Freeze Frame!
STORY CHERYL LONG
Enhance your home décor with the perfect photo.
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words but according to professional photographer Harold Feng, it can say so much more. Not only does a captivating image dress up a blank wall, but it can do double duty by bringing a feeling or sense of emotion to a space.
“Having and displaying photos lets you express yourself and your personality,” Harold says. Melissa Heaman, owner of Harbour Mill Design in Baden, Ontario, feels the same way. “Photography is a great way to display images of personal significance as well as evoke emotions and personal style.”
From special pieces of art to innovative sculptures and planters, there are so many ways to add interest to your walls. But few tell a story quite like a photograph. Whether you invest in professional imagery or choose to display some of your own photos, here are a few tips to make the most of this special medium.
Song suite of photographs by Francesco Scavullo.
COLOUR OR BLACK AND WHITE?
It depends, Harold explains. Both are popular but if you’re hoping to evoke a more uplifting, cheerful ambience, colour is the way to go. Black and white images tend to create a
more moody, mysterious feeling and work well on a white or grey wall. Walls painted a more dramatic hue are better balanced with colour images.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t mix both, Melissa says. “Combining black and white and colour photographs together is absolutely acceptable if the room’s design allows it. Where black and white can be timeless and classic, colour can complement other accents in the room’s décor.
PLACES, PEOPLE OR THINGS
When it comes to subject matter, the sky’s the limit. Landscapes, architecture and people are photography mainstays, Melissa says,
but today’s trends are focusing on images of barn animals and abstract photography using experimental photography methods. Still,
she suggests choosing art based on personal interest over passing trends.
PUTTING THEM ON DISPLAY
This is where the possibilities are truly endless, far beyond arranging frames on a table. Robin Boles, owner of Robin Interiors in Kitchener, Ontario, suggests creating a gallery wall-style grouping, designing a picture ledge or going with large-scale photos either framed or blown up on canvas. Spacing between multiple photos should be kept to a few inches, she recommends, and remember the rule of odd numbers. “Things on display usually look better in groups of three or five.”
There are several ways to replicate a gallery feel, though Harold says he prefers a balanced layout of black and white images hung next
to each other along a wall. The hanging height is very important as well. “The museums and galleries have all photos at eye level,” and though that height can differ from person to person, the rule of thumb is 57 to 70 inches from the floor. If you’re hanging an image above furniture, leave a five- to eight-inch gap.
MIXING MEDIUMS
There are no rules when it comes to
placing a striking photo beside a beautiful watercolour or a unique wall sculpture. “I absolutely would display them together without really overthinking it,” Robin says. “Pay attention to repeating motifs – colours, shapes, sizes.”
Considering your room’s style and function is crucial, Melissa suggests, before choosing the subject matter, display method or size of photos.
Budget is also key and with today’s technology don’t be afraid to mix your own photographs with professional works of art to create a price-conscious, truly custom look.
If you want to add a sense of variety and another dimension of interest to your home décor, photography is a fantastic option.
For those who want to invest beyond their own photographs, your best bet is to consult someone like Melissa, who is an art- educated designer, or an art dealer, gallery or professional photographer.
