I don’t know about you, but when I move into a new home I generally hang one picture in the middle of every wall and proclaim “my house is now decorated!” However, since moving to NYC this method of so-called ‘decorating’ has seriously been challenged. I guarantee the single greatest difference between your home and that home in the glossy magazine is what’s hanging on the wall.
I’m not saying you need to buy a Monet (in fact I recently went to a thrift store and bought 9 different sized frames and created my own gallery wall for only $34!) What I AM saying is, instead of hanging one picture in the middle of your wall, consider hanging several frames in the following arrangements and see how stylish your home can be:
1. Single Row Frames
This type of display is ideal for tall, narrow wall spaces in your home or as a way to highlight a piece of furniture such as a bed, sofa or dresser. Chose 3 or more identical frames and then place similar (though not identical) prints or photographs in them.
You can hang the frames horizontally or vertically, but take the time to measure so they all line up perfectly. Hanging matching frames vertically are ideal for bathroom walls where space is limited (left). Horizontal rows are better for larger rooms as they act as a header for large pieces of furniture like the sofa below.
If you are struggling to find inexpensive, unique pictures to frame, browse through Down That Little Lane‘s selection. They have a wonderful range of gorgeous prints, including the two below by Michelle Han and Loopz.
2. Framed Grid
Personally, I think a frame grid looks amazing! However, you should only attempt the hallowed grid if you are meticulous with measuring and have a lot of patience! You will need at least 4 identical frames, though 6 or 9 will look much more impressive.
Be sure to chose a series of prints. This could be in the form of black and white family photos, vintage magazine covers or a great set of landscape photographs. (Hint – your 2012 calender can be a great source for high-quality prints!) These grids work best when the mats are the same size and there is a 2 inch gap around each side of your frame. Investing in a laser measuring tool from your hardware store may be a good idea too!
3. Gallery Wall
The Gallery Wall is probably the most popular framing trend at the moment, perhaps because it is so easy to create. A Gallery Wall is basically a collection of frames, prints, photos or paintings which follow a basic theme, but are hung in a hap-hazard arrangement.
The rules are simple, firstly pick your theme (family portraits, vintage prints, pop art, etc). You could even base your gallery around a colour scheme of 2-3 colours or perhaps a frame style. Next, start collecting prints/photos/frames of different sizes and shapes that fit with your theme. Mark an X in the middle of your wall and work from that point outwards (placing your frames around it).
A good trick is to outline your frames onto a piece of newspaper then cut out the shapes and arrange the paper on your wall with blutack. This way you can see the overall balance of the frames and move them around without making unnecessary holes in your wall!
