Make Room For Family Wall Galleries

This post is a little bittersweet, my daughter and son asked to take down their old artwork this last summer. We have a few of their own artwork favorites now stored in portfolios for keepsakes. The artwork has been replaced with our own Marker Girl Prints. These tips can be used for kid’s art,  photo galleries or an art collection.

Family Photo Wall Gallery –  If you have frames lay them out on the floor first or if you are considering frame then use wrapping paper to cut the sizes out to see what sizes you want to make your gallery. Then pull together candid shots that fit the frame since we have digital photos now we can size them to fit the frame. You can use sites like Shutterfly to get your prints made to size 

Here is the before to show how I displayed their artwork throughout the Gameroom.

Kids Art – I work with young families all of the time and they are always trying to figure out how to showcase their kid’s artwork without it being on the fridge. So here is a popular older post I made when I was working on our own artwork gallery and how we did it. With a bonus tip I got from a client’s home I finished up last year. 

 Like many kids, mine have brought home a lot of artwork from school and camp over the years. We would go through their’s last school years numerous art projects and kept only favorites. It is a priceless piece of art if you ask me that your family will enjoy and take pride in for years to come.  

I wanted to share my 5 steps today on how I created a “Kids Art Gallery” in my own home. 

Step 1

Choose your favorites with your kids, narrow down what you want, then measure them for size for your mattes and frames. Keep in mind you will want to trim down some pictures. My kids always bring home papers, artwork, homework- torn and rumpled. Matting always hides the rough edges and shows them off best. Keep them in a nice art portfolio before you do this to help flatten and also to keep the ones you don’t use. Makes them feel like an artist.

Step 2

Purchase frames – always look for frames that can hold mattes and check the matte size to ensure it fits your picture or will cover a little of it up, you may have to cut down the art a little in some cases. Here are few suggested favorites

Museum style art frames with mats – PB Teen

Buy a multi-grouping to help you with the layout, then photocopy your art to fit the frame if needed- Crate and Barrel

Consider open font frames like this one if you want to change things out often – Target

Step 3

Place art and mattes in the frames and lay the frames out on the floor to decide your layout. Start with the center and work your way out. Spacing – I like 2” to 3” spaces between.  You will have smaller ones that will have bigger spaces so this is where you have to play around with them. If you are looking for ideas check out my Pinterest artwork board and Pinterest Family Friendly Board where I have pinned a lot of favorites.

Step 4

Cut paper templates of each frame out (I used old wrapping paper) and tape the layout on the wall this will let you know where to hang them.

Step 5

Once you have your paper in place it is time to hang. Start with the center first then work your way out from the center of the entire gallery. It is usually about 60” from the floor to the center of the middle section or just start about 12″ or so above furniture if it is where you are placing it. Check to see if the back of your head doesn’t hit the frame that is the best judge.

Voila! You now have an art gallery that is original and truly personalized.

*Command strips are a great solution if you don’t like nailing. My husband is the better hanger in our family so he takes over when it is time to nail them up. (Of course with me directing him) With clients, we actually hire professional art installers. So that can be an option too. Check if they are insured and have the layout ready before they come.

Here is a cute bonus idea, I got from my client (actually my client’s preschool).

Make museum-style art and name tags. I think this is so so sweet.

All the details from this colorful family home coming soon.

Happy Decorating!  Karen

Some of the links are affiliate links. This means if you click a link and purchase something, I may get a small commission from it at no cost to you.  I only refer things that I would use myself and recommend to clients!

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