Need Help With Wall Displays?
-
Sometimes it’s hard for me to visualize how my pictures will look up on the wall. So I designed templates in photoshop that allow me to change the wall color, and put pictures up on a virtual wall so I can get an idea how they all work together.
Above, I’m showing Janet a layout for the sitting area at the top of her stairs. This is a family unportrait as an 11×14 print matted in a 16×20 black frame and three unmatted 4×6 prints in black frames.
Janet sent me a snapshot of the wall she wanted to put pictures on, so I had an idea of the space and where the light would come from. Here’s the snapshot she sent me, below:
-
I estimated the space needed to hang the frames at around 36 inches wide by 24 inches tall. In most of the examples shown below, my clients would purchase the prints from me, and buy frames from any standard decorating store or frame shop.
-
Janet sent me this one too, above, and I figured she could use another layout for the opposite wall.
-
This is a much smaller display, and could either be used on that opposite wall, to the right, or, it could be used on the window wall, to the left of the window, as a full corner of Family Art with the plan to decorate the opposite wall similarly after her family’s next photo shoot.
-
Janet sent me this one of a wall in the master bedroom above a couch. Isn’t that so cool she has a couch in the master bedroom? I love it! I love being able to visualize the available space, and what the photographs would be hanging above or beside.
-
In this case, I felt that simplicity was in order, so I chose black and white pictures, and emphasized the relationships between mom and dad and each child.
Isn’t Janet GORGEOUS? WOW!
The side images are ones I know Janet loves: one of her and her daughter on the trampoline, and one of her husband and son checking out trucks in the dining room. These are 4×6 prints matted in 8×10 frames for a larger white mat, giving that wall a little extra contrast and light.
Those frames can be found online and in many stores like Kohl’s and Michael’s. You can also buy mats with smaller mat openings for 8×10 and larger frames at places like Michael’s and Pearl Arts & Crafts.
-
Above, here’s another way to showcase those same images, but this time, the layout would work well above a king or queen headboard. I changed the wall color just to demonstrate how easy it is to visualize wall displays in different rooms. Notice also that I used 8×10 prints in 11×14 frames for the side images in this one.
-
Janet also asked for a layout of images for her daughter’s room. I poked through the image gallery from their photo shoot to see if I could remember what the wall color was, and I believe it’s a very soft yellow. I also remember that there isn’t a lot of wall space in her room because of awesome architectural details like angled ceilings.
But there was a nice empty space above the twin bed, on its long side (not above the headboard, but above the bed itself) and there was space above the dresser.
I like big prints because they look so awesome, but Janet could easily take this layout and use smaller images — a 5×7 as the centerpiece and 4×6’s as the side images. Still, I’m certain the larger display will look more like wall art and less like snapshots so I say GO FOR IT!
-
And then I started to think: What if they painted the wall pink since I was there last? Here you go! PINK WALLS!
-
Above, a layout for her son’s room. When I was there last, his wall was a neutral taupe color, but this layout would work on just about any color wall because the colors of their images were so great with the colors of the fall leaves!
-
Applying my new wall display system to other clients, I started to wonder what it might look like for a client who is stuck with white walls in an apartment where painting isn’t allowed. Above, look how easy it is for me to change both the wall color and the mat color in a consultation with my clients!
My new templates are SO easy to work with! I made a huge Photoshop file with masks for the actual sizes, and everything from the frames to the mats to the images are proportioned as they would be for an actual wall display. (Then I sized the whole thing down so it would be workable on a smaller scale.)
Of course, the actual frame size depends on the width of the frame you buy, but this gives you a great visualization of how it might look to put certain images together at various sizes.
-
Above, the last time was at Kate’s house, she asked for advice on displaying images of her children above her upright piano on a wall painted a deep rust color. At the time, I could only imagine black and white images working in that space, but now that I’ve put it together, I love the colors!
In this case, I used my favorite image/frame combo, a 19×13 image in a black 26×20 frame. I call this my “JWS Signature Print.” I special-order these frames because I LOVE them! Displayed under very high quality UV-coated acrylic, the print will last hundreds of years. It’s a very light substance, too, so even though it’s a large frame, it’s not heavy and is perfect for display in a child’s room, family room or playroom! (For blog readers who attend my church, this is the frame I used to display that awesome image from The Last Supper dramatization. It’s still on display in the Narthex.)
-
Here’s another focal point display idea for a richly painted wall. One large “JWS signature print” surrounded by 6×4 prints in 8×10 frames.
Bookmark the blog and come back often for more wall display ideas!
And remember: when you’ve got beautiful images of your family, you have no need for Rockwell! If you take the time to build a display, I promise that you will cherish your Family Art for decades. Think about all the benefits:
* Beautiful images of YOUR family.
* If you want, you can keep those images up and add to the display over the years, OR, you can update the images as your family grows.
* Trust me when I say that your friends and family will be WOWED by your Family Art! The bigger the better, I say!
Coming soon: more canvas gallery wraps, storyboard displays and other fun ideas! And keep in mind that if you’re having trouble deciding which images will work best together on your wall, send me a list of favorites, measurements of the wall space you’d like to decorate, the wall color or a snapshot of the space you’d like to hang your family art, and I’ll post some ideas for you too!
And to my wonderful clients, Janet and Kate, THANKS for lending me your adorable children and asking my advice about wall displays. I am so thrilled to be able to offer this service to all my clients now! You’re the best!
What a great article! I love your Photoshop template idea. Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Stephanie — March 26, 2008 @ 11:34 am