop.
Ace the spacing
Putting photos up on the wall in a group? The shape of the group is all-important, as is its overall size – both should echo the proportions of the wall space.
However, the spacing between the pictures is also vital. More than 5 to 8cm apart and a group simply becomes a disconnected selection of objects, so make sure you hang yours in a cosy gathering.
Putting photos up on the wall in a group? The shape of the group is all-important, as is its overall size – both should echo the proportions of the wall space.
However, the spacing between the pictures is also vital. More than 5 to 8cm apart and a group simply becomes a disconnected selection of objects, so make sure you hang yours in a cosy gathering.
Go off-centre for single shots
Groups of photos tend to look best if centralised on a wall. When it comes to large, single images, though, going off-centre can create a pleasingly contemporary visual surprise.
Here, a frond of foliage just nibbles at the edge of the picture – a clever way to connect the photo to another element of the room and make the off-centre position look purposeful.
Groups of photos tend to look best if centralised on a wall. When it comes to large, single images, though, going off-centre can create a pleasingly contemporary visual surprise.
Here, a frond of foliage just nibbles at the edge of the picture – a clever way to connect the photo to another element of the room and make the off-centre position look purposeful.
Arrange around furniture
Remember what I said about a group of pictures being closely displayed? The same rule applies to the furniture the group is related to.
In other words, if you’re hanging pictures (in groups or singles) near furniture, hang them comfortably close to it. Too far away and the whole display will look disowned.
Need help with the look of your home? Find interior stylists near you.
Remember what I said about a group of pictures being closely displayed? The same rule applies to the furniture the group is related to.
In other words, if you’re hanging pictures (in groups or singles) near furniture, hang them comfortably close to it. Too far away and the whole display will look disowned.
Need help with the look of your home? Find interior stylists near you.
Create a theme
You can’t beat a precise, super-neat grid of photos, but these formations work best when the images themselves have a continuous theme.
You can up the ante by framing them – however casually – in exactly the same way. Here, black background paper makes the whole group visually leap off the wall. Clever.
You can’t beat a precise, super-neat grid of photos, but these formations work best when the images themselves have a continuous theme.
You can up the ante by framing them – however casually – in exactly the same way. Here, black background paper makes the whole group visually leap off the wall. Clever.
Display somewhere unexpected
This is such a simple trick, but so effective. Try displaying photos where people least expect to see them – on the backs of doors, on otherwise ignored slices of wall, inside frequently opened cupboards.
Not only will it create a pleasing surprise, it’s a great way to use those photos you love that don’t go well with your other groupings.
Tell us…
Do you have some photos you’d like to display? Which of these ideas would work best in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
This is such a simple trick, but so effective. Try displaying photos where people least expect to see them – on the backs of doors, on otherwise ignored slices of wall, inside frequently opened cupboards.
Not only will it create a pleasing surprise, it’s a great way to use those photos you love that don’t go well with your other groupings.
Tell us…
Do you have some photos you’d like to display? Which of these ideas would work best in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Whether your home has gorgeous high ceilings like the one in this room, or more modest measurements, try to distribute multiple photos and other elements evenly. This will help to give the display a feeling of balance.
Here, the layout is spot-on: the photos, sofa and ceiling are spaced quite close together, but the distribution of everything is even.