In 1987, the first Ikea opened in the UK. Since then, things have never been the same. While the Swedish homeware superstore wasn't singlehandedly responsible for the interior design craze that began to sweep across the nation, its cheap and cheerful furniture did facilitate a huge new shift in the way we decorate our homes. Flash forward 30 years, and it's never been easier to live in a home that looks like it's come from the pages of a design magazine.
Though the Nineties and Noughties were all about pared down minimalism, a particular trend in recent years has been artful, vintage-inspired clutter - these days, a beautiful home is one that's busy, cosy, warm and accented with the perfect details. If you're seeking to revamp an interior space, there are 101 cheap hacks you can use, including wall stickers and art prints - but one of the easiest trends for 2017 is the picture wall.
It's exactly what it sounds like: an empty area of wall on which you hang an assortment of framed photographs! Of course, perfecting the picture wall is not as simple as picking out a selection of photos and hanging them in any arrangement.
The key to creating a modern, stylish picture wall is establishing an overall theme, in which each photo and frame work well together. To find out how you can nail your own picture wall, read on.
The first and most important step is picking your photos. There's no point in spending time and energy on a picture wall if these photos aren't ones that you want to look at every day!
Remember when selecting your snaps that an overall theme will help bring the wall together. Maybe it's photos of your family? Maybe it's shots from a recent holiday? Maybe they're all black and white? It's up to you.
The second thing to bear in mind before you get any of your photos printed is layout. A typical picture wall will boast a variety of frame styles and sizes, which means you'll have to decide upon your arrangement and frames before you finalise your photo choices. In some cases it's as simple as picking a landscape photo over a portrait photo.
Of course, if you have a selection of photos at the ready and you aren't sure which to choose, you can skip to step two and start picking out the perfect frames.
The first thing to know is that there is a super-easy way to achieve a great-looking picture wall - and that is buying a multi-aperture picture frame. A multi-aperture frame is a solid picture frame that contains multiple windows; this means it can hold a number of different photographs. The slots for each photo may be individually framed, or they may simply be marked out within the central picture mount.
At EasyFrame, you can tailor your multi-aperture frame to your precise requirements. We provide one frame and a central mount which has apertures cut into it; using our custom service, you can choose the number of apertures you need and alter the dimensions of every single aperture, so that they fit the size and layout of each image. On top of that, we can provide secondary mounts to give a border to each individual photo, and we give you a wide selection of mount colours and framing sizes and styles to choose from.
This is a great way of creating a picture wall quickly and easily - and it's the perfect solution if you have a very precise idea of the images you want to use. If you would prefer to create your picture wall using individual frames, the process becomes a little more complicated - but the finished result will be just as beautiful!
The main thing to bear in mind when choosing individual picture frames is that - as with your photos - there should be a theme. You might select a number of frames in different sizes but with the same frame style; alternatively, you might choose a selection of very different frames that are similarly sized.
One simple tip to follow is to throw a mixture of plain black, white or wooden frames in with the more decorated frames. You might choose a couple of large feature frames, with smaller, more simple ones to go around the edges.
The biggest piece of advice we can give is to hold on to all your receipts and keep those frames in their packaging until you've made a final decision!
If you've bought a selection of frames in different sizes, layouts and styles, you'll want to spend some time working out how to arrange them on the wall. Clear an area of floor, and lay your frames (still in their packaging) on it - and then start playing around!
If all your frames are rectangular in shape, with straight edges and in a standard photo size, you might be able to arrange them in a square or rectangle. If the frames are more irregular, you could opt for a slightly messier arrangement. When in doubt, go for a rough eye shape; create a cluster of frames in the centre, and taper out towards the edges, placing smaller frames on the far sides.
When you've played around sufficiently you'll be able to finalise your photos based upon the sizes and layouts of the frames. And remember, any frames you don't end up using can go back to the shop!
Don't be daunted when it comes to hanging your frames - just take it slowly, and be careful about sticking to your chosen pattern. Make sure to hang your photos at eye level, and use measuring tape to ensure the right positioning. When you're finishing up, get someone to stand on the other side the room to make sure everything's hanging straight.
Don't forget that EasyFrame can supply hanging accessories such as tape, hooks and pins, and brass plates.
Article Posted: 23/04/2018 12:53:54