Our home has been freshly painted and I’m excited to hang brand new photo frames and have my favourite photos printed! Being a photographer I have thousands of shots catalogued on my computer but rarely do they get out and on display. So, I’ve decided to create a wall collage of varying sized frames in which I can swap photos around as I wish. Not only will it be fun to create the first time, but going forward a very quick way to display family memories and the great places we’ve travelled without all the fuss and expense of continually buying frames and finding somewhere to put them.
I have around 18 frames. I have yet to decide on whether to use all white frames or to mix a few black ones in. I will use 3M command strips instead of nails to fix them to the wall. A much easier way!
Once I have finished the project I will show before and after shots but for now here are my tips to get the best results when creating a wall display with many frames:
1. Using paper, cut out templates of all the frame sizes you want to use so you can reposition them until you are happy with the placement.
2. To make it easier to design, buy frames that have one side that is the same in another sized frame. For example: The short side on one frame is the long side on another frame or in other words, the same ratio of frame size.
2. Use string stretched between two pushpins or sticky tape as a guide when you want all the frames on the same line. You can also use a laser level to accomplish this.
3. Use removeable tape/stickers (like 3M Command strips – yes I know very expensive if you have lots to hang!). With many frames it’s very hard to level them all initially and over time if they are hung with string they can stretch and move out of alignment and ruin all your hard work.
4. Stand back occasionally and take a look at how it’s coming together. Sometimes you will need to adjust it visually rather than exactly level as old houses and items around the frames can make your frames appear lopsided.
5. If you hung your frames using a nail (as opposed to command strips or mounting tape) use blue-tac to hold frames in the right position. This prevents movement from people brushing past and bumping the frames or house movement.
Paper templates and a modern layout made up of 24 individual frames with no space between each.
A neat rectangular display and an easy way to have a variety of sized frames look tidy down a hallway.
For other cool ideas visit my Pinterest page ‘Frames’.
Have fun planning your photo displays and if you’d like to share your tips send me an email or comment below.