Decorating Guides
How to Display Your Baby-Picasso's Artwork at Home
Explore 10 creative ways to hang up your kids’ paintings and drawings for everyone to admire
It goes without saying that a child’s homemade card or a school painting is far more valuable to us than any budget-busting artwork picked up in a posh gallery. So why not display these precious pieces with the same pomp, glory and attention? Filing them away in a safe place may be one option, but there’s no joy in stashing such prized possessions out of sight. Instead, frame these bold, unique beauties in a hallway gallery or kitchen alcove, or use a simple system of pegs and clips so you can switch around the creations when new ones arrive. You never know, you could be displaying the early works of the next Damien Hirst….
Block it out
Paint your walls (and furniture, if you dare) in an all-over spirited hue and your children’s artwork won’t fail to shine. Frame all the pieces in identical black frames for clarity and coherence.
If you don’t want to hang up the pictures, you can always prop them on long shelves with a slim lip to keep them in place.
See more ways to be brave with colour
Paint your walls (and furniture, if you dare) in an all-over spirited hue and your children’s artwork won’t fail to shine. Frame all the pieces in identical black frames for clarity and coherence.
If you don’t want to hang up the pictures, you can always prop them on long shelves with a slim lip to keep them in place.
See more ways to be brave with colour
Pack a punch with colour
This display sums up children’s artwork in a nutshell. The loud, proud neons, paint-pot primaries and naive interpretations of the world around us are as beautiful and precious as any expensive collector’s piece and, of course, way more personal.
The pretty colours and patterns here liven up a plain, sparse space to such striking effect that I’m sure you’ll be inspired to dig out creations by the little people in your life for your own at-home gallery.
This display sums up children’s artwork in a nutshell. The loud, proud neons, paint-pot primaries and naive interpretations of the world around us are as beautiful and precious as any expensive collector’s piece and, of course, way more personal.
The pretty colours and patterns here liven up a plain, sparse space to such striking effect that I’m sure you’ll be inspired to dig out creations by the little people in your life for your own at-home gallery.
Accessorise around their artwork
This is a lovely idea. Whether you ask your children to create a few pieces of artwork based around the colours of your decorating scheme, or you’ve been inspired to pick out patterns and shades from their handiwork, the coordinating hues will instil an aesthetically pleasing touch to your room. Use vibrant washi tape to stick them up to add even more colour.
You can’t go wrong with all-white walls and floor where splashes of colour and geometric prints are concerned, and as your kids dream up more works of art, take the lead from their artistic flair with a new set of accessories to match.
This is a lovely idea. Whether you ask your children to create a few pieces of artwork based around the colours of your decorating scheme, or you’ve been inspired to pick out patterns and shades from their handiwork, the coordinating hues will instil an aesthetically pleasing touch to your room. Use vibrant washi tape to stick them up to add even more colour.
You can’t go wrong with all-white walls and floor where splashes of colour and geometric prints are concerned, and as your kids dream up more works of art, take the lead from their artistic flair with a new set of accessories to match.
Peg it up
Playrooms and bedrooms are already such colourful, laid-back hubs, so throwing up some colourful children’s art is a natural extension of the happy-go-lucky look.
If you don’t want to damage the wall with a multitude of nails and hooks, use a row of string or wire – with just one fixing at either end – and pegs for a charming, DIY solution for displaying homemade cards and prized drawings. You could also try hanging the string vertically.
Playrooms and bedrooms are already such colourful, laid-back hubs, so throwing up some colourful children’s art is a natural extension of the happy-go-lucky look.
If you don’t want to damage the wall with a multitude of nails and hooks, use a row of string or wire – with just one fixing at either end – and pegs for a charming, DIY solution for displaying homemade cards and prized drawings. You could also try hanging the string vertically.
Clip up the artwork
In the early days, your children will undoubtedly arrive home daily from playgroup, nursery or school armed with a mountain of paintings, drawings and collages. It’s a shame to box up such cute, quirky pieces, so why not hang up rows of bulldog clips fixed to the wall (here, the metal clips are attached to wooden battens, but you may prefer to fix them directly to your wall) so art can be displayed as it arrives.
