turning a photo into wall art

Having your favourite photographs printed and framed is the best way to display and preserve them.

These days most photos taken don’t make it off an electronic device, and it’s becoming increasingly rare and special to take time on printing out a treasured photo, and going to the trouble of making sure it’s displayed right. It’s about getting the most out of your picture, and as a professional photographer I want to make sure my clients make the most of the images we capture together, which is why I am passionate about the importance of choosing the right size and frame colour, type etc for their photos.

If you have a photo that you’d like to frame, there are a few things to consider, which will hopefully help you to make the best decision for your precious print as well as the space it will live in for many years to come!.

Don’t put yourself through the stress of trying to figure it all out yourself!

The investment is potentially significant, so you want to be sure you make the right choices when selecting the type of all art, the size for your home and any details like frame colour and finish.

So here are a few tips to get you started.

Choosing the right wall space

Before you commit to any wall art, you need to know which space it’s going to fill.

You might have the spot in mind already, or the ideal place for your new pictures may not be immediately apparent. If you don’t have any obvious spaces, think of areas in your home that you spend a good deal of time in and would like to enjoy more. Bedroom, living room, dining room and office are lovely areas, though the layout in your home might have other general spaces that lend themselves to statement wall art, like an entrance hall or passage.

TIP: If you’re able to, avoid choosing anywhere that gets direct sunlight, or is situated over a radiator. It’s best for any wall art not to be in direct sun or near a heat source.

Measuring Up

Once you get your head around this, it will make a huge difference!!

Visualising sizes is the hardest part but following this formula will help.

Wall art should take up 60-75% of the available wall space (ie the total area not covered by furniture or moldings).

To get precise sizes that would work in any space, you could measure the width and height of the proposed wall space and then multiply both dimensions by 0.65.

This will give you the range of wall art sizes that will suit the space.

So, if you have a blank wall space that is 5ft x 3ft, multiply both 5 and 3 by 0.65. This will tell you that the ideal height of the wall art would be about 3.25 feet (or 40”) and the width about 1.95ft (23”). In this case I’d recommend a custom 20x40” panoramic frame or a multi-aperture which can showcase a few images in one frame.

If the area is over a piece of furniture such as your bed, fireplace or sofa, it should be between 2/3 to 3/4 the width of the furniture. The above calculation will still give a good idea of product size for this space.

Remember:

Measure the space and then calculate:
Width x 0.65
Height x 0.65

*It might be an obvious point but don’t forget to consider landscape vs portrait – there are some spaces that lend themselves beautifully to a portrait orientation, though the majority of spaces would suit landscape better.

A great way to visualise any wall art in a room is to outline potential dimensions for pictures with painters tape or post-its and then step back. Does it look like the right sort of shape and size?

If you’re going for a single enlarged frame or canvas, consider whether square or panoramic would look best.

Tip for clients: Take a phone snap of the spaces and the rooms you are planning to use for your wall art, and bring it to your viewing session. We can mock up how your framed photo will look in the actual space.

BIGGER IS BETTER

When in doubt, don’t shrink back! In general, bigger is always better. A small canvas will never create a beautiful focal point or fill up a large space. The number of times I’ve ordered a medium size, to fill a large space, and realised it looks lost floating there once it’s arrived has made me learn to go big, and love the impact!

However, if you do go with a smaller size, don’t worry! Every home has smaller spaces to fill and it can even be grouped with other small pieces to create a gallery wall.

Image choice matters

Top tip: If you are going big, think about using an image that isn’t too close up - if the image is a tight crop of faces, when blown up it will appear massive. If you choose a photo of two or three people containing more of their bodies and background area, they will not appear so big and the size will feel more natural.

Hanging Height

The general rule of thumb is that the centre of your hung wall art should be at eye level. And if you’re hanging it above the sofa, fireplace or other furniture give it about 6-12 inches of breathing room above the top of the furniture.

Whatever wall art you choose will be the soul of the room.

Room by room…

Bedroom/nursery

These rooms act as a sanctuary, and it’s worth really investing in something big and beautiful for these spaces. Whatever you choose should have real emotional connection for you.

As it’s a space you want to keep calm and nurturing, I’d recommend choosing images that are minimal, with natural colours and tones rather than bright and bold, which bring in a lot of energy.

Depending on the bedroom colour scheme and bedding etc, you can choose simple classic frames in a shade that suits your décor and the image. Perhaps your favourite black and white shot in a white frame, or even a deep framed canvas.

Acrylic is also a beautiful option because it is so clean and clear, it will make you want to breathe and curl up in bed feeling serene and content.

Living Room

This is a great room for a gallery wall, which is a collection of smaller frames. The great thing about a gallery wall is that you can keep adding to it over the years, and it’s ok to use different types of frames.

Mixing different sizes is a key component, but no one piece should take centre stage. Each piece should take equal importance.

The area above the sofa is an excellent place to hang a singular, oversized piece, like a 40x60”. You can get creative with a pop of colour or keep things neutral, but explore texture - either in the frame or with the image you select.

High-gloss pieces like acrylics or glass covered framed prints can let the dimmed light bounce around in a creative way.

Home Office

If you work from home (or have a remote office) this is the place for family photos to reside.

Because work can no doubt be stressful, opting for images that bring in a sense of calm can also be beneficial. Choose photos that give your mind a rest or remind you of why you’re working so hard! Large black and white photographs are a smart choice for the office.

At the end of the day, these photos can serve you for many many years, and you want something that will endure. Your baby will grow up with whatever you choose as a constant and familiar reminder that they are loved, and belong. Whatever you choose will be right - anything is better than images hidden in a desk drawer in an obsolete bit of plastic.

Whatever you choose to do - make sure you print your photos out!