This stunning classic horizontal frame arrangement lets the pictures do the talking.Photo courtesy crushculdesac.tumblr.com Arranging your photos horizontally, in one straight line running across the wall, is a traditional and perennially classic frame arrangement. Horizontal frame hanging also has the advantage of making it much easier to group frames of different shapes and sizes as long as the center of each photo is aligned with the others. For more on properly aligning frames, see this great tutorial from Thinctanc. Use a horizontal orientation:
- In rooms with higher ceilings, with the center hung approximately 5 feet 10 inches above the floor, to add depth and focal points
- On walls that are shorter in length than they are in height; this pulls the eye across the wall, making it appear longer
- On walls above furniture with strong horizontal lines, such as a couch or a desk
- To display a photo much larger than others you would like to group with it (generally the largest photo should be in the center, moving outward to smaller works)
Although this square arrangement flirts with the rules by using different size photos, it works because the photos all have a similar theme and are all black and white, with corresponding color frames.Photo courtesy Pottery Barn Square orientations are quite flexible, since depending on the photos and frames used a square arrangement can be traditional, modern, or even eclectic. The trick to making a square orientation work is carefully matching the subject and colors of your photos. If a square display appeals to you but the photos you want to showcase are too different, you might consider a salon arrangement (see examples on Apartment Therapy), which is loosely based on the square but allows diverse pieces the room they need to shine. Use a square orientation:
- For groups of photos with a common theme, especially smaller photos
- With matching dimensional frames for added pop
- In rooms with strong vertical lines, for example rooms with vertically striped wallpaper, to break up repetition
- On large blank walls to provide a visual reference point
This vertical orientation is fun and modern, while visually extending the height of the hallway where it is placed.Photo courtesy jandaandco.blogspot.com The vertical orientation automatically brings to mind the modern aesthetic, evoking as it does the directional flow of skyscrapers. This does not, however, mean that your home décor must be modern in order to do a vertical photo arrangement justice. In the right space, the subject of your photos and the feel of your chosen frames will work wonderfully in a vertical orientation. Use a vertical orientation:
- For modern, architectural, or black and white photos
- In smaller rooms or rooms with low ceilings to add the illusion of height
- In tall, narrow spaces where other arrangements won’t fit
- On the walls on either side of a window, fireplace, or other feature
- To define semi-attached rooms, such as a kitchenette, from other rooms
- Panoramic images can look very modern when it is printed as a canvas photo
- There is no set size ratio for a panoramic, and you can make your own just by creative cropping of your photo
- Hallways and living spaces provide the perfect opportunity to hang your own panoramic image
