Displaying family photography in your home: 5 inspiring tips
Having our favourite family photographs displayed in our home lets us enjoy them in a way that is 100% different to viewing them on our screens.
The photographs become part of our every day, giving the rooms they inhabit a steady supply of the same feeling we had when the photo was made.
I’m always encouraging my families to print their photographs and knew how great they look when mounted in a lovely frame. But my imagination didn’t stretch much further than this - until I got to talking to Emma Clayton, an interior stylist based in Gloucestershire.
Emma showed me a range of beautiful ways to display prints that I hope will guide and inspire you, as much as they did me.
1. It doesn’t have to be a statement gallery wall
When we think of a display of photos, one of the first things we think of is a fixed grid of frames clustered together and fixed to a wall. Emma showed me how one or two prints can be displayed on a shelf or mantlepiece without the stress of drilling, nails and spirit levels.
2. Photos can live in any room
Working with Emma showed me how photos really can be subtly displayed anywhere - from kitchens to coat cupboards. We just need to adapt how we display them to suit the space. Poster hangers are perfect for spaces you might already have hooks for mugs or coats.
3. Mix photos with other meaningful pieces
Whether it’s children’s artwork or a collection of feathers found during family walks, photographs exist happily among three-dimensional objects. The different shapes and textures of the objects create interest and help to tell the story of what matters to you as a family.
4. Let the colours of a photograph guide you
Find a colour in a photograph that you love and let this be repeated in the frame and surrounding items - you will find that your prints are magically enhanced! Here, the golden tones in the photograph are picked up by the frames, feathers and little pine cone.
5. Prints, books and creatures in a children’s room
Prints are often a similar size to children’s books and the two make perfect companions. In this display, little wooden and knitted creatures subtly reflect the scene in each photo - genious!
6. The frame that frames the frame (try saying that quickly!)
Emma used an empty frame as a way to subtly draw the eye to a framed photograph. This technique was totally new to me and one that I will definitely be using!
If you’ve been meaning to print your favourite photos, I hope you’ve found some inspiration here to help you display them in a way that is personal, fun and new!
Photography: Jennifer Adams
Interior stylist: Emma Clayton Styling (emmaclaytonstyling.co.uk)
Plants and flowers: Amberley Meadow (@amberleymeadow)
