It is no wonder that decorating with family photographs is so popular. Personal pictures bring back memories of good times. There are many great ways to display family photography in the home.
Classics
A quick browse through any home d¨¦cor shop with lots of picture frames will find plenty of collage mats in big frames. A perennial favorite is a mat with thirteen openings, one for each of a kid¡¯s grades in school.
Many young families also often bring kids for a yearly photograph with Santa. But having Christmas-themed family photography around the house all year can be too much. Consider saving these pictures for Christmas decorations or tree ornaments.
Creative Display
However, with a little imagination, anyone can present family photography in an unexpected way. If the display is interesting enough, guests may even want to look at it.
The family genealogy buff may not agree, but to most people a plain family tree is rather boring to look at and does not create much of a connection to the past. Instead, create a tree display with leaves made of family photography. For some, an elegant pen-and-ink tree with small black and white photos of the revered ancestors and relatives will fit the d¨¦cor. Others might prefer a colorful stitched tree big enough to sprout fairly big pictures.
Vintage pictures make great decoration, but sometimes the old prints from grandma¡¯s attic are bent, torn, discolored, or otherwise damaged. However, old family photography can be restored, repaired, and even resized for home display. Visit any good specialty photo shop for options and details.
Family photography also looks great when it is put in matching frames and massed on a section of wall. Mix and match frames of one color and style, such as all black rectangles or all chip-carved wood. Use identical mats to frame the pictures, and hang all these very close together on the wall, above, below, and around each other. It is varied like a collage, but adds visual interest in the form of slightly different frames.
Go Casual
Family photography collages look very good in an informal room, and invite all viewers to make their own additions or changes. Start with some kind of bulletin or magnetic board and post the pictures that make you smile. It is easy to add new pictures to the display when the family grows. Visiting friends will be amused to see pictures of themselves mixed in the family m¨¦lange. Keep a box of other photos and thumbtacks nearby in case anyone gets the urge to collage.
