How to arrange a picture wall?

AlwaysWorking

Hi! I'm new to this part of the forum so please excuse me if I seem a little stupid about DIY & decorating!

My engagement recently ended and I've been staying at my mum's as the house, although mine, feels as though it has a lot of memories there. A poster suggested I do small things to make the house feel like mine again and so I've decided to tackle the hallway!

At the moment the walls are unpainted plaster (I've stripped off the old wallpaper) and the staircase is open. The wood has been (varnished?) a horrible yellow pine colour. Could I perhaps sand this back and redo in an oak colour to match the floor and doors? I thought if I stripped back the bannister and the ends of each step I could have carpet around the middle? Or am I being silly, would it be better to paint the wood cream like the shirting boards?

I'm going to wallpaper one wall (where strairs bend so immediately infront of front door) using this wallpaper http://www.lauraashley.com/cranberrys+reds/marciana-wallpaper/invt/3373536/ (already bought some time ago so please don't tell me it's awful! :rotfl:) and the walls and carpet beige/cream (no children!).

I thought then I would create a picture wall like this at the top of the stairs: http://www.scusi.co.za/products.php?product=STAIR-WALL-C2-1680x1530mm This would be on the wall opposite the wallpapered one, so not visible from the ground floor. I would get a local shop to make the picture frames. The only problem is that I have no idea how to hang them! I've read they should be around two inches apart and to make templates from paper and hang them first to make sure...but, looking at the arrangement, how far from the top of the bannister should the bottom picture be?! Where do I start? I'd be grateful for any help/opinions!

The hallway is bright and the walls will be a light colour, so should I go for black frames to be dramatic or oak ones to tone in with the staircase?

Many thanks if you have gotten this far!!!

murphydog999

Hi,
I think you are on the right track. The oak, cranberry and cream will look classy, and a dark red - poss stripe - carpet would look good in the centre of the treads. With pictures you have 2 ways to go, either be eclectic with lots of different frames in a haphazard setting, but try and stick with a central theme to the pictures to tie it all in, or go regimental with the same frames throughout, then you can vary the subject matter. Chose a cranberry type picture border for some, but not all the pictures.

If you go via the second route I would suggest you lay them out on the floor using a broom handle or similar as a guide to the correct angle, you can then take measurements and transfer this to the wall. Something else to think about, once you have your display it may not be easy adding more to it.

Hope that is of use, murph

EagerLearner

Sorry to hear your engagement ended OP, it's good to throw yourself into something creative. Great question about the frames, I have been keen to do this myself and have bought 2 frames so far - mine will be the ecclectic look eventually! Problem is we have artex walls to deal with... In our first home, previous owners painted the stair bannister too many times in gloss, would love to take it back, but prob need stripper rather than sanding, besides, there's artex to deal with there too, so no wallpaper for us... Sounds like you might get away with just sanding. Good luck!

sancho

We've started a 'picture wall' in our hall, mainly with old pictures of me and my wife as kids, ones of grandparent's wedding etc.

All we have done is buy lots of different frames, charity shops are sometimes good for quirky ones, Ikea had a few nice ones, M&S had a couple of big ones reduced to £1 last week

As for arranging them, we started with the biggest one, nearly in the middle of the wall, then worked outwards, trying to keep sizes and colours balanced either side (without looking symmetrical). We have made sure none of them are in line, either vertically or horizontally. With regards to gaps, just whatever looks right to you, after all it's you that has to look at it!!

lindos90

sancho wrote: »

We've started a 'picture wall' in our hall, mainly with old pictures of me and my wife as kids, ones of grandparent's wedding etc.

All we have done is buy lots of different frames, charity shops are sometimes good for quirky ones, Ikea had a few nice ones, M&S had a couple of big ones reduced to £1 last week

Ive seen something like that, think it was in a dulux or crown paint colour leaflet, lots of different shapes and styles of frames arranged diagonally up the stairs, but all painted the same colour, looked very classy!

OP, I would use paper templates and lightly buletac them onto the wall until you are happy with the 'flow' of pictures, but remember to take into account where the nails need to be, as some pictures hang lower than others, so dont put all the nails 1" lower than the top of the templates, look on the back of the frames and see how far down the fixing is on each picture!

Also have the bottoms of the frames a few inches higher than the rail height, so you are not likely to knock the frames when on the stairs, and use flatish frames (at least the lowest ones) so theres less to get caught when passing by.

SailorSam

Some suggestions here.
28 Tips for Hanging Art