hanging pictures like pottery barn

{image: Pottery Barn}

idea

Create an organized photo wall that is easily updatable and mixes family photos and art.

ingredients

• frames
  • one large black square frame measuring 25 x 25 inches
  • one medium black frame measuring 16 x 20 inches with an oversized white mat
  • two medium white frames measuring 14 x 17 inches with a white mat
  • one medium shadow box frame measuring 16 x 20 inches
  • five small black square frames measuring 9 x 9 inches with a white mat
  • six small white square frames measuring 9 x 9 inches with a white mat
  • one small white frame measuring 9 x 11 inches with a white mat

• images (all black and white)
  • one large piece of photographic art measuring 25 x 25 inches
  • two  vertical pieces of photographic art measuring 8 x 10 inches
  • one horizontal piece of photographic art measuring 5 x 7 inches
  • one horizontal family photo measuring 4 x 6 inches
  • eleven family photos measuring 4 x 4 inches
  • items that illustrate family memories to fill the shadow box

possible locations

• living room
• dining room
• any space with an empty wall measuring at least 5 feet wide x 6 feet high

{click image to view larger}

method

1. Put all your images into their appropriately sized frames. You’ll want your largest, statement photograph to set the tone of the room and your photo collection.
2. Lay your framed photographs out on the floor to start working on the layout.
3. You’ll want to start with the largest piece and work out from there. Above it will go a horizontal row of five small black square frames, hung level to each other and spaced about two inches apart. Make sure that left edge of the second frame from the left lines up with the left edge of the largest photograph to insure a sense of order and symmetry.
4. Next you’ll put a vertical row of five small square white frames below the small black square frame in the upper left, again make sure they are all lined up nicely and spaced about two inches apart.
5. About two inches below your large square frame centre the medium black frame.
6. Beneath your medium black frame line up your remaining small square white frame with the left edge, and your small white 9 x 11 inch frame with the right edge. Make sure these two frames line up with the small white frame in the lower left.
7. Almost done! Just three pieces left. One of the medium white frames is going to go to the right of the large black square frame so the top edges line up and you may want to line up the right edge with the right edge of the last small black square frame in the top row (but this comes down to personal preference, so play around with it and see what you like). The second medium white frame is going to line up with the first but it’s going to go in the lower right corner so that the vertical centre of it lines up with your small white 9 x 11 inch frame.
8. Then centre your shadow box between the two medium white frames.
9. Tweak your layout as you see fit, jostling the alignment and spacing and swapping photographs to create the most pleasing arrangement.
10. Once you’ve got a design that you’re happy with get out a chair or ladder and photograph your composition. You know, just in case.
11. Now you’re ready to hang your photos on the wall!

variations

• use all black frames or all white frames to create a visually simpler photo wall
• instead of using a shadow box use another medium white frame
• you can also flip, mirror, or rotate the layout to create different looks