15 Extra Unique Ways to Display Pictures Around Your Home
Updated on September 19, 2018
The older we get, the more we realize just how much we love and adore displaying printed photos around out homes. We’re not even that picky about what the photos contain, so long as they’re of people, places, and things that make us happy! We’ve certainly done our fair share of having photos printed and then picking out frames at a store and placing them on surfaces or hanging them across the walls, but the craftier we get and the more we perfect and expand our DIY skills with a little bit of experience, the more we love the idea of getting creative with how we display our favourite photos throughout our house. Frames can be cute and there are certainly lovely frame designs sold in stores, but there’s just something so eye catching and satisfying about hanging photos around your home in ways that have a little more character to them!
Just in case you’re as interested in the idea of making your very own unique and creative photo displays besides just picture frames as we were, if not more, here are 15 of the nicest and most well outlined photo display tutorials and ideas that we’ve come across so far in our search.
1. Stained upcycled wood and hemp string collage
Have you perhaps already built yourself a home decor scheme that’s a little bit rustic chic inspired or that simply includes a lot of wood? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Clickin Moms made this fantastically upcycled, pieced together slat board and hemp string display! They show you how to stretch the string tightly across the board in all kinds of directions and angles so that photos ca be slid underneath and kept in place between the string and the wooden backing, like a natural collage.
2. Photo line inside a hoop wreath
If you’re the kind of crafter who loves to keep up with trends in the DIY world, just like we are, then we have a feeling you’re probably already familiar with the idea of photo clotheslines. We’ll admit, however, that we’d never seen this adorable version featured step by step on Shutterfly and that got us really excited! They show you how to make short photo lines within a decorative metal hoop decorated around the edge in silk flowers and fabric leaves, hanging the whole thing as a single piece.
3. Wood framed mesh mounted photos
Did we really catch your attention when we started talking about the idea of making cute, rustic chic inspired photo displays from upcycled materials, but you’re just not sure you have enough wood to make the first idea we showed you? Then perhaps you’d prefer to try your hand at this wooden frame and wire mesh hanger idea featured on HomeTalk instead! We love the way they printed their photos in black and white and hung them from the mesh using miniature crafting clothespins. The whole thing hearkens back to an old fashioned farm aesthetic.
4. Fairy lights Polaroid wall
Are you actually quite interested in that popular photo line idea we were talking about before but you just can’t help but wonder whether there’s a way that you can take that idea to the next level and perhaps fancy it up a little bit? Well, if you’ve ever loved adding lights to your space for a bit of extra character than we have a feeling this idea featured on Tater Tots and Jello might be just the one for you! We love the way printed Polaroids of some of their favourite shots and used those same miniature crafting clothespins we were just talking about to attach them all along the length of a string of fairy lights, attached in a zig zag all down one wall.
5. Framed heart collage
Perhaps your favourite thing our of everything we’ve mentioned so far was actually the idea of making a printed photo collage, but you still want to make sure it stands out in some way, rather than just being photos glued in bunches on a poster board? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how It’s Always Autumn made a beautiful heart-shaped collage featuring their most beloved people, framing it to make sure it stays safe and looks like a nice focal point in the room.
6. Jar lid magnet photos
Have we perhaps really caught your attention in our discussions of different ways to upcycle household things in order to make unique displays for your printed pictures but you’re just not sure you have access to any wooden pieces like each of the ideas has suggested thus far? Well, if you ever eat jarred foods, perhaps saving the lids to those mason jars and getting crafty with those would appeal to you more! We love the way The 36th Avenue used the pop-out tops as a base for a photo magnet, embellished with cute stickers and ribbons, or whatever you please!
7. Branch mounted vertical photo hangings
Are you actually still thinking about the idea of making some kind of photo display that will somehow blend in with your otherwise natural decor, while also giving all your photos some centre stage in the room? Then we have a feeling you’ll be a huge fan of this lovely hanging branch idea outlined step by step on Kelli Murray! This one’s surprisingly easy to make happen but the impact is a great one.
8. Photo frame wall paper
Are you actually such an intense photo lover that you’d prefer to make your pictures a permanent part of your home decor, and perhaps even a statement piece, but in a way that’s just a little more unique than simply hanging frames on the wall? In that case, we think you might really dig the idea of making yourself this awesome sketched photo frame wallpaper that covers the wall from ground to ceiling! See how it’s done in more detail on Puppy Tales.
9. Geometric clipped photo display
Were you actually a huge fan of the string element of some of the earlier designs we’ve shown you on our list but you’re just not sure you want to work with wood in the same way those ones show you? Well, that doesn’t mean you can’t still make the string concept work for you in some way! We’d suggest checking out how The Caldwell Project made an artistic looking geometric web across one wall, clipping their favourite printed photos wherever they please for an stylishly scattered look.
10. Floral and mesh hoop photo hanging
Were you a pretty big fan of the hoop idea we showed you a little earlier on but you’re just not sure that the singular clothes line idea will give you enough places hang as many photos as you really want to? Then maybe you’d have better luck with this similar but slightly altered mesh hoop idea instead! DIY Candy shows you how to fill the space inside the hoop with wire crafting mesh, affixing things to it with metal clips and decorating the edges of the hoops with whatever colour faux flower you please.
11. Photo tree centrepiece
Have you actually been scrolling through photo display options hoping to find one that will work for your space temporarily because you’re hosting a big dinner, party, or events and you’d like to really make the pictures stand out so all the guests can look through them? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how Wedding Decor made this fantastic flower and tree centrepiece, hanging the photos from the branches using strings and miniature crafting clothespins. We love the idea of leaving a few pins empty and encouraging guests to bring their own prints and hang them up in the collection!
12. Weathered frame and vintage coat hanger photo
Have you quite enjoyed the different old fashioned and weathered looking ideas you’ve come across so far but you can’t help but think that, if you’re going to do some upcycling, you’d much rather use things you already have in your home instead of going out and trying to find pieces of wood? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Nistha Sisterhood made this fantastic hanger from… well… a hanger! Their tutorial shows you in detail how to attach that hanger to a stylishly chipped photo frame, as well as how to label it with the year of the photo if you feel like it.
13. Vintage ski photo clothesline
If you’re going to go to the trouble of making yourself a super unique photo display from scratch, would you rather make one that’s themed after something your family enjoys doing together or has a long history of? Well, if you’re from a cold place like we are or if skiing in the winters happens to be your thing, then this idea is definitely the one for you! Check out how My Amazing Things propped an old pair of skis against the wall and strung cards and photos up between them.
14. Vintage suitcase photo display
Are you actually scrolling through our list and still looking for different ideas for upcycling ideas to make yourself a unique photo display, but you just haven’t been quite convinced by the ones you’ve seen so far? Well, if your lifestyle or aesthetic has ever been influenced by travel or classic wanderlust, then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Dazzle While Frazzled transformed an unused vintage suitcase into a standing photo piece.
15. Vintage luggage tag and map photo wall
Were you very intrigued indeed by the idea of theming your photo display after something related to travel but you don’t have access to an old suitcase right now or you haven’t seen any vintage ones you liked in any of the thrift stores near you lately? Then perhaps you’d have an easier time getting a hold of just the baggage tags instead! We love the way Little Red Window hung a large map on their wall and pinned luggage tags bearing their favourite photo print to the place each picture was from.
Have you made other stunningly unique DIY photo displays that you were extremely happy with and still have proudly hung up around your house, but that you don’t see anything quite similar to on our list? Tell us all about how you did it or link us to photos of your finished work in the comments section!