One decorating trend that turns up a lot lately is photo shelves. For those of us living in apartments, they are great because you don’t have to completely destroy your walls with nail holes to get a gallery wall feel. But no matter where you live, shelves provide an easy way to switch out decorations with the seasons, or with your changing tastes.
I have the white Ikea picture shelves hanging in my living room. Amanda has the same shelves, in espresso, hanging in her bedroom. They seem dauntingly long in the store, but if you have the wall space, go for the longer set. You’ll be surprised how quickly they fill up.
Although we see pictures of these shelves often, we had a really hard time finding tips that were helpful for someone starting from scratch. So, here are a few things we learned from experience:
- Purchase more than you need. When selecting your frames, find some coordinating factor (a style or color) and buy many frames of varying sizes. Buy from somewhere that has a realistic return policy so that you can return anything that doesn’t quite work.
- Don’t go too small. Even on a small wall, bigger frames are going to anchor your design. If you use too many small frames, the images inside can actually get lost in the clutter. So, if you have more than one or two smaller prints you want to incorporate, consider a frame that holds multiple images or frames with thicker matting.
- Discount stores are your friend. Check out Home Goods or TJ Maxx for cool art pieces to mix in. You don’t have to spend a ton to find a piece that works well in your home.
- Don’t be afraid to create your own. I personally have very little artistic talent. I haven’t painted a picture since grade school art class. But with a little ambition, two tubes of acrylic paint (blue and white), and a canvas, I was able to create a pop of color for my shelves.
- Browse a craft store for inspiration. I found the “N” cutout pre-painted at Michael’s. It was an inexpensive but crucial addition to my design.
- Add something with meaning. Amanda used the sheet music for her wedding song as a personal touch to the picture shelves in their bedroom.
- Think outside the box. One of the pieces I have framed is a greeting card. It provides a different texture and dimension than the photos, and was totally fitting for my style.
- Lay it out. Once you have collected all of your pieces, lay them out on a floor or other large surface (be sure not to scratch up your frames). Start placing them and rearrange until you find something you like. Don’t overfill. Things can overlap, but it’s easy to get carried away.
- Once you like it, stop. Don’t overthink it. Return what you aren’t using and just enjoy.
- Don’t be afraid to mix it up. Once you find something you like, it’s easy to stick with it. But if you leave your shelves the same forever, it’s easy to stop noticing them. Instead, switch things up for a new season, swap old photos out for new ones, or add in mementos from a fun outing.
