As a mom of four, much of my day is spent sorting through school papers and finished art projects. I hate to just toss the kids' art projects to my ever-expanding shuffle of papers on the kitchen counter, so I recently spent some time looking for cute and creative ways to display their art work. Here are a few of my top picks, with the key focus on being able to easily swap out last week’s piece for this week’s.
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Native Maps Reclaimed Wood Hangers ($45, available at West Elm) are simple in design, and they’re magnetic, which easily lets you change artwork in and out.
- There are lots of hanging cable designs these days, but Pottery Barn Kids’ Rainbow Dot Cable ($59) is adorable on its own and has ten circular clips just waiting to display a child's favorite works of art.
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ItsyArt will turn several of your kids’ paintings or drawings into a professionally designed and framed collage print for a more sophisticated, contemporary way of displaying art. While you can’t swap these out, you can find a very slick way to display multiple pieces at once.
- Hang art on wood-framed cork board, which can be found at most craft stores. Framed or unframed, these pieces can be easily swapped out for new art projects.
- Photo ledges or book ledges, like those found at Crate and Barrel or Crate & Kids ($25), are a great way to consolidate and display several art pieces. They can be framed or unframed, layered, you can mix in different accents items for an even more personalized look. Plus, you can change anything on the ledge without putting unsightly holes in the walls.
- I love the clipboard displays that you can find on Pinterest these days, but I always worry my attempt would look cluttered. Etsy seller Iron Loft Co.’s DIY Photo Display of Three Wood Clipboards Kit ($25) offers a unique way to display kids’ art without that risk.
- Consider using wall-safe tape (available in a variety of colors and patterns!) for hanging art – it looks especially fun in a kids’ bedroom, because it will look like a kindergarten classroom.
3 Tips from the experts at SwatchPop!
According to design experts at SwatchPop!, thinking outside the box is a must, meaning consider displaying kids’ art in other rooms of the house, not just kids’ rooms. “You will be surprised how a simple piece of art can bring a unique and unexpected touch of fun to any room."
Look for colors in your children’s art that complement a color scheme of a room in your house. It’ll make everything seem more uniform. Their tip is, when kids are painting, to only get out specific colors that will match their rooms. “This is a win-win because the kids still get to paint and you will end up with beautiful artwork that will look great displayed on the walls.”
And finally, they suggest switching out and existing piece of framed art from a gallery wall in your home and replacing it with a child’s artwork. “Blending artwork into existing gallery walls can make a space less informal, fun, and colorful.”
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About the author: Kathryn is the owner of Bicycle Pie and mom of 4 little ones. Also a writer, editor, and former owner of one of Boston's premiere baby boutiques, she continues to write about motherhood, children's products, family life, and all other things that test our skills and patience as parents.
Top photo credit: iStock.com/danchooalex
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