Master Bedroom revamp - displaying pictures

Today I'm going to show you how we rearranged the photos we had hanging on the wall. Before, I had a family picture above my bed.  By doing so I'd committed one of the most cardinal sins of home decorating, which is to hang pictures that are too small for the space on the wall.  Here's a prime example:

It looks small and unimportant there, doesn't it?  One better option would have been to do a collage of pictures, if I really felt that photo needed to be on the wall.

I've seen people hang even smaller pictures though - 4x6, 5x7.  Even 8x10 in some cases is TOO SMALL to go on the wall.  Unless it is part of a vignette, in a niche or a corner somewhere.  Those sizes are meant for table tops. That is why they have a stand that folds out behind them, lol!

So I wisened up and put this larger Ansel Adams print above our bed, in it's *new* location.  Because it is now framed by 2 windows, it is the perfect size for this space.

I'm not sure why but a lot of times we are too afraid to hang large photos or even artwork on our walls.  The same attitude goes for color.  Why are people so afraid to paint their walls something other than tan?  Break out of your comfort zones people.

So what did I do with the family photo I originally had hanging on the wall, you might ask?

Here it is!  Along with several other favorite photos.  I leaned all my photos up against the foot of the bed while we were rearranging things, not on purpose at all.  And decided I liked it!  That happens to me a lot, coming up with something awesome by accident.  In fact - here's a story for you.  My daughter has the most exquisite piece of furniture in her bedroom.  A perfectly shabby chic dresser.  13 years ago we "inherited" this piece from my in laws' garage.  I loved it.  But it was an awful color (at the time).  A dark forest green.  My mother-in-law agreed to help me strip it down to bare wood.  We worked and we worked on that thing.  All day long.  Took a break to eat something and when we came back I decided I liked the way it looked with all the layers of paint peeking through.  Not a year later guess what trend emerged?  Shabby chic ya'll!  True story.  I know Rachel Ashwell had been doin' her thing for some time, but I hadn't seen it yet.  Not that I'm tootin' my horn or anything.  Some accidents are just meant to be, I guess!

And should you be curious about the first shabby chic dresser ever (kidding!):

I might have a made a killing off of this had I known, though.  Given Rachel Ashwell a run for her money?  I'm just sayin'!

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR ME IN SWEET CHARLI'S BIRTHDAY PARTY CONTEST!!!  GO HERE AND CHECK OUT MY ENTRIES: #1, #5, #13 and #14!!!