6 Design-Friendly Ways to Display Kids' Artwork

Put those heartfelt works of art on display without compromising your design style (or your refrigerator door).

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By: Kim Stoegbauer

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Photo By: Emily Fazio

Photo By: Rennai Hoefer

Creative Ways to Display Children's Artwork

Let's face it: not every child's art project is a masterpiece. But sometimes, something your child makes hits the sweet spot and really conveys their creativity. For those occasions, think beyond the refrigerator and take our advice about creative ways to display their artwork.

Look #1: Grid Art Wall

This modern grid wall turns children's art into a gorgeous, designer-worthy focal point.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

What You'll Need

For this project you'll need children's artwork, small metal clips with hooks, metal grids, nails, hammer and a yard stick.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Measure

Measure and mark the space where you will be hanging the grids. You can find metal or plastic grids at your local home decor or hardware store (we found ours at Ikea). Decide on how many you would like to use based on the size and space you have available.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Hang Grids

Start by hanging the first grid in the center.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Secure

Secure to the wall with finishing nails.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Display Artwork

Use metal or wood clips to hold your art pieces in place on the metal grids.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Pretty + Practical

This modern grid wall turns children's art into a pretty and practical focal point.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Look #2: Wood Slat Display Boards

These wood slats with clips look beautiful on your wall while providing an effortless way to switch out art pieces as often as you like.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

What You'll Need

For this project you'll need wood slats cut to desired length, interior stain, stain brush, metal clips, nails, hammer and a measuring tape or yard stick.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Stain Wood

Choose a stain color for the wood that matches the decor in your home. Apply stain to the wood slats using the brush. Allow to dry completely. If you prefer a distressed look, use a sander to lightly sand the wood slats.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Measure for Clip Placement

Measure the length of your board, then divide by the number of clips you would like to have, keeping in mind the paper size and orientation you prefer for the art. We used three clips for the length of our board since we wanted to hang the art horizontally.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Attach Clips to Wood

Use a pencil to mark where the clips will be attached. Use super glue or small nails to secure the clips to the wood slat.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Secure Boards to Wall

Hang boards on the wall with a saw tooth hanger or wire attached to the back.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Hang Art

Add artwork for a darling display!

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Versatile + Stylish

Children's artwork hung in an unique display.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Look #3: Gallery Wall

Creating a gallery wall filled with your children’s artwork is easy and will give a colorful and personal touch to any room. Keep it simple and let the art be the focus with monochrome matted frames in assorted sizes.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

What You'll Need

For this project you'll need frames with mats in varying sizes, measuring tape, hammer, nails and artwork. Pro tip: Purchase frames with mats in corresponding sizes for each piece you would like to hang. We suggest buying extra frames to play with for your layout, and then returning any you don’t use.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Visualize Gallery Wall Design

The best piece of advice for creating a gallery wall is to lay out your arrangement on the floor below the wall you will be filling. This helps visualize the width you have to work with. If you prefer to use exact measurements, measure the wall space you want to fill and then outline the floor with blue tape before you start placing the art. Continue arranging the frames until you decide on a configuration that you like.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Hang It Up

Start by hanging one of the larger pieces. Measure the distance between frames to make sure you are following the arrangement you created on the floor.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Enjoy!

Once all the frames are hung, step back and admire your work! Make any adjustments necessary until the collage wall feels balanced in your space.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Look #4: Framed Collage Art Print

Short on wall space? Display multiple pieces of art while only taking up the space of one large frame with this easy-to-make collage print.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

What You'll Need

For this project you'll need a large frame with mat, camera or mobile device, white board and your child's artwork.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Photograph Individual Pieces of Art

Choose your favorite art pieces to feature in the collage. One by one, place them on a white board in a well lit area (near a window, but not direct sunlight) and use your phone or camera to take pictures of them.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Create Collage + Print

Download the images to your computer and use a photo editing program to create a collage to fit the size of your frame. Print at home or send to a local print shop to have the print made.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Frame + Hang

Mount the print inside the frame and mat, then choose the perfect spot to hang your new collage!

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Memories You Can Keep

Kim Stoegbauer shows how to make a collage art print.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Look #5: Clipboard Art Wall

This art display idea is super simple to create and so versatile! For a modern, colorful look, have the kids paint a basic shape (like a heart) in various colors to clip to each clipboard.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

What You'll Need

All you need for this chic, simple project is clipboards, white cardstock and thumb tacks.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Choose Artwork

For a streamlined look, you can ask the kiddos to paint simple shapes (like hearts) onto white cardstock. While we chose to have the kids create a consistent shape for the art, you can hang any pieces and swap them out as often as you’d like!

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Place First Clipboard

Decide where you would like to display the art. Center your first clipboard, then work your way up and out from there, making sure the space between clipboards is even. Attach clipboard to the wall by placing a thumbtack through the rear clip hole.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Create a Grid

We chose to create a 3 x 3 display to best fit our space.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Add Art

Clip your art pieces on the clipboards. Easily swap out art whenever a new masterpiece is created.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Museum-Worthy Display

Kim Stoegbauer shows how to make clipboard wall art.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Look # 6: Picture Ledge

Get the look of a gallery wall without the commitment by displaying art on chic picture ledges instead.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

What You'll Need

For this project you'll need artwork, various-sized frames and two picture ledges.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Install Ledges

Hang ledges per manufacturer instructions, centered above a side table, sofa or other furniture piece.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Mix + Match

For a designer-worthy look, choose frames and artwork in varying sizes and colors.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Frame + Display

Once you've placed framed art on the shelves, step back, take a look and adjust as needed. It may take a few tries before you find a layout you love.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Keep It Fresh

Change out pieces as new ones are created to keep the display fresh and exciting!

From: Kim Stoegbauer

One Thing Three Ways

6 Design-Friendly Ways to Display Kids' Artwork

Related To:

Shop This Look

Creative Ways to Display Children's Artwork

Look #1: Grid Art Wall

What You'll Need

Measure

Hang Grids

Secure

Display Artwork

Pretty + Practical

Look #2: Wood Slat Display Boards

What You'll Need

Stain Wood

Measure for Clip Placement

Attach Clips to Wood

Secure Boards to Wall

Hang Art

Versatile + Stylish

Look #3: Gallery Wall

What You'll Need

Visualize Gallery Wall Design

Hang It Up

Enjoy!

Look #4: Framed Collage Art Print

What You'll Need

Photograph Individual Pieces of Art

Create Collage + Print

Frame + Hang

Memories You Can Keep

Look #5: Clipboard Art Wall

What You'll Need

Choose Artwork

Place First Clipboard

Create a Grid

Add Art

Museum-Worthy Display

Look # 6: Picture Ledge

What You'll Need

Install Ledges

Mix + Match

Frame + Display

Keep It Fresh

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