If there’s one thing that can transform the look of any room in your home, it’s decor – and more specifically, photography. Whether it’s abstract, nature, or family prints, photos have a special way of personalizing a space and making a house feel like home. But with so many options to choose from, visualizing how to style your photos in a way that enhances your home’s design can be a challenge. That’s why we reached out to professional photographers – from Vancouver, BC to Boston, MA – for unique yet timeless ways to incorporate photos into your interior design. From color and texture to gallery walls and decorative books, here are 25 ideas for decorating with photos in your home:
1. For a clean and classic look, go with black frames when decorating with photos
Create a timeless yet consistent feel by hanging your photographs in classic black frames with white mats. This brings cohesion to photographs from different times and places while giving your space an art gallery-inspired look with a personal touch. – Pen and Lens
2. Keep it uniform with images from the same session
Showcase multiple images that flow together (and are from the same session) by compiling close-up detail shots, further away shots, and mid-range shots in a grid wall gallery of 4, 6, 9, or 12 framed images with a wide white mat. This creates a modern, high-end look and takes care of a large amount of wall real estate while also blending seamlessly into your home design. Plan your session’s wardrobe and location so that it coordinates with the colors of your home and becomes beautiful artwork over trendy snapshots. – Jenny Cruger Photography
3. Matting your image can make all the difference
Buy a frame mat when decorating with photos. A photo can go from simple and basic to regal and stately by simply matting an image. Think big – matting a 4×6 image in an 11×14 frame is stunning and really brings full focus to an image. A beautiful way to incorporate a whole collection of images is to mat up two sizes on each image, which allows a full wall display while having an upscale appearance. A simple, single image display can now have a minimalistic clean statement rather than being lost on the wall. – Amy Brown Photography
4. Make a statement with glossy acrylic or vivid metal prints
Enhance your family’s photos by having them printed on glossy acrylic or vivid metal. These materials make your family photos more vivid and stunning while making stylish conversation pieces. – Gabby Barbosa Photography
5. A themed gallery wall
Can’t decide on one photograph for your wall? Create a photo gallery with a theme, like places you’ve traveled, your children as babies, or even “bathtime,” and incorporate other non-photography elements into your gallery that fit the theme. For example, a gallery in the foyer with an “our home” theme could include a formal photograph of your family on the front steps, casual images of the kids playing in the yard, along with a watercolor painting of your home, and even the address numbers hanging on the wall in a cohesive collection. Keep the frames in a similar style and color as the address numbers so it feels curated. – Allison Patel Photography
6. Create a cohesive look when decorating with photos by coordinating frames
The frame you choose is just as important as the photo. Picking a frame color that plays off the colors in the photo will help to make the photo look like it always belonged in that exact frame. The same goes for where you hang it – you want your frame color to work with the other colors in the room. And we like adding a healthy matte to the frame (a white border around the photo) to give our work that fine art gallery feel. We love using Framebridge for our photos, or better yet, find a local frame builder. – The Foxes Photography
7. Incorporate luxurious leathers, fabulous fabrics, and magnificent materials for contrast and texture
Dull, one-dimensional photo album covers of yesteryear have been vastly improved upon with gorgeous multi-layered leathers, exotic Japanese fabrics, and acrylic and metallic materials. Collaborate with your photographer to craft a photo book cover in harmony with your design aesthetic which you’d be proud to showcase at the center of your living room. They are works of art that make a statement and demand your family and guests touch and feel these precious memory books. – Michael Jurick Photography
8. A collage for each member of your family
Relive the fearless and unforgettable memories of childhood. Use casual snapshots and professional photos to create a big collage for each child in the family. These collages are beautiful reminders of their childhood moments and serve as wonderful conversation pieces for the family or visitors. – Fearless Photographers
9. Inlay photos on your coffee table
This is a super-easy way to spice up a living room where you may host guests. You can lay a bunch of images down on a ratty old console table and then layer a clear glass to protect your collage from any spills. It’s an easy and cheap way to make your old table look better. Each image can tell a story, and you can easily change it out as new memories are created. – Bella Wang Photography
10. A black and white gallery wall
Black and white photography is timeless, never goes out of style, and is easy to incorporate into your existing decor. By featuring all black and white photos, you can use photos from different life events and even those that aren’t necessarily professionally captured or edited. – Stephanie Marie Photography & Design
11. Large frames with oversized matting gives a unique yet chic touch to your prints
Photos bring the perfect personal touch to your home, but sometimes it’s hard to match the colors in your photos to the rest of your decor. A great way to solve this problem is by using big frames with an oversized mat around the picture to add simplicity and make a statement. These can be hung as a single frame on your wall, as a gallery wall, or displayed on a picture shelf and mixing the pictures with artwork or other small decor items. – Candice Marie Photography
12. Fill wall space by displaying multiple vertical photos side by side
I always alternate the photos to be a combination of close-up and far-away portraits to prevent them from looking too busy beside one another. My favorite set is a group of three, and I’ll even add another row of three below to fill a more square space. I love this method of decorating with photos because it allows me to showcase a variety of my favorite pieces while also filling a large space easily. – Amanda May Photos
