How to Design a Picture Wall for a Kitchen
- 1). Place pictures in frames of different shapes and sizes. Stick to the same color of frame for a unified look; go for lots of different colors for a more eclectic effect. Put black-and-white photographs into frames of different colors to prevent the display from looking too overwhelming.
- 2). Draw a plan of your wall on a sheet of paper, experimenting with different layouts. Do not worry about scale or drawing perfectly straight lines; the idea is to find a layout that pleases you. Try several layouts, such as a mosaic pattern, neat, straight rows, and a diamond shape. Use your imagination. If you have a large kitchen wall, a few separate groups of small pictures makes an interesting display. Consider whether you want the option of adding to the wall in the future; some layouts are easier to add to than others, such as a mosaic pattern.
- 3). Test your chosen layout by arranging pictures on the kitchen floor. This lets you tweak the arrangement until you are completely happy with it and avoids unnecessary holes on the wall. It is then a straightforward process of transferring the pictures, piece by piece, to the wall.
- 4). Hang the first frame at eye level at a minimum of 5 feet from the floor. Hang it higher if you have particularly high ceilings.
- 5). Hang your other frames according to your chosen shape. Use a laser level if you are going for straight rows of frames. Use the level after each frame to make sure it is straight before moving on to the next. Take your time, as accuracy is key for this type of display.
- 6). Attach a length of wire from one end of your kitchen wall to the other. Hang unframed pictures from it with clips to make an unconventional picture wall. Display your children's artwork in this way; the pictures can be easily rotated to show off their latest creation.
- 7). Tell a story on your kitchen wall by hanging framed pieces in chronological order, for example, a timeline of a child's life, a family vacation or a wedding.
- 8). Hang a collage frame if you have a very small kitchen wall. This allows you to display several photographs in a small area.
