Many have pondered their options in front of the daunting expanse of an empty wall and settled on the same solution: Hey, why not fill the space with family photos?
There’s a reason why so many of us get the same idea, translating into family photos becoming an ever-increasing design feature in home décor. Family photos are extremely cost-effective, abundantly available, unique, engaging and often good conversation pieces.
But the family photo harbours a double edge…
Without embarking on a futile conversation about taste, many personal photos are not exactly aesthetically sound. And although usually there are many to choose from, all those options open up for a whole lot of decision making; do I stick to colour or black-and-whites? Do I mix it up? What about size? Frames? Do I go ‘eclectic’ or modern and
minimal?
Some people’s family photos make me laugh because they take themselves way too seriously. Technically they may be well displayed, but the end result feels a bit too much like a shrine.
And then there are people - and we all know those people - whose garish family photos are glaring at you from every wall and mantle, begging for a rude comment that you know you must suppress in the face of the family’s unabashed pride… Maybe those people are your parents, and the photos are of you in your worst hair days - in this case, family photos can be downright embarrassing!
Even though my family has accumulated some really lovely photographs, I still have mixed feelings about taking them beyond the occasional frame on the mantle or bookshelf.
Do you feel there is a right and a wrong way to display family photos?