Hanging picture frames - need advice!

[ChrisnSteph]

We've been in our house almost two years, and we hardly have anything hung on our walls. I'm one of those people that just isn't very good at decorating, and I'll stare at the wall for a good 30 minutes and get frustrated because I don't know where to start. I want to start hanging up our pictures, and I have various sizes from 8x10 up to 16x20. I want to hang some of these in my stairway, but haven't a clue how to arrange them. I don't want them to look just thrown up there! So here are my questions:

Would it be ok to mix and match colors? I have black and dark brown wood frames. Or should I stick with one color?

Baby pictures - I have an 8x10 of each of my kids, 5 total. Would it look ok to group these all on one wall? I don't know how to mix them with other pictures and have it look right.

Would it look lame if I put a 18x24 frame on the stairway wall and then surround it with other frames? Or should I find that picture it's own wall?

If you have pictures of your walls and frames, I'd love to see them!!

 

[ziggystardust]

One tip I can give you is- try to scatter the frames around a bit - at different eye levels. Its visually appealing and it won't bother the heck out of you if they aren't perfectly even heightwise.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Just don't hang them too high. A major pet peeve of mine.

I personally would keep one color frame in its own grouping. I don't think there is anything wrong with having a mix of colors, but I would keep them separate.

I think grouping the baby pics together is a good idea, but I would stagger them, or put them in a different arrangement, besides all in a row.

I like to hang something over the picture too, for visual interest. I have more iron and architectural-type pieces than pictures, but here's one grouping from my entryway:

Here's another from my living room:

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Another thing I thought of is placing the photos on tables, not on the walls. 8x10's are a little large, but if they could be cropped, you could put the frames in pretty stands.

I don't have any framed photos hanging on my walls, but I have gobs of them on shelves, with other decorations if you want to see a picture of how I used them.

I have my own picture dilema going on right now. I have a 48x48 picture over my couch, but it needs something for either side of it, and I can't figure out what I want to put there. It can't be iron - I'm on iron overload right now!

 

[diznygirl]

Tip from Room by Room: trace the frames on big paper, cut them out, and use those as templates on the wall for arranging. They can be taped up and moved around. I'll write on the paper what each is.

I've done a bunch of groupings - open floor plans are great except for the lack of wall space for pictures.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Tip from Room by Room: trace the frames on big paper, cut them out, and use those as templates on the wall for arranging. They can be taped up and moved around. I'll write on the paper what each is.

I've done a bunch of groupings - open floor plans are great except for the lack of wall space for pictures.

I love that suggestion. It also works for furniture placement.

You know what else comes in handy? One of those laser levels!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Just don't hang them too high. A major pet peeve of mine.

I personally would keep one color frame in its own grouping. I don't think there is anything wrong with having a mix of colors, but I would keep them separate.

I think grouping the baby pics together is a good idea, but I would stagger them, or put them in a different arrangement, besides all in a row.

I like to hang something over the picture too, for visual interest. I have more iron and architectural-type pieces than pictures, but here's one grouping from my entryway:

Here's another from my living room:

Your rooms are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Tip from Room by Room: trace the frames on big paper, cut them out, and use those as templates on the wall for arranging. They can be taped up and moved around. I'll write on the paper what each is.

I've done a bunch of groupings - open floor plans are great except for the lack of wall space for pictures.

That's an awesome idea - thanks!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I just had one more idea!

(I so need to be working right now!)

Go visit model homes! I used to always do that. You can get some awesome ideas! Heck, I've walked around with my digital camera before!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Your rooms are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!

I like to decorate a bit too much. My husband is begging me lay off it for awhile.