Around the House: Hang Family Photos With Style and Without Stress

By Yehudit Garmaise

Countless photos of our family and beautiful simcha snaps are stored on our cameras and phones, but how do we find the time to print, frame, and hang them on the wall?

If getting your photos off digital storage and into elegant frames doesn’t happen as often or as easily as you might like, consider the following tips to simplify the process.

1. First, create a free account with an online photo storage and printing service app, such as Shutterfly, Snapfish, Nations Photos Lab, Mpix, or Amazon Photo, which will all send your chosen prints right to your door. 

Walgreens has a convenient photo app. Customers can either use an app on their phones or plug in their phones and cameras to computers at the drugstore, where photos can be picked up within one hour.

2. Before you order any prints, first choose the size frames you are going to use, so know what size prints to buy. 

Frames typically come in the following sizes: 3 by 5 inches, 4 by 6 inches, 8 x 10 inches, and 11 by 14 inches. 

Now is the time to consider whether the photos in your display should be small, medium, or large. A mish-mosh of frames can look cluttered, while similar sizes, shapes, and colors can look more pleasing to the eye. If you like variety, stick to one color and vary size and style. Create an eye-catching display by hanging any number of photos in identical frames for a clean, elegant, and stylish look.

3. Now, look around your home to consider where there is extra wall space for hanging photos.

Be creative with where your photos can go. While walls in kitchens, dining rooms, and living rooms are natural places to display favorite photos, don’t overlook other potential spaces, such as the walls beside staircases, hallways, wall space next to or above bookshelves, and even in bathrooms for relaxing photos of beautiful vistas or water, or a cute picture of babies and kids.

4. Buy your frames only after you decide how many photos you want to frame, in what sizes, in which colors, shapes, and styles, and where in your home you will hang them so you know you have wall space for your new display.

Once you have your frames, keep the frames near your computer for reference, or write down the sizes of frames purchased, so you know exactly what size photos to order.

5. To choose several photos to print and then frame, take a look at the photo scroll in your phone, camera, or photo storage website. Mark the photos that particularly bring a smile to your face and best express the neshamas of those whom you love the most. Don’t overthink it, just choose the photos that clearly “pop” the most. Keep in mind that the photos you choose don’t always have to be the most recent. Feel free to mix up a variety of ages and stages of family life.  As soon as you see the photos you want framed, order them then and there so the task doesn’t get away from you with distractions of home and work.

6. Consider Black and White: Most photo apps offer the option to order some photos in black and white, which can look stunning framed. Black and white photos of relatives from years gone by also look amazing framed and included in displays along with recent photos in black and white or color.

7. Unwrap your frames very carefully after you pick up your prints or receive them in the mail. The glass on frames in very thin and cracks easily, so be careful handling it. For a few dollars, frame stores can attach wires to the backs of larger frames to better hang and balance them. To get your glass clean: use a wet sponge to peel off any stickers, and then spray a tiny bit of glass cleaner to clean the glass. Use a rag to gently wipe the glass until it is completely dry. Let the glass just sit for a few minutes because any glass that is left wet can ruin your newly ordered photos. Work extra carefully and go slowly with cleaning the glass, which can easily break when handled without proper care and caution.

9. Once your glass is clean and dry, insert your photos in your new frames. Before making unnecessary nail marks in the wall, decide exactly where you want your framed items to go. Use measuring tape and a pencil to mark the exact spot where each picture hook should go.

10.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy with pride the unique gallery you created that represents your special and happy mishpacha. 

Photo Credit: Shutterstock