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A family photo bookshelf project can turn an overlooked hallway wall into a meaningful part of your home. In this example, built-in bookshelves felt like they needed an extra decorative touch, so family photographs were enlarged as blueprint copies and arranged on the wall around the shelves. The result pairs personal history with a practical, often-underused space.
How the family photo bookshelf project came together
The blueprint copies were trimmed to fit the wall, with an extra half inch added to each side before cutting. Double-sided tape was used to attach the prints, and an X-Acto knife removed excess paper once they were in place. The project took two afternoons to complete.
Before making copies, measure the area where each print will go and plan how the images will relate to the shelves. Leaving a little extra around the edges can provide room for trimming, as it did in this project. If you are trying a similar approach, test the tape on a small, less visible area first and follow its instructions for your wall surface. Use a cutting tool carefully, protecting the wall beneath the paper.
Choosing meaningful family photos
The images in this display are family photographs, many from the childhoods of the project creator’s mother and father. A particularly memorable choice was a large photograph from the grandparents’ wedding day. Including pictures from different generations gives the display a personal feel and can make family stories part of everyday home decor.
Practical tips for planning your display
- Choose images with a connection: Childhood pictures, wedding photographs, and other family milestones can create a display that feels personal rather than purely decorative.
- Check print size and placement: Compare the print dimensions with the available wall space before attaching anything. This can help avoid awkward overlaps with shelves or nearby details.
- Handle originals with care: Make copies for display rather than attaching valuable original photographs directly to a wall.
- Work in stages: Measuring, trimming, positioning, and securing prints separately can make a multi-image project easier to manage.
This family photo bookshelf project shows how familiar photographs can be used in an unexpected way to personalize a hallway. With careful measuring, suitable wall-safe materials, and images that matter to the household, a bookshelf area can become both a useful feature and a display of family memories.
— Elsie
