There is nothing like a photograph. It captures a moment. A smile. A place. A piece of time, perfectly captured and there to enjoy every time you walk past it. Photographs can make people who are far away a part of our daily lives. They can bring good memories people who are no longer with us. They can encourage us that the memories of frilly dresses and bows will outlast the surly teenager who temporarily sits in front of us. A life lived in a home without photographs is a life not fully enjoyed.



With the advent of digital photography, rather than displaying more photographs in your home, you may have become overwhelmed with the sheer number of photographs that we have stored on computers and memory cards. Like many people, you may have grown tired of the cluttered and eclectic photo groupings that have been popular the last several years. You may be looking for a more streamlined and elegant way to display your photographs.

If you're looking for a more modern and contemporary way to display a group of photographs, the key to achieving this is symmetry. Start by choosing a few favorite photographs you would like to display on a wall. Simply having your photographs printed all in the same size, and putting them in the same frames with the same mats will automatically give your photographs a more modern look. You can expand on this technique by having all of your photographs printed in black and white rather than color. Displaying your photographs in either an equally-spaced line or grid will also give your photographs a contemporary appeal. Spacing them further apart, rather than closer will make the grouping look less cluttered. It's better to take a few pictures out of a group than overwhelm a wall with too many.

If you would like to display one photograph on a wall, be sure the size of the frame takes up enough space on the wall. A photograph that is too small will get lost on a wall, and can create an awkward mood in a room.

If you aren't sure what size frames you should use, or aren't sure how you would like to arrange a group of photographs, try using some large craft paper to create templates. If you have already framed photos that you want to work with, simply trace around the frame on the craft paper and cut them out. If you're not sure what size frames you want to use, cut out several sizes in the range you're looking for. Use drafting tape to hang your templates up on the wall so your wall isn't damaged. Sit back to consider how your templates look on the wall and how different frame sizes and groupings fit in with the rest of the room. You may want to live with a template arrangement for a day or so before you make a decision.

Using photographs in your home design will create a much more personal space. Displaying your photographs in a modern way will make that space flow with a modern elegance that your whole family will enjoy.