The beauty with this idea is you can swap and change the ever-evolving gallery for a fresh new display every week. And don’t forget to position the clips at the right height so younger members of the family can proudly display their handiwork themselves.
In the early days, your children will undoubtedly arrive home daily from playgroup, nursery or school armed with a mountain of paintings, drawings and collages. It’s a shame to box up such cute, quirky pieces, so why not hang up rows of bulldog clips fixed to the wall (here, the metal clips are attached to wooden battens, but you may prefer to fix them directly to your wall) so art can be displayed as it arrives.
The beauty with this idea is you can swap and change the ever-evolving gallery for a fresh new display every week. And don’t forget to position the clips at the right height so younger members of the family can proudly display their handiwork themselves.
Mix with famous artworks
This display really proves that children’s artwork is as eye-catching and effective as any great artist’s because who can spot the difference between the childish doodles and the famous pieces by Andy Warhol, also featured here?
Maximise impact by mixing up your home-grown talent with prints by artists you admire and use simple white frames for a unified group. The result: An eclectic, personality-packed display that will mean so much more than a series of shop-bought pictures.
This display really proves that children’s artwork is as eye-catching and effective as any great artist’s because who can spot the difference between the childish doodles and the famous pieces by Andy Warhol, also featured here?
Maximise impact by mixing up your home-grown talent with prints by artists you admire and use simple white frames for a unified group. The result: An eclectic, personality-packed display that will mean so much more than a series of shop-bought pictures.
Go big
This scheme takes its youthful artwork seriously: The owners have chosen large paintings and given them a prominent, stand-alone position above the dining table. Notice, too, how the bright, bold brushmarks tie in with the pretty patterns of the tablecloth – a nice design touch that further lends gravitas to these cheerful pictures.
This scheme takes its youthful artwork seriously: The owners have chosen large paintings and given them a prominent, stand-alone position above the dining table. Notice, too, how the bright, bold brushmarks tie in with the pretty patterns of the tablecloth – a nice design touch that further lends gravitas to these cheerful pictures.
Do a DIY job
Forget expensive customised name signs and create your own labels using DIY hand-and- footprint art. These simple white frames show off the homemade artwork to a great effect and remind each member of the family where to hang their coats (no squabbles here, then).
It’s a sweet, homespun look that’s very easy to re-create in your own home; be it in a cloakroom, bedroom or bathroom.
Forget expensive customised name signs and create your own labels using DIY hand-and- footprint art. These simple white frames show off the homemade artwork to a great effect and remind each member of the family where to hang their coats (no squabbles here, then).
It’s a sweet, homespun look that’s very easy to re-create in your own home; be it in a cloakroom, bedroom or bathroom.
Protect and perfect
I love this wall-mounted, framed display, which is a cross between a pinboard and a glass case. It works brilliantly for children’s artwork, too, as you can simply swap and change each piece as the weeks go by (without the need for individual frames), slotting them in-between important reminders and pretty postcards.
The hallway is the perfect zone for this sort of installation, as it makes for an instant shot of colour and interest to stop guests in their tracks.
Read more:
Design a Room That Will Grow With Your Child
5 Extraordinary Ways to Dress Up Your Walls
Tell us:
How do you display your children’s artwork at home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
I love this wall-mounted, framed display, which is a cross between a pinboard and a glass case. It works brilliantly for children’s artwork, too, as you can simply swap and change each piece as the weeks go by (without the need for individual frames), slotting them in-between important reminders and pretty postcards.
The hallway is the perfect zone for this sort of installation, as it makes for an instant shot of colour and interest to stop guests in their tracks.
Read more:
Design a Room That Will Grow With Your Child
5 Extraordinary Ways to Dress Up Your Walls
Tell us:
How do you display your children’s artwork at home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
Don’t just think about the frames when it comes to displaying your children’s art, think about the backdrop, too. Choose a statement wall and this can add some serious design clout.
This charcoal panelled wall becomes a striking modern gallery space for bright, bold pictures, which burst out from the darkness. The panels also form frames to highlight each piece. Plus there’s room to add more pictures as the children grow.
Browse more ideas for using dramatic black in the home