How to Curate Kids' Art

by Lisa Frederick · 8 photos · 10 comments

traditional bathroom by Shoshana Gosselin

Framed in identical white mats with ID tags at the base and arranged along a neutral wall, these scribbled sketches attain gallery status. The cohesive frame and hanging treatments, plus the similarity of the works, creates the feel of a triptych.

by Shoshana Gosselin

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Sometimes the opposite route makes the most sense: displaying paintings, sketches and photos on a gallery wall, with no common thread except the fact that you love them. This is a great strategy for merging kids' art into a grouping of adult works, which boosts its presence and brings the collection down to earth.

by Ninainvorm

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This little trio of bright works elevates a simple bath and infuses it with a warm, comfortable personality. Unframed canvases are relatively inexpensive, so buy a few, choose a selection of paint colors that complement your design scheme and let your children go to town (or join in the fun yourself). When you're finished, you'll have a smattering of artwork that naturally goes together.

by Emily A. Clark

eclectic dining room by Knapp Interiors, Inc.

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Crowned with mini masterpieces, this breakfast nook feels like a cozy corner bistro. Notice the careful attention to detail — the cohesive white frames reflect the room's pale tones, while the colorful art echoes the brightly patterned tabletop. The effect is sophisticated yet not at all stuffy.

by Knapp Interiors, Inc.

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Instead of family photos or portraits, try lining a stairwell or a corridor with kids' drawings and paintings. Choose a variety of frame sizes and shapes to add energy and keep the grouping from feeling static.

by Stacy Jacobi

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Leaving aside the all-blue paint treatment (whoa!), leaning kids' art along a ledge such as this shows it off in a casual, graphic way and makes it easy to rotate regularly. In such a bold space, too many vivid artworks might have overpowered each other. Instead, the brighter ones are balanced by more restrained selections — a great tactic with any collection.

by Incorporated

eclectic bedroom by Molly McGinness Interior Design

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In a similar vein, these works are clustered along a dresser. Bright frames add extra punch. Combining them with vibrant works is effective and eye catching in a neutral setting.

by Molly McGinness Interior Design

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The mudroom is the first point of entry for a lot of kids, so mount their prized artwork where they can see it right away. Choosing a variety of frames in a single color, though varying their visual weight, ties the potpourri of pieces together.

Get more ideas for fun and colorful kids' spaces

by Emily A. Clark

Comments

Erika Bierman Photography Love it, very happy and cheerful!

11 months ago · Like

renabuch Nice arrangements! We use Li'l Davinci frames from dynamicframes.com because each frame opens from the front for easy access, and holds up to 50 kids' masterpieces. You can make gorgeous galleries on your walls (like the ones you show), and easily add or rotate the artwork. You've inspired me to create a new gallery for our staircase!

11 months ago · Like ·

heatheroooo Great ideas! Did you read the survey about parents feeling guilty about throwing their kids’ drawings away? Here are some more ideas for storing, displaying and making keepsakes from kids’ art. http://www.happydoodles.com/blogs/news/6041344-63-of-parents-feel-guilty-about-ditching-kids-artwork

11 months ago · Like ·

Jennifer Great album! Thank you.

11 months ago · Like

elianamarina Great ideas to use our kids' artwork and to value our kids' artistic talents! You can also check http://ilovemykidsart.com/ for adorable canvas or prints where you can customize your kid's artwork background so it match your room decor.

11 months ago · Like

Leslie Dawn knowles Just love these ideas, I know from experience too how much it means to a child that we take the time and trouble to display their creations.

11 months ago · Like

Emily A. Clark Such a great post. Thanks for including my photographs--and my kids' artwork :)

11 months ago · Like

beggart The company Original Works at www.originalworks.com takes children's art and prints it on keepsakes. Items they offer include mousepads, aprons, pillow cases, Christmas Ornaments, tote bags, nite lights and many other items. A great way to display your childrens art and make them proud of their creations.

11 months ago · Like

artsycreator97 I know that there is a really cool website called childsown.com that turns your child's artwork into stuffed animals! Imagine the look of your kid's face when they get their drawing In a real life toy!!! Super cute