There are so many creative ways to hang your stunning photos on the wall. Use these great out-of-the-box ideas to show off your photos in an extra special way.
CREATIVE PHOTO IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME
Hanging your photos on the wall brings great energy and a personal touch to your home. You are reminded of all your photo adventures every time you see them and can easily share these adventures with family and friends. Basically, photos on your wall are simply great.
When you want to do something extra creative with your photos, consider using one of these fun photo ideas.
Xpozer customer Yl Jas played with the background on which the prints hang – nice! ????
Idea 1: Create a Photo Collage
Feeling stressed about having to choose between so many great photos? Keep it simple and print multiple photos as a photo collage!
Select photos with a common theme such as your vacation, a family photo shoot, or even a city or nature park. It works especially well if all the photos have a similar color palette. This keeps the photo collage visually consistent and pleasing to the eye.
Do you want to display photos with many different colors? Consider making a classic black and white collage. For a simple how-to on making a photo collage in Photoshop, you can follow the lesson “Creative with Collages” in Xpozer’s e-course or read this article.
Tip: Add your favorite quotes to the collage for an extra unique effect!
With a collage you don’t need to select just one photo and you can easily add color to your space.
Idea 2: Multi-Panel Photo
Do you want to change it up using only one photo? Try splitting the same photo across two, three or even four photo prints. A multi-panel photo display makes your interior just that much more attractive! Split your photo into several wall prints using Photoshop or another editing program.
We explain exactly how to make a multi-panel photo print using Photoshop in lesson 6 of the the Xpozer e-course “How to Get Your Photos Off the Computer and Into Your Life” (which is included for free with every Xpozer purchase!) ????
A multi-panel photo print makes even the most stunning photos more eye-catching.
Idea 3: Photo Grid on the Wall
With a photo grid, you have endless possibilities. Hang many (smallish) wall prints together, either the same size or differing sizes. You can hang them in a neat row, although often it’s more fun to mix it up. Random arranging also makes easier to add new photos to the grid whenever you want. Choose sizes 20″ x 20″ or 20″ x 30″.
With Xpozer, you can change the photos in your display without changing the layout or frames! Learn exactly how to make an awesome photo grid using in lesson 6 of Xpozer’s e-course.
More Photo Tips
Learn more about how to transform your amazing digital photos into real photo prints with our other articles:
How to Choose Your Best Photo for Printing > Read here
How to Check Your Photo’s Resolution Before Printing > Read here
Understanding Photo Ratios (and How to Choose One) > Read here
How to Save Photos for Large-Size Printing > Read here
Ready to hang your photos in your home?
With Xpozer, you can hang your beautiful photos on the wall in minutes, and change them whenever you want thanks to the Xpozer reusable frame. Learn more and start experiencing your photos as they’re meant to be seen – big and in your daily life. www.xpozer.com
Photos have the power to transform your interior, but it’s not always easy to know which sizes are best for which space. To create this tip, we’ve condensed the advice of thousands of customers and interior design specialists, who have used Xpozer to transform their spaces.
WHERE TO HANG PHOTOS IN YOUR HOME (and the sizes that look best)
General advice…
There are standard photo sizes used by most photo printers. Some are small(think: photo book), some are medium(think: framed print), and some are huge(like Xpozer’s wall prints). For an overview of available sizes, consult a printer’s website or visit Xpozer’s list of print sizes.
Creating a spacious effect
Our secret rule of thumb is to always choose a wall print that is AT LEAST 2/3 the size of the furniture above which it will hang(couch, table, cupboard, bed, etc.). If you’re hanging your photo on an empty wall, you can go even bigger. We recommend at least 30″, but of course it’s up to you!
So grab your tape measure, keep the photos you selected in mind, and let’s get started!
Where Photo Prints Look Great:
1. Above the couch
Your couch has a central spot in your living space, which makes it perfect location for showing off your wall-worthy photos. To create a spacious effect, choose a print width that is at least 2/3 the length of your couch. In general, this means your print should be at least 40″(approx. 100 cm) wide.
A photo print with an aspect ratio of 3:2 will look great above most couches. If you want a print with less height, consider a panorama print or several same-sized smaller prints in a row.
