Most of us like to keep photographs of family, friends, and fun sitting around to remember those we love and the great times we've had. Although photo albums make a convenient place for storing the most special pictures that we want to preserve, our homes offer many alternative ways of displaying drawings, poems, decorations, and photos in attractive frame settings.



Determining where to place your framed pictures is one of the challenges involved with home decorating. On one hand, you don't want to put up so many family pictures that guests get bored or feel that the host is self-centered. But on the other hand, family photos in individual or group shots can add a warm feeling to any room. The key is to strike a balance. Some families make a "wall of fame" display of loved ones' photos in the family room, staircase wall, or another living space. Framed photos remind viewers that loved ones are special, and if they won't be with us always, their images will remain for many years to come.

Another type of framed art that adds to a home's beauty comes in a range of artistic wall hangings that are framed by coordinating frames of wood, acrylic, or metal. Typically, the frames will match household fixtures or furniture, or provide interest accent points for the rooms in which they appear. Delicate dried flowers, a child's handprint, someone's personal poem, or a favorite Bible verse make wonderful framed feature pieces for your home's walls.

However, you need not restrict all your framed art for the walls only. You can set table framed pieces on the bedroom dresser, atop corner shelves, and even on the bathroom vanity. Coffee tables or end tables invite these special objects of interest, as do bookshelves, plant stands, and window sills. Kitchen counter space and dining room tables, when not in use, also provide great spots for cute curios. If you have collected several items over the years, you can get a lighted collector's cabinet to keep the most attractive or recent on display for guests and family members alike.

If you are an arts-and-crafts kind of person, you can take a class on framing and learn to do it yourself. Then you can buy the materials on sale and put up any special wall piece that you want to preserve, whether it is a diploma, a watercolor, or a collage. You may even be able to sell your work at craft fairs. But if this isn't your cup of tea, you can always pay to have certain pieces framed by professionals who work with these materials all the time. You can get a simple picture frame, with backing, of course, for wall or table use. Or you can request a matte finish to add dimension and perspective to your art piece.

Don't overlook this exciting way of putting your family's heirlooms to work as home decorator pieces. Start shopping for attractive, functional frames.