How to Make a Photo Wall Collage

Do you have a plain wall in your home that you have no idea how to decorate? It is time to take out the photographs stored in old shoe boxes or photo albums. You can also use digital photos that are just kept in compact discs that you rarely check out to enjoy. Read on to learn how to decorate your unused plain wall using boxed photographs.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Framed cork board (any size that you desire, should be proportionate to your wall)
• Photographs (old and new)
• Adhesive double-sided tape
• Scissors
• Hammer
• Level
• Nails or picture hooks
• Cut-out words from magazines and old books, or use computer generated print outs.

1. Purchase a cork board that is proportionate in size to the wall that you are decorating. You can go as big as 30-by-48-inch cork board to accommodate more pictures.

2. Hang the cork board securely on the wall using a hammer and nails or picture hooks. Use the level to make sure it is not slanted.

3. Gather old and new photographs. Make sure that you still have the negatives. To be 100% sure, make copies the old and new photographs which you will use in this project. Print out digital photos stored in compact discs or on memory sticks. Make sure your copies have a good back up.

4. Cut photos to shape. You can cut along the lines of the image you want to post on your cork board. You can outline the places you want to post your photos to show the sequence of events to make the photos tell stories that relate to each other. You can also mix photographs from your travels or family gatherings so that your collage will have a theme.

5. After you have outlined the positions of the photographs, start putting a couple of adhesive tapes on the back of each photo, and then one by one hang them on the cork board following the outline.

6. Leave spaces for cut-out words to use as labels or captions.

7. Cover with clear plastic to keep it protected, however, you can keep it exposed if so desired. Just keep it clean and dust-free by regularly wiping with a light feather duster.

Tips & Warnings

• Scan and then make a copy of the old ad rare photos. Then cut out the copy not the original.
• You can replace the photos each time. One good idea is changing photos with the seasons. Displaying photos that relate to each season.
• Do not cut out photos without checking if you have the original.
• Do not hang in humid areas so that the adhesive will not wear out.

[jeffsouthard]

on 8/14/2009 If you want to make a collage out of digital photos, check out CollageWall. The website let's you upload photos and layout the collage. Then they send you the ready-to-hang pictures. Very cool!
http://collagewall.com

[NDNative]

on 2/21/2008 Wonderful idea! Much more economical than framing individual photos or buying expensive or cheap-looking inexpensive frames. I plan to make various themed boards for different areas of my house. Thanks for the tips!

[SummerBanks]

on 11/28/2007 This is a great idea! Thanks!

[fossilflower]

on 11/22/2007 My daughter is going to do this project this weekend!