Beautifully Striking & Unique Ways To Display Old Family Photos
There’s a reason why people commonly collect, sell, and display old photos–whether or not they know the people captured in the photographs. It’s because old photographs are really cool. They’re a window into the past, their sepia genuinely earned.
And when you actually know the people in the pictures, when they’re your grandparents, your great-grandparents, and on and on, then the precious archival factor only increases.
Only, not many people feel inclined to actually display these vintage family photos the way they do photographs of their immediate family.
They images are usually tiny, for one. And for two, oh, well, I’ll just stick them in this box for now.
For no reason, I got the urge to investigate the way others have so cleverly found ways to display their old family photos. You’ve probably already thought of all of these. Probably already have those babies on display. You brilliance, you.
So, today I’m playing that massively overdone role of curator of concept. Here comes:
This first display tactic would likely never have occurred to me. And, it managed to stop me in my tracks (scroll). New (to me), surprising, and surprisingly delightful–that spells a winning idea I’m almost certain.
Iteration number 1 is from Shabby Love Blog:
And two, via White Life Photography:
Three and four are mysteries, and five, from Etsy:
Am I alone in thinking this is the most darling idea, like ever?
The round glass shape lends an air of whimsy to the already storied, and thus rather serious picture.
Another way to honor and display: present archival photos with an element that, itself, feels vintage.
Think Miniature Rhino’s vintage wooden thread spools:
Or, c/o HGTV, a silver tray:
Or even something as lovely and elegant Simple as this (from Miss Gracie’s House):
You can go broad strokes and clean look by way of unified collage, as did Leila Younis (via Apartment Therapy):
Or, go all out with a gallery wall (you knew that was coming at some point in this post, didn’t you?), like this one from Urban Grace:
In any case, if you have in your possession a bundle or three archival photos, you might as well let them see the light of day. Or even the blue light of many screens! I’m sure they’d happily take either before the claustrophobia and darkness of a box.
(Who ever said there wasn’t a place for sentimentality in Live Simply, huh?)
Question of the day: how would (or do) you display your old family photos??
7 Comments
Leave a Comment
Other Posts You May Love
7 Comments
-
on July 13, 2016 at 7:03 am
Love the glass ideas!
I have a pile of old framed photos. I keep looking at them trying to decide.. Do I take them out of the old frames and place them in something newer? Will that make them loose some of that vintage look? I think long term I want them in a photo book just becasue storage is easier, but there is just something about those frames that give these photos a special look. Then again, I do not want to hang them on my wall. So for now they sit in a pile while I try to decide.
-
on March 30, 2020 at 6:04 pm
I really like the Urban Grace photo but it is hard to tell how they did this. It looks like each picture is in a sleeve and tacks in each corner. The tacks would need to be flat or it would have to be a shadow box, which it does not look like. The link does not show anything regarding the picture. Just looking to see if anyone sees this differently?
-
on July 26, 2020 at 7:02 pm
Very interested in how photos were displayed in the one hanging above toilet. Is it push pins? Please let us know how it was done. Great way to display photos without several frames.
-
-
-
on July 13, 2016 at 4:38 pm
I put copies of old family photos into clear glass Christmas ornaments, and wrote the names on the back in pencil. It’s like a real-life family tree every Xmas when we decorate the tree!
Wish I could include a photo — the ornaments are pretty cool. -
on May 6, 2019 at 10:15 pm
I am finding this post year after you created it, but am so glad! I have tons of old family photos and have always been a collector of the “lost” photos in stores too. My kids just both got married and our tree is now empty of their ornaments. I am going to try your suggestions, including the Christmas ornament one. Thank you!
-
I really like the Urban Grace photo but it is hard to tell how they did this. It looks like each picture is in a sleeve and tacks in each corner. The tacks would need to be flat or it would have to be a shadow box, which it does not look like. The link does not show anything regarding the picture. Just looking to see if anyone sees this differently?
-
-
on April 2, 2020 at 6:08 am
To reply to Carlla – I think the Urban Grace presentation is a simple frame but each photo is held with photo corner stickers – which are available from Amazon. Therfore, you would not need a shadow box.
Leave a Comment
Welcome
Search The Blog
Simplify Your World
Sign up for the email list to get inspiration and simplified tips sent right to your inbox.
On Pinterest
Love the glass ideas!
I have a pile of old framed photos. I keep looking at them trying to decide.. Do I take them out of the old frames and place them in something newer? Will that make them loose some of that vintage look? I think long term I want them in a photo book just becasue storage is easier, but there is just something about those frames that give these photos a special look. Then again, I do not want to hang them on my wall. So for now they sit in a pile while I try to decide.
I really like the Urban Grace photo but it is hard to tell how they did this. It looks like each picture is in a sleeve and tacks in each corner. The tacks would need to be flat or it would have to be a shadow box, which it does not look like. The link does not show anything regarding the picture. Just looking to see if anyone sees this differently?
Very interested in how photos were displayed in the one hanging above toilet. Is it push pins? Please let us know how it was done. Great way to display photos without several frames.
I put copies of old family photos into clear glass Christmas ornaments, and wrote the names on the back in pencil. It’s like a real-life family tree every Xmas when we decorate the tree!
Wish I could include a photo — the ornaments are pretty cool.
I am finding this post year after you created it, but am so glad! I have tons of old family photos and have always been a collector of the “lost” photos in stores too. My kids just both got married and our tree is now empty of their ornaments. I am going to try your suggestions, including the Christmas ornament one. Thank you!
I really like the Urban Grace photo but it is hard to tell how they did this. It looks like each picture is in a sleeve and tacks in each corner. The tacks would need to be flat or it would have to be a shadow box, which it does not look like. The link does not show anything regarding the picture. Just looking to see if anyone sees this differently?
To reply to Carlla – I think the Urban Grace presentation is a simple frame but each photo is held with photo corner stickers – which are available from Amazon. Therfore, you would not need a shadow box.