Grouping a Large Collection of Pictures

When we moved into our plaster-walled home about 10 months ago, we decided to be especially deliberate about what we hung on the walls and where we placed arrangements, so as to avoid the thousands of nail holes that graced our previous abode. Caution quickly translated into paranoia, and as a result our walls have remained rather bare. As we near the one year anniversary of our arrival, we've decided to finally add some life to the walls. Here are a few of our inspirations for grouping pictures and prints in style...

I gushed over the variety of frames used in this sitting spot featured in Skona Hem (above). The three matching white frames create a nice focal point, and the carefully spaced frames surrounding it make the whole arrangement seem clean and tidy.

I LOVE the eclectic mix of forms and themes in this Domino arrangement. Even though it incorporates a variety of styles, it is well balanced which keeps it from appearing too haphazard. The larger frames on the left bottom and top right corners balance each other while the host of smaller frames keep your eye moving around the arrangement. I love how the collection is carefully anchored by the gorgeous convex mirror.

This is one of the best examples that I've seen of an interesting horizontal arrangement. Typically, we tend to decorate with vertical arrangements, but I enjoy this balanced spread of prints from Domino. It broadens the focus of the room, which a tight cluster over the bed would not have been able to achieve.

This simple, carefully balanced arrangement from Home to Home is appealing to the eye, as are most symmetrical layouts. Although it lacks the variety of the other groupings, I appreciate the sense of order that it exudes.

What's your favorite?

The first photo is beautiful. I like them all but I think that one's my favorite.

To avoid nail holes, could you use that command adhesive stuff? I think 3M make picture hooks that use it. I should find out and then take my own advice.

posted by Tiamat_the_Red on April 22nd 2009 at 1:24pm
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Does anyone have tips for hanging several same-sized frames in a symmetrical pattern, much like the last photo? I always have trouble...

posted by clampers on April 22nd 2009 at 1:36pm
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This is a very timely post. I've been in a place for a month now and trying to be careful about placement, but I'm already getting tired of the swaths of empty wall in my dining room, bedroom and office.
I think the second one is my favorite.

posted by LadyRoy on April 22nd 2009 at 1:38pm
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I just used the 3M command picture hanging strips with silver picture frames and it was super easy!

I've done a couple of groupings of pictures and I've found its really helpful to arrange (and rearrange) on a flat surface and take pictures of the arrangements. You get a better sense of how they look together.

posted by MsAmanda on April 22nd 2009 at 1:47pm
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Great suggestion MsAmanda. I will have to try that myself. It's really hard for me to get out of symmetric layouts--that's a perfect way to visualize it.

posted by lovedogranch on April 22nd 2009 at 2:17pm
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Try the Picture Placer https://www.getpictureplacer.com/?cid=635706. It's incredibly easy & only $19.99. You can arrange on the floor and mark on the wall. Works every time! I've used mine zillions of times and it works perfectly.

posted by Ms. Pea on April 22nd 2009 at 2:28pm
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As an owner of crumbly plaster walls, I recommend avoiding anything that uses adhesive/sticky substance. We use Ooks nails/hangers (http://www.ooks.com/) or a similar brand. 30 lb mirrors straight into walls (not studs) and no problems yet.

posted by kajr on April 22nd 2009 at 2:32pm
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@ MsAmanda & Ms. Pea: thanks for the tips, I never thought about arranging them on the floor first! Great tip. And the Picture Placer looks LIFE-CHANGING. Okay, maybe not life-changing. But it looks really handy.

This is why I love this website! Great ideas from pleasant people. :)

posted by clampers on April 22nd 2009 at 2:39pm
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Definitely the middle one with al the black frames. This is what I'm doing in our home (plaster walls as well). I have a mix of frames, from boring square, to frilly gold/brass things, and I've spray painted everything a matte black. It still has interesting shapes, keeping it eclectic, but it's clean with the black unifying everything.

posted by strongodares on April 22nd 2009 at 3:56pm
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Love everything about the 3rd one!

posted by missmouse on April 22nd 2009 at 4:15pm
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This is such a timely post, as I have been mulling over the idea of hanging a great many photos/art/objects over our bed for months. Don't have everything framed yet ($$ reasons, mostly), but AT has given me some ideas with which to start making the idea a tangible project. Thanks!

posted by lizhammel on April 22nd 2009 at 4:51pm
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I just love the last photo. The paint color is divine too! I'd love to know what that color is!

posted by Dream Mom on April 22nd 2009 at 6:21pm
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I love most decorating ideas I see here on AT, BUT I just can't seem to get into this. No matter how the images/frames are grouped, it just looks like a clutter. I don't think I could group pictures on any wall in any pattern.

posted by AprilAries on April 23rd 2009 at 9:48am
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I just did this at my new place and I love the effect! I think I will continue to "grow it" out and up above the mirror perhaps... I didn't really pre-plan... but it did take alot of math and calculations to get the frames all the same distance apart from each other (but it STILL didn't turn out just right, haha)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2251857&l=3ec40c98e1&id=553791355

posted by SweetChicEventsChicago on April 23rd 2009 at 12:31pm
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I'm a fan of aligning a group, whether it be center, bottom, or top, as you can see in my living room:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/visualingual/2438785582/in/set-72157594505190197/

posted by visualingual on April 26th 2009 at 5:42pm
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My favorite is the bedroom -- it doesn't look like one of those sets you can buy from Target with the specific nail-hole guides. It looks spontaneous and light, which is refreshing, while still looking very unified.

posted by twitteringbirdie on April 26th 2009 at 8:28pm
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I love the last one it is beautiful. The wall color is stunning.

posted by leadingedge on April 27th 2009 at 1:00pm
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