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A New Kids’ Art Display Wall

by Jean Van't Hul
September 23, 2013
A Kids Art Display Wall with Thrifted Frames

We have a new kids’ art display area in our living room. We’ve tried various ideas over the years, from matted and framed art hung among the “grown up” art, to a hanging wire with clothespins and, of course, the good ole fridge display. Each has had their pros and cons and I imagine we’ll continue to do each a bit.

But…

I am LOVING our new kids’ art display solution! It looks great and yet is so easy and quick to add new artworks as they are created.

Childrens Art Display Wall with Frames 1

This art display wall is inspired by a few I’ve seen around the internet, including these frames painted directly on the wall by Christie Burnett of Childhood 101 and these frames with clothespin clips by Ruth at Living Well, Spending Less

I collected a variety of frames from yard sales, thrift stores, and my own stash, removed the glass and backing, then hung the empty frames on the wall. Using removable wall putty, I adhere the kids’ artworks directly to the wall, within the frames.

I like this solution because:

  • It’s quick and easy to change out artworks and to add new creations
  • The display looks professional (so much better than the fridge!)
  • The variety of frames accomodate a range of art sizes easily, from miniature to quite large
  • It allows us to cluster more than one artwork together into a frame, especially good for small artworks and for series (see photos above and below)
  • We can prop additional objects or notes on the bottom rim of the frame (see the love suncatcher and the sticker note below)
Childrens Art Display Wall with Frames 2

Here you can see a grouping of Maia’s candle drawings in one of the red-painted frames and one of Daphne’s abstract drawings in the other.

Kids Art Display Wall 3

Maia’s starry night collage is paired with a beaded love suncatcher in a simple wood frame.

Childrens Art Display Wall with Frames 4

And Daphne’s drawing of a person is paired with a love note to the family from Maia (made with markers and alphabet stickers on blank notecards) in another.

Childrens Art Display Wall with Frames 6

Besides attaching works on paper to the wall, as in the other examples, we’re also using the display wall for hanging works on canvas. This is a large (16 x 20″) canvas painting by Daphne that I hung on a small nail. When I’m ready to change out the artwork in this frame, I can either hang another canvas on the nail or remove the nail and fill in the tiny hole with spackle. Easy peasy.

Kids Art Display Wall 4

Maia’s even larger rainbow painting on foamcore is also tacked onto the wall with tiny nails because the removable wall putty wouldn’t support its weight.

What do you think? Do you have a kids’ art display solution that’s working for you? If so, I’d love to hear about it!

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