A large panorama looks great above couch.
2. Above the dining table
You do a lot of living around your dining table and a wall print can make that space even better! Wall prints that are at least 2/3 the length of the table will bring new energy to your dining area.
Use your table’s dimensions to choose the right photo size for that space.
3. Above the bed
A large photo above your bed can instantly create the atmosphere you want for this intimate space. Choose a print size that is 2/3 the width of your bed, generally with a minimum width of 45″ (approximately 120 cm). With a photo subject and color palette that fit the feeling of your bedroom, you make it your personal sanctuary.
Create the perfect atmosphere with a beautiful photo print above your bed.
4. In the hallway or staircase
To create a roomy feeling in your hallway or staircase, I suggest hanging several smaller-sized wall prints. Not only will your space feel bigger, but you’ll be able to show off more than one great photo. Choose photos with a common color or theme to create a simple, modern look.
Hang multiple photos in the hall or staircase to create a spacious effect.
5. In the kitchen
Photo walls print can add real spice to your kitchen! Above the counter or on a bare wall, choose prints that fit the space you have and complement the colors of your kitchen.
Add spice to your kitchen with photo prints!
Do it yourself!
Still not sure which size wall print will look best? We’ve been there, too. You can overcome size uncertainty by making mock photo prints in different sizes and testing them out on the wall.
Cut newspaper or trash bags into standard photo print wall sizes and tap. By using standard sizes, you’ll be choosing between photo print sizes that are easy to order online. (Look here for a list of Xpozer’s standard sizes.)
This easy DIY tip will instantly help you visualize the photo size that best fits your space.
Use a newspaper or garbage bag to help you decide the right size.
Learn from others
For an excellent idea of how other photographers have hung photos in their homes, check out the Xpozer Instagram and Facebook pages. Of course, you need to choose the size that fits best in your particular space, but these examples from real Xpozer fans are sure to inspire!
It’s exciting to choose a wall print size and to decide where you’ll hang it – have fun!(To make it even easier, click here for a complete overview of Xpozer’s standard photo wall print sizes.)
The ratio of your photo can affect its composition and how it looks on your wall. We’ll walk you through everything to consider as you decide on the right ration for the print you want to hang in your home.
Understanding Photo Ratios (and How to Choose One)
To choose the right size for your photo print, you need to consider the ratio of your photo and the ratio of the print you want to hang. You don’t want to accidentally select a ratio that will require cropping from the sides of your perfect photo!
The photo’s ratio is the relationship between the width and height of your image, which is numerically expressed with two numbers, for example a ratio of 3:2. The number in front of the colon is the width of the photo and the number after the colon is the height of the photo. The most common image ratios are 3:2 (or 2:3 if hung vertically) and 4:3 (vertically 3:4).
Below you’ll see how the 3:2 ratio creates a photo that is slightly longer and shorter than the 4:3 photo ratio. This can have a significant impact on the photo itself, which is obvious in the images below. With the 4:3 ratio, part of the bird’s beak is cropped away, changing the power of the image.
Above you can see the difference between a 3:2 and a 4:3 photo ratio. Photo: Gustav Kiburg
Selecting the right ratio for you photo wall print is so important because crucial elements in your photo may be cropped to fit the ratio (as you see with the bird’s beak).
Your camera shoots photos with a specific ratio. When you choose to print at a different ratio, then the original photo will need to be cropped either horizontally or vertically. This means that an important part of your photo may be lost.
How to check the ratio of your photo
Option 1 – Check your camera
The ratio of your photo depends on your camera’s sensor. Often you can determine the right ratio for printing simply based on the type of camera you have. Full-frame and APS-C camera’s shoot in a 3:2 ratio while compact cameras shoot more often in a 4:3 ratio. Photos taken with a smartphone often have either a 4:3 or a 16:9 ratio. Here’s a table with the most common photo ratios by camera type and where each ratio will look great in your home. Useful!????
Option 2 – Test in Photoshop
You can also easily check the ratio of your photo in Photoshop by using the Crop Tool. Follow these simple steps:
Open your photo in Photoshop
Select the Crop Tool
Select Ratio
Test different ratios! Start with the most common ratios of 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 and 5:4.
