Decorating Ideas for Family Pictures

By Susan Kleinman

They're your favorite people and places, and your most cherished memories; surely it's worth some effort to display your family pictures in style! Whether your decor is traditional or modern — and if you're handy or hopeless with a hammer — there's a beautiful way to give your family photos pride of place in your home.

Because the dining room of this home in Westwood, Calif. is only 18' x 15', it was especially important that the photo arrangement be sleek and simple, says designer Nicole Sassaman. To create the modern look she was after, Sassaman enlarged the pictures — all relatively recent shots of the residents' immediate family — to 8" x 10" each. The frames are stock items from Pottery Barn; similar ones are available at most decorating and art supply stores.

"When I can I use even bigger frames than this, and very oversize mats," says Sassaman. But whatever the size, "I don't like to clutter things up with different frame finishes. I prefer to keep it simple by using identical frames."

Although the look may be simple, hanging these photographs was not. "To create a set-up like this, get out the measuring tape and bring your patience because it takes time and can be tricky," says Sassaman.