I’ve been spending a lot of time during quarantine figuring out how to hang photos. Hanging photos is not only a great way to show off your hand work, but it can also be a really fun project to burn time when you aren’t doing anything else.
It helps that my kid absolutely loves hands-on projects like this one. Learn more about photography project ideas on our website PhotographyTalk.com.
But, there are definitely good and bad ways of decorating your home with photos. If you’re thinking of embarking on this journey during a stay at home order, make sure you read these tips about decorating your home with photos first.
Do Hang Photos in Every Room
photo by YinYang via iStock
The biggest mistake I see people making when it comes to wall art is that they are afraid to hang photos in specific places, like the bathroom or their children’s rooms.
If I’m being honest, I don’t think there’s a wrong spot in your home to hang photos. Decorating your home with photos everywhere keeps the aesthetic the same from room to room and helps bring the concept together.
Plus, some of the best interior decorators suggest hanging photos in less obvious spots, like the bathroom, because you can have a lot more fun with photos in these spots.
For instance, you may not feel comfortable hanging a prominent photo of an odd subject over your bed or couch, but you can put that photo in your bathroom and it will look right at home. Plus, if you’re really proud of your photography at home, then wouldn’t you want to display it everywhere?
Do Plan Each Wall Out In Advance
photo by KatarzynaBialasiewicz via iStock
Another tip for decorating your home with photos is to plan every wall out in advance.
While it may be impossible for you to plan other aspects of your interior decorating with your photography (you aren’t going to repaint everytime you change up a gallery wall), you can and should ensure all of the photos you’re hanging in your home will work well together.
A good way to do this is to move all of your furniture so that you can build the gallery wall on the floor in front of each wall. This way you won’t need to keep hanging and rehanging your photos in a new way because you can visualize your whole home before you make any firm decisions.
Do Use Unique Hanging Techniques
photo by stockfour via iStock
When decorating your home with photos, you don’t need to use old hanging techniques that will put holes all over your walls.
I use picture-hanging hooks, which are hooks that come with an incredible sticky backing. I started doing this when I lived in an apartment and wanted to get my deposit back, but over the years have found that this is a really easy way for me to change my gallery walls around more frequently because I don’t need to go back and caulk over all of the holes my photos have left.
Another hanging technique that I love to use is to actually not hang my photos at all. What I mean by this is that you can set specific pieces down on bookshelves or tables at an angle. It’s a good way to make it look like your gallery wall is coming to life and it adds great dimension to your photography.
Plus, it’s easier. I’m always a sucker for stuff that’s easy.
Don’t Hang Photos Too High or Too Low
photo by monkeybusinessimages via iStock
I hate when I see people hang photos way too high or low. Unless you’re creating a gallery wall, you should strive to have your photos hung up at eye-level. This means having the midpoint of the image around 57-60 inches off the floor.
Hanging your photos up too high or down too low makes it more difficult for most people to see them without straining their neck or eyes to get a good look. You can also view another post about best creative photography ideas at home.
Plus, it can also throw the design of your home off. Hanging images way too high or way too low throws off the balance in the room - it just doesn’t look right!
So, as you hang your photos, be sure you have your trusty measuring tape so you’re sure your images are the appropriate height.
Don’t Forget About Sizing
photo by theverest via iStock
When decorating your home with photos, you should be paying special attention to the sizing of your photos.
If you’re working with large-format photography prints, you need to be careful when hanging them in a tiny room because you don’t want to overpower any other decorations you have.
Conversely, if you’re working with a small print, it may be best to put it in a large frame to ensure it has the visual weight needed to be hung up on a large wall.
Don’t Use a Cheap Canvas Printer
Canvas prints are one of my favorite mediums to work with when I’m decorating my home, but if you use a cheap canvas printer, your wall art will also look cheap.
That’s why I use CanvasHQ. CanvasHQ only uses the best quality ink and canvases, so that you can pass your wall art onto your children as family heirlooms.
They also hand stretch each canvas and hand build each frame so that, if there happens to be a problem in the creation process, they can fix it right away.
Plus, since canvas prints are relatively cheap (even when you work with a good printer like CanvasHQ) you really have no excuse to buy cheap prints.
Plus, unlike a lot of other canvas print makers right now, CanvasHQ is still shipping prints in a timely manner through the pandemic. You can actually check their website to see exactly how long it would take you to receive your canvas if you sent in a photo today.
As of the writing of this article, you’ll need to wait just 3 days for your production. That’s not bad at all considering the quality and craftsmanship that goes into each print.
I have dozens of CanvasHQ prints in my home, and I have yet to be disappointed! Besides, as I found in my 2020 Canvas Print Shootout (see video above), CanvasHQ more than held its own against their competitors.
This article about the topic "Quick & Easy Tips for Decorating Your Home With Photos" was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/quick-easy-tips-for-decorating-your-home-with-photos