If the Crop frame captures almost your whole photo, you know you’ve found the right ratio!
Prefer a square or panorama photo wall print? Cropping your photo to fit a different ratio is easy! For a square photo, crop your photo to fit a 1:1 ratio. For a panorama photo, crop your photo to one of these ratios: 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 6:1.
Use the Crop Tool to easily check your photo’s ratio.
Option 3 – Calculate the ratio using your photo’s resolution
You can also calculate the ratio of your photo using the photo’s resolution. Easily find the resolution of your photo on a Window’s computer by right-clicking on the photo file and then scrolling down to Properties (on a Mac scroll down to “Get Info”). Under Details (“More Info” on a Mac) you’ll see the photo’s size in pixels. Check the article How to Check Your Photo’s Resolution Before Printingfor a more detailed explanation. ????
To calculate the ratio of your photo start by dividing its width (in pixels) by its height (in pixels). If the total is not a whole number (also called an integer), multiply it by another number until it is. These two numbers (the number you used to multiply it and the final total) are the ratio of the photo.
Example 1:
Your photo is 4966px by 3312px
Divide 4966 by 3312 = 1.5
Multiply 1.5 by 2 to get a whole number (1.5 X 2= 3)
Your photo’s ratio is 3:2
Example 2:
Your photo is 4416 x 3312 px
4416 divided by 3312 = 1.3
Multiply 1.3 by 3 to get close to a whole number(1.3 x 3= approx. 4)
Your photo’s ratio is 4:3
Is your photo ready for printing?
Check out all the photo ratios and sizes available at Xpozer.com. With an Xpozer 4-Pack you’ll experience your photography as never before!
We know it’s not always easy to find the time to actually print your photos, even though you really want to(and doing so is literally good for you). So we want to help! This tip will help you wade through the hundreds of photos you have saved and select the ones that will make your day better as prints on the wall.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR BEST PHOTO FOR PRINTING
Before you begin, backup!
Most likely you’ve taken many photos in the last few weeks and months, capturing memorable moments you don’t want to forget. You don’t want to accidentally lose these photos if your computer crashes, if your camera is stolen or if your dog eats your SD card! ????
Create a backup of your precious photos by saving them in several locations: on your computer, in the cloud(via Dropbox or Google Photo, for example) and/or on an external hard drive. Read this article for more detailed instructions on how to do this.
Choose your best photo in 6 steps:
Step 1: Get rid of the photo fails(5 min)
Blurry photos, photos with a hand in the way, where people are strangely positioned… With maybe the exception of really funny photo fails, you won’t be printing any of these. Delete them!
Step 2: Make quick a first selection(5 min)
After deleting your photo fails, you may still have hundreds of photos. By making a first selection you’ll be able to quickly focus on the photos that are worth considering for a wall print.
I use Lightroom for my first selection, rating each image with 1 to 5 stars. Check out this video by Adobe for more detail.
You can also keep it simple by making a new folder on your computer(named:“Wall Print Photo Options” for example) and dragging in all the photos that make it through your first selection.
Step 3: Look at the composition (5 min)
Photos with a good composition make the best wall prints. Go through your selected photos and choose photos that follow the basic composition tips(rule of thirds, balancing elements, etc). Read this article for a quick refresher on best composition tips.
Step 4: Consider the colors in your interior and in your photos(5 min)
Most of the time, I choose photos with colors that complement the colors in the space where I want to hang them. But if your interior has more understated colors, you could give it a color boost with a bright photo(and vice versa). Include these photos in your final selection.
Tip: Take a photo of your interior and Photoshop your selected photos above the furniture where they will hang to get an idea of how it will look!
The photo’s colors compliment the colors of the interior.
Step 5: Choose your sharpest photo (5 min)
Do you have more than one photo of the same subject? Always choose the most sharp one and double check its sharpness by looking at it at 100% size.
Step 6: Choose the photo that inspires you! (1 min)
What matters most is how you feel when you look at a photo, not how perfect it is. Choose the photo that makes you the most happy!
Choose a photo that recalls positive memories.
Congratulations! You know how to back up your photos, make a selection and are well on your way to creating a beautiful wall photo print. Keep going and soon you’ll be experiencing your photos as never before.
