Photo wall help for stairs

9 years ago

I'm starting to design a photo wall for my stairs. This is my first attempt - what are people's thoughts? I think it is overall a bit high on the wall and needs to be lowered.What about the way it is laid out? I want something that is fairly symmetrical, / modern but is it too symmetrical? One suggestion I have gotten is to spread them out a bit more and I could do that and get rid of the vertical and four frames closest to the bottom.

The frames will all be the same and the photos will be travel photos.

Thanks :)

Featured Answer

PRO

ASVInteriors

9 years ago

I like where you are headed, but rather than trying to create a perfect zigzag down the stairs you may need to vary the edges a little so they are not so regimented...

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Comments (24)

PRO
Lampert Dias Architects, Inc.
9 years ago
They are a bit too high and too close together......
You have the right idea though and with a little adjustment you will have a lovely photo wall.
I found some examples to share wtih you.
Dell123
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks, I'll try spreading them out a bit more. Would you keep the same number of frames? Of the photos you posted, I only like the first one - the others are too busy for me.
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Dell123
Original Author
9 years ago
Trying to be less regimented! Think i need to go further still...
I'm wondering if the vertical frames should be changed for large square ones or something else? I'm laying it all out by eye at the moment so spacing is out between photos.
PRO
ASVInteriors
9 years ago
I think laying it out by eye is the best way to go - you can immediately see whether it works or not... I think you are getting there, but still I would vary the heights of two verticals as I still see the zig zag. Is this the fixed amount of images to frame? Or can there be more?
Dell123 thanked ASVInteriors
Dell123
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks, there can be more or less frames as I haven't purchased them yet. With the verticals would you move them up or down and which one(s)?
Dell123
Original Author
9 years ago
Oooo and I've just walked to my bedroom and from the landing (which you see the floor of in the top left hand corner) the photos at the top only come to the height of the railing and it looks odd so I need to make it higher or more photos going higher at the top of the stairs.
PRO
ASVInteriors
9 years ago
Definitely you are going to need more photos. I think your best bet is to get a string and pin two ends diagonally from the mid point at the top to the mid point at the bottom. Use that as you guiding line... This is a starting point (but please don't do this) but imagine exploding them out a little in both directions and more space between.
pivoines
9 years ago
going the right way, but need to go to the end of the wall at the top , I would loose the last top two,(the smaller ones on your last pic.) then do an arrangement of more frames on the rest of that top wall, but at regular height and do a classic 6 frames all the same size 3 up 3 under. I would do only 3 or 4 different size of frames, all identical but changing the size of the mat to fit the pictures. I love that you did a regimental setting , It makes it look cohesive,
you're almost there, congratulation !
PRO
Rebecca Mitchell Interiors
9 years ago
I agree with those that said the frames are too close together. You don't have to create perfectly symmetrical groupings either. Mix it up in a way that looks random yet appealing to the eye. Good luck from Montreal!
Dell123
Original Author
9 years ago
This is another suggestion, again moving away from being too regimented, but I like the way it (and this process!) is evolving. I need to make up some more templates for the top of the stairs.
PRO
Rebecca Mitchell Interiors
9 years ago
You're definitely on the right track!
PRO
ASVInteriors
9 years ago
I agree now it is starting to take the right shape...
Dell123
Original Author
9 years ago
Ok, I now need help with finishing the wall at the top of the stairs. I've fallen back into the too symmetical, zig zag pattern I think :( Also I think it looks a bit odd when looked at straight on from the top of the landing (see pic), but I don't know how to fill that tall vertical space.

I'm happy with the bottom and second group of four as well as the two verticals - it is from there that I get a bit stuck. I'm hoping to buy the frames this weekend. Also would you go from a grey frame or a white frame? I have white frames on the wall in the hall below, but thought the grey might tie in with the stairs.
pivoines
9 years ago
just even out the last group to the height of the second last one , so they are at the same level, because it is not part of the stairs but of the landing .it will work, try it .
pivoines
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
you could also omit the last two altogether and leave it .Stop at the stairs both up, and down at the base.
Dell123
Original Author
9 years ago
More like this?
pivoines
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I must say I find the tall ones , a bit disproportionate to the rest , try it with one third off, (the top sheets) and lets see . I would then align the middle tall one(now reduced) to the bottom of the one next to it ,then I would also reduce the distance between all the frames to about 4" in between. Even if the display is not the whole length of the stairs, as long as the distance at the bottom of the stairs is the same as the distance at the top of the stairs, it will work,
pivoines
9 years ago
by the way Walmart , Home depot etc... sell a picture hanging aid , it is a plastic rectangular ruler about 5" by 12" that will make the job of hanging them level, it has a hook where you hang the frame to, them you press on a small button at the front of it, it makes an indent on the wall where the nail should go, genious.
leelee
9 years ago
Try to make your arrangement less like stairs. A less structured look would be more pleasing and more interesting.
Dell123
Original Author
9 years ago
Playing around a lot again, adding a lot more to the top. I'm not sure how to make it less like stairs, considering it is going up the stair wall - there is going to be an element of diagonal in anything you do. Pivoines, I can't reduce the tall ones as that is how they come.
Dell123
Original Author
9 years ago
A few more, but imagine it with one more large photo above the last vertical (I ran out of paper!)
Dell123
Original Author
9 years ago
I got the frames up and photos in yesterday. I just have a couple of photos get printed and also some large frames to go up for the top of the stairs (above the horizontal frames), however I'm not sure yet how I'm actually going to manage that because it's out of my reach! It's probably still a bit too structured and zigzaggy but the zigzag look is hard to avoid on stairs! Happy for any comments and suggestions.
Tina Riggins
9 years ago
I think it looks good! Beautiful husky, by the way!