I am so excited to share my long-awaited new photo gallery wall with you! Finally, the day is here. I started this project LAST August! Just in case you thought this was an HGTV show or something equally fancy. We go slow and keep things on a budget around here.
One of the most important parts of creating a space you love is adding personal and sentimental items to your decor. A grandmother's handmade quilt, or a grandfather's whittled toy for your child. These treasures tell a story about your life and your journey.
Photos play a huge part in telling our story too. Don't most of our photos these days sit in a drawer on a CD or a thumb drive? Or just take up space on our phones?
In this digital age, it's important to print those memories and display them for all the world to see. Even more than that? It's important for us to see them, and for our families to enjoy reminders of precious memories from times gone by.
I am guilty of not printing and displaying our family photos. But I'm on a mission to fix that, starting with the gallery wall in my living room.
This little wall in the living room started with the Everett Console Table and my DIY abstract painting.
Well, it originally started out looking like this …
It was perfectly fine. I had arranged every photo album in my house on that wall and filled it with fun pictures, printables, and pieces of art.
I was listening to my own advice and surrounding myself with pictures of precious family. But it just looked too jumbled to me. The table was a hand-me-down, and it wasn't my style or the right size for the wall.
Then I bought the Everett Foyer Table from World Market. I dreamed about it and saved for this purchase, and I finally used my birthday money (I think) to buy it.
And I painted a pretty DIY abstract painting that I love.
Then I bought 5 big, bold white frames to fill the space above it. I figured I would just order some pictures to put in the frames, but it took me a loooong time to get them.
Like more than a year.
Last Christmas I filled the usually empty frames with Christmas printables and wrapping paper.
But then I took them down after Christmas, and it looked like this …
It's pretty, but I got tired of people coming over and offering to bring pictures of themselves to fill up my frames. Silly friends!
By the way, I finally found a new basket to fit under the left side for holding my blankets. The old basket wasn't wide enough and was too tall, but this one fits perfectly. I just wish they had had two! (If you see one out there, let me know! I got this one at HomeGoods.)
I really love the look of this wall now. I added the antique nautical wheel this summer after my trip to Franklin, Tennessee. Whenever I look at it, I think to myself, "Jesus, take the wheel." Usually during the day I'm muttering something like that while dealing with my almost 2-year-old. But really, I love how the art symbolizes the ocean, and the wheel reminds me that while life may be full of waves, Jesus is my captain.
So, what a perfect thing to fill the frames with: pictures of our girls and our family together. I ordered my prints from CVS. It's super easy to stop by the kiosk at your local store while you're shopping, or you can order online like I did (here). #shoppingonlineismyfavorite
I needed an 11×14 size, so I ordered their poster size. I was worried at first that the paper wouldn't be nice, but it came on high-quality photo paper. The prints worked perfectly and arrived in less than a week after I ordered them.
You can also order prints straight from Facebook or from your phone's photo album using the CVS app. So there's no excuse for not bringing photos into your home!
OK, back to the wall. I was super excited when my package arrived in the mail. Remember, I've been waiting more than a year to finish this wall!
Yay! Great quality and cute pictures of my family!
I popped the pictures into each frame, and I had my completed wall! I only have one more tiny detail to finish before this area is done!
Oh, and there are like a bajillion ways to work photos into your home decor besides regular prints! There are so many options these days! I personally love making a photo calendar each year. And I think I'm going to create some pretty photo Christmas ornaments.
What do you think?
Are you someone who loves to print photos and decorate your home with pictures of loved ones and memories? Or do you need a little nudge to get back into the photo game, like me?
I can't wait to show you how I've added simple touches for fall! Coming soon!!
