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Strategies for hanging family photos

Display your photo memories with style

Sunset

Use one kind of frame
for varying photos and mats

Create consistency by putting images of different sizes in matching frames. The color of the mats can be the same or different, but if you vary the colors, keep them in the same range ― shades of gray, for example ― so the elements do not become disparate.

Unify with frame rails

Group eclectic frames and photos by using frame rails, available at home stores or through catalogs. Try to mix small and large images on each rail to create visual balance. This is a great approach if you already have a collection of mismatched, framed images.

Create a gallery for snapshots

Use fabric-covered corkboard as an attractive way to display recent snapshots. The framed bulletin boards can feature an ever-changing collection of photos ― a place for the ones that you are not quite ready to relegate to the scrapbook. Rotating the display helps avoid fading, too.

Abut frames for greater impact

Hang frames directly next to one another to create a single large element. Such a grouping has more presence on the wall than several small elements set apart.

Unite wood frames with paint

Paint plain wood frames in a color that complements your furniture and accessories, and spray with a clear acrylic gloss for a shiny finish. Consider tinting the photographs themselves to create consistency. You can turn all of the images into sepias; many copy centers offer tinting services.