Ask Veronica: What’s your take on displaying family photos in the living room?

I know plenty of people who proudly display family pictures in the public rooms of their home, but up until about a month ago I was not one of them. With the exception of the kitchen, I’ve always kept photos of family life, including wedding portraits and baby pictures, in second-floor bedrooms and hallways.

I can’t recall when or how this so-called “rule” took shape. Does it have roots in my childhood, where portraits of my mom and her sister decorated my grandmother’s living room walls, and so I tend to associate the look with an aesthetic that’s past its peak? Likewise, unlike others, I’ve never been inspired to hang a family portrait above the fireplace mantel, though I do enjoy them when I see them in friends’ homes. Same goes for an arrangement of snapshots from a family vacation on an entry table, or decorating the wall leading up to a second floor. Underlying my decision to keep family pictures out of “public rooms” is a sense that it renders rooms too informal for my liking, and that their appearance in these spaces diminishes the sophistication of the rooms.

Photography by Veronica Theodoro

Photography by Veronica Theodoro

Then, I had a change of heart. When I moved a large table into my living room–the area of my home that I see as the most formal–I suddenly had a lot more surface space to decorate. I own plenty of objet d’art—vases, candlesticks, etc.—so designing a tableaux wasn’t difficult. But when I stepped back to take a look at my handiwork, I realized it needed something more, something different. Against my own design philosophy, I grabbed a few photos from my bedside nightstand, as well as from my husband’s office. I chose professional photos only to lend a more formal air to the space, and ones that are framed in styles that would blend easily with the surrounding decor. Crystal frames were deemed too twee for a living room, but a handful of portraits would create a cohesive aesthetic.  

I couldn’t be happier with the new setup.

Stylistically, mind you, I continue to draw the line at a family photo or snapshots from vacation. I still prefer to keep those upstairs or in a more casual space, such as the hearth. But portraits of the kids showing how they’ve grown introduces a warmth and coziness that was missing in the room. I get the sense that I’m going to have a lot of fun styling photos there in years to come, and I couldn’t be happier about it.