13. Go bold with a large scale statement piece
There are so many ways to display portraiture in your home. My favorite ways to decorate with photos are to include several smaller pieces in a gallery wall setting or display a favorite image as a large-scale statement piece. Whether it be a framed print or gallery-wrapped canvas, nothing says home better than a piece of art depicting your own loving family. – Erin McBrine Photography
14. Think about sharing your story
Make family albums or choose a family photographer that includes albums with family sessions. Put the albums on a coffee table or in a prominent place in your living room. Especially if you have younger kids around, having albums of your family throughout the years is a great way to honor the important people in your life. Pro tip: choose the cover image or color of your albums as if you would hang it on the wall since it’ll be out and visible. – Anela Deisler Photography
15. Accent art is a stylish way to breathe life into your space
Colorful, large-format fine art photography is a wonderful way to add energy and life to any room in your home, especially if it has a more neutral color palette, to begin with. Accent walls are on their way out, but accent art is definitely in. Consider filling a wall with one signature image that injects a bold dynamic into the aesthetic. Depending on your personal preference, a landscape/cityscape or even a piece of industrial photography is sure to add intrigue and interest to your home decor. – Kelley Fine Art Photography
16. Create a Diptych or Triptych
Instead of displaying just one photo, group 2-3 photos that share a look. Combining one traditionally posed image with 1-2 candid images better tells the story of your family. And, remember, always print large enough so that faces can be clearly seen from across a room. – Swaddle Photography
17. When it comes to displaying photography, it’s all about the color
Select images to display where the colors compliment the space and are aesthetically pleasing. If your home decor has neutral colors, having a wall full of images with bright colors will disrupt the flow of the space. On the flip side, use your images as inspiration for the decor in your home. Wanting to change out the pillows or drapes? Pull from the colors in your family or wedding photos to bring the room together. – Kelly Grace Photography
18. Pay attention to the colors and decor of your surroundings
When you select the image you choose to display, think about the frame and the colors within that image. Those colors should complement your room and tie it all together. If you have a monochromatic scheme in that room, then maybe go for bold contrast and watch that image pop. – J Amado Photography
19. Create a personalized coffee table book
Put a family album with your favorite memories on display for all to see. Not only is it a great conversation starter with guests, but even your family members will enjoy flipping through it and reminiscing about the good times you’ve shared. – Monica Conlin Photography
Can’t choose between images? Try creating a coffee table book of your favorites to display in your living room or console table (I print through Blurb.com). These books make an excellent conversation piece when hosting guests. – Kate L Photography
20. For a minimal and timeless look, opt for smaller prints throughout your home
Sometimes it’s the little things. Photos add a lot of warmth to a room, and it doesn’t matter what size they are. If you can’t afford large framed photos, then the next best thing is placing several small prints throughout your home. The possibilities are endless when decorating with photos, and you can be as creative as you’d like to be. – Daniel Motta Photography
21. Go big when displaying nature
We know that nature provides a plethora of physical and mental benefits. And with large nature prints, you can savor the rejuvenating beauty of the natural world right inside your home. But size matters. Modern cameras and editing techniques capture an insane amount of intricate detail and depth that your entire household can enjoy in a large format print. – James Lorentson
Having nature photo prints in your home can improve your health. Give your home a large print that provides depth, conveys comfort and tranquility in one. Don’t make the mistake of hanging a small photo print on your wall. – Anette Mossbacher Photography
22. Tell the story of your family with a series of photos
Tying in color palettes and style will give the collection a cohesive look without trying too hard. We love modern but timeless thin gallery frames with mats that are simple, aesthetically pleasing, and naturally showcase the photos in any room of your home. – New Moon Photography
23. Create an annual photo book with unique covers to add texture to your space
Most photographers and print labs offer beautifully designed photo albums or hardcover books. Consider combining your professional photographs with other personal photos from your mobile device to create a unique photo book documenting your year. These books can be found in a variety of cover options, like linen, velvet, or a customized photograph, and look amazing when stacked on a coffee table or bookshelf in your home, allowing you to relive your memories year after year. – Alison Heffington Photography
24. Allow the images that make your heart smile to be the art in your home
My favorite way to decorate with photos is a large sepia-toned canvas wall arrangement featuring images taken throughout the years – some individuals, some groups, some posed, and some candid moments. It’s a true portrait of your family’s life, and you’ll appreciate it every time you walk by. Plus, your kids will grow up seeing how important these moments are to cherish. – Kim Ponsky Photography
25. Let your personality shine through the way you display your photos
Your Zoom background says a lot about you, so take advantage of the space behind you to show off your personality. Choosing one to three larger pieces will shed a lot more light on who you are than a blank white wall. Go big as small artwork may leave people wondering what that speck is behind you rather than focusing on what you are saying. – Outdoor Chronicles Photography
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