6 Unique Ways to Display Photos in Your Home

Since I was a teenager, I have been obsessed with taking pictures. I love capturing memories with friends, family and especially my children once they arrived! I filled many photo albums and loved framing pictures in my room as a teen or putting them on bulletin boards. They were and still are art to me, a way to decorate with things that bring me joy, whether it be the beauty of the photos or the memories that they spark in my mind. I love surrounding myself with them! I bet you do, too. However, how do you have pictures all over the home without it looking sloppy or unsophisticated or distracting, pulling away from other decor? Here are 6 unique ways to display photos in your home beautifully.

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1. Use Eye Catching Frames and “Match” the Photos

Framing photos isn’t unique, but looking at frames differently can be. Look at them as pieces of decor on their own. Find frames that on their own without photos in them are attractive and tie things together in the room. With frames like these, often times black and white photos can look best, not taking away from the eye catching frame itself and becoming the perfect match in the contrast. Other times you can find color photos that actually match and blend with the colors in the frame.

Colorful and unique gingham frames and matching photos on display

2. Color vs Black and White Photos

I love the look of both color and black and white photos, but there are advantages and appeal to both depending where you use them.

On these shelves, I display a collection of neutral decorative items and plants. A colored photo could stick out when I’d rather the eye take it all in without any distraction or any one thing being a focal point. So I chose photos in black and white or very muted colors. I also chose frames that are neutral like brass or marble as well as white mats.

A black and white photo of a bride and groom in a brass frame on shelves surrounded by neutral decor

Framed photos on display with neutral decor that are black and white or muted colors

A photo of a bride in a marble scalloped frame

Again, you can see that in a more colorful frame a black and white photo can create a beautiful contrast and not take away from the frame. Likewise a color picture in similar colors as the frame also creates a pretty combination!

Gingham patterned frames in a grouping displaying photos

Another idea with choosing black and white photos is the look of having a collection of photos that are all black and white like on these photo ledges in our living room. I also chose a lot of candid shots for this display. I feel like candid shots in black and white adds a lot of feeling and emotion, I just love it!

Black and white photos framed in black and natural wood frames on photo ledges

3. Photo Ledges

Another unique way to display photos is by having a wall of photo ledges and fill them with only photos. I chose black frames with a few natural wood frames and all black and white photos. To create the vibe I was going for, I also chose mostly candid shots.

Photo ledges on a living room wall displaying black and white photos

Black photo ledges on a wall above a sofa displaying black and white photos and matching frames

4. Mixbook Albums

Having Mixbook albums made and placed on your coffee table is another unique way to display photos. They are so fun to make, the photos looks amazing, and they are so much sleeker looking than a traditional photo album. It looks like any other coffee table book! It’s also so great to get photos out of a phone and into a physical book like this. Guaranteed the photos will be seen so much more this way, and in a more enjoyable way! This one was from a family trip to Switzerland.

An open Mixbook album on a coffee table showing photos from a Switzerland trip

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5. Alternative to a Bulletin Board

I stumbled across this metal clip photo holder in a gift shop years ago and just loved how unique it was. It’s so fun and easy to change out, and it’s just a cute and different way to display photos! During the holiday season, this works great to display Christmas cards.

metal clipbaord with mini clips hanging on the wall displaying photos and postcards

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6. Gallery Wall

There’s nothing new to framing photos and hanging them on the wall. However, choosing matching matted frames (my favorite is square) and putting them together in perfect formation creates such a sleek look. Creating a gallery wall is a great way to display a group of photos!

Having a type of theme for the group of photos is also aesthetically pleasing and creates a cohesive feel. This gallery wall in my home is a collection of portraits of my boys when they were little, and there are similar colors throughout as well.

Read more about this gallery wall and how to create one, including before shots, here.