How To Decorate with Photos
Decorating your bedroom
Transform your home into a vibrant reflection of your unique family story! Why settle for the monotonous, uninspiring decor that looks like it was plucked from a catalog of sad beige interiors? Your home is a canvas, and what better way to fill it than with beautiful, custom-printed images of you and your loved ones?
“Don’t settle for mediocrity when you can be exceptional.”
Okay, it's story time. Close your eyes, well, don't close them, you have to read this, but let’s play pretend for a minute.
Your neighbor asks you over for coffee, and as you walk into Felicia's house, you notice she has the same floral canvas on her living room wall, as you do. You don't say anything about it but, you agree you both have good taste.
However, you now want something different and unique in your living room. Something that nobody else on the block, or in the town, has. And, then you suddenly remember, last week at soccer practice, you overheard another mom talking about a local photographer. They printed large canvases for her daughter's room. You decide to ask her for the contact info, at the next practice.
You and the photographer get along, and your book a session. She takes portraits of you and your family with printing the images, in mind.
Your son loves soccer, and it'd be fun to have a large piece of him, in his room. Your daughter dances, so the photographer plans to create a portrait series of her dancing to show motion. And, of course, you want one of the whole family for the living room. No more floral canvas!
Decorating your home should be easy, not complicated.
When you walk into a store, you immediately know what you like. You see colors, textures, and patterns and your eye is drawn to them. You might like an eclectic look with lots of bright colors or are more of a pastel cottage core fan. I'm somewhere in between vintage hoarder, English tea room, and farmhouse- if that's a style. Ha!
Products I offer
The point of this blog post is to share the different products that are offered. I can’t speak for every photographer out there, but a good photographer, will print art for you. I use professional print labs that color correct images and ensure my art will print out beautifully, every time. Let’s dive in.
Mini photo album
Albums and Photo Books
Albums are a perfect choice if you want all the images, have little wall space, or frequently move, like a military family. They are great for milestone events, grandparent gifts, weddings, boudoir, and more.
Mini albums are great for graduates; kindergarten, high school, or college.
The album pictured above is a 6" mini album. They have fewer pages and make great grandparent gifts. Holiday idea, anyone?
Families often choose a large wall art piece for the home, then get a mini album for each child filled with photos of them and the family from the session day. They’re filled with laughter and joyful moments. They become a special heirloom and children love flipping through pages of themselves.
Ha, don't we all!
Graduates who only need a few images will choose the mini size.
Larger albums are my go-to for weddings, boudoir, graduates, families, and more. I offer 10" albums and they include more pages.
Blended families choose large albums because they hold more images. Personally, I think they are a great option because you can include parent and child, step-child and step-parent images, etc. No feelings get hurt if a child takes a photo with only mom or dad because the book is full of everyone.
Brides opt for a large album and get two minis for parent albums.
Graduates who want every photo from their photo session day and experience, choose larger albums as well. A mini can be added to send to grandma, too. See a trend here?
Boudoir can involve images that are too risque to display on the living room walls, so an album is perfect. I offer a velvet display box set that holds the album.
Living room decorating idea with framed prints.
Canvas and Frames
If you like a more traditional style for your home, these are a perfect choice.
Canvases can be printed up to 60", which is great for making a huge statement on your walls.
Framed prints are just as you expect. A beautiful image that is matted and framed. You can choose from black and white frames, different metals, or wood.
A large 40" canvas of a couple is hung above the bed.
Hang your framed print of the family, in the living room above the sofa. Or, hang a few in a series.
Imagine an elaborately framed boudoir image inside your closet or on an empty bathroom wall.
Hang a 30" canvas of little Jenny wearing her precious fairy wings and crown, over her dresser. It adds fun and whimsy to her room.
A precious 18” framed image of little Johnny fishing off a bridge can be hung in his room.
Metal and Acrylic
Oooohh the queens have entered the chat.
These are my ultimate favorites. They go above and beyond what you think a photo should look like.
Metal is a top-tier choice if your image is bold, bright, and vivid. It's also gorgeous in black and white. It won't work for every image, but when it does, you know it. Your jaw drops.
Acrylic is exciting, too! It adds depth and dimension to your image. It takes boring and kicks it up a notch.
I can also print on transparent acrylic. Yes, it's as cool as it sounds! It's an image that is a tad bit see-through. If you have a dancer, dancing images look beautiful on transparent acrylic.
Prints come in all sizes from itty-bitty to large and in charge!
Prints
Last but definitely not least, is the simple print.
These are great for replacing older photos in frames you already have. If Grandma is asking for new pictures of the kids for Christmas, she probably wants to update the older prints.
My own special touch I add to your print is a matted layer on the back. I don't love the flimsiness of a print, so I add an extra layer to the back. I think it helps preserve them and it keeps the corners from bending.
Decorating your home
Now, for the fun part. How should you decorate your home with your new images? I included ideas in the above paragraphs, but here's a few more tips.
First, decide on a focal point. Do you need something on a big blank wall in the dining room? Or, perhaps you have an empty wall in your teenager's room. Hint: an 8x10 is not the right choice for a piece over your couch.
A 40" canvas or similar size will look good over an average-sized living room couch. If you have a bigger couch, you’ll need a bigger canvas.
Arrange a few 11x14 framed photos in a simple line, on a smaller living room wall.
Canvases are great above dressers or beds in children's rooms.
What about a 40" metal art piece for your bonus room?
Hang your self portrait above your bed to create a luxurious feeling in your room. Or, in your home office.
Below are rooms to give you ideas on how you can display your new wall art pieces.
Bedroom, living room, home office, and more.
Do you have any extra advice or tips for decorating your home? If so, leave them in the comment section below. We could all use a little help in the decorating department.
Thanks for hanging out and happy decorating!
Cheers,
Annette
