Giveaway and Design Tips to Make a Photo Collage Wall

Recently, I was invited to attend a party hosted by HP and interior designer Genevieve Gorder (you remember her from Trading Spaces, right?). The purpose of the event was to showcase HP's new photo wall decor products. I arrived early because I was super paranoid about being late. Being early can be so awkward sometimes can't it? This time it worked out for me and I got to chat with Genevieve for a little while about design and blogging. She was very nice, obviously passionate about design and so pretty! We bonded over our graphic design backgrounds and Northwest connections. I told her that I'd like to try printing some of my Instagram photos. And she shared that she had printed some low res Hipstamatic photos on canvas and they looked really great. Now I just need to choose which of my Instagrams I want to print!

As a graphic designer, I'm always interested in learning about how I can get things printed. Most of the time, when I'm on the job I need to have hundreds or thousands of one thing printed so I'll work with a big printing company. (Let me tell you, doing a press check is one of the most boring things you can ever do.) It's also really interesting to see how you can make just one copy of something quickly and for an affordable price. So, I was really excited to see all of the offerings that HP was showcasing, including canvas printing, mounted photos and posters. All of the items can be ordered online and then picked up the same day at a Walmart or Meijer location. How cool is that? It's a great way to have your digital photos printed and put on display without a lot of hassle.

The photo at the top of the post is my own photo collage in my tv/craft room/den featuring a variety of art pieces and photos in a mix of sizes. All of the pieces are things that I love seeing every day and each has a special meaning to me. I personally believe that whatever you hang on the walls of your home should move you and inspire you either with the beauty of the piece or with the memories and feelings associated with it. I make a point of collecting postcards and prints when I travel and I love having those memories sprinkled throughout my home.

During the event, Genevieve shared a few tips for creating your own photo collage. Here I've combined her tips with a few of my own to get you started making your own photo collage wall.

Photo Collage Wall Design Tips:

• Choose a hero photo  Every good design has a focal point. The same goes for a photo collage. Your eye needs somewhere to focus before it moves around to take in all the pieces. The focal piece is usually larger in size or brighter in color in a way that makes it stand out from the surrounding pieces.

• Mix it up  Use a mix of sizes, frames and subject matter. Mix up photos with illustrations and people photos with landscapes. You don't want all your photos to be the same because they won't look special anymore. Let each one be unique and it will make the whole look more interesting. Personally, I think you can never go wrong with a black frame (I get mine from IKEA) and white mat. 

• Use something other than photos  Scan old photos, drawings, collages, wallpaper, or anything you like. I will frame anything that I think is pretty, postcards, pressed leaves or even just a swatch of fabric. Sometimes, I buy a box of art notecards at a museum with the purpose of framing them later. Also check out the calendar clearance section for pretty prints. Cut out the ones you like and frame them up.

• Test your layout  Use paper templates to test how your layout will work. After you've determined the sizes of the photos, cut pieces of paper and tape them to the wall using painter's tape. Rearrange until you have a design you like. Be aware, newspaper can leave marks on your walls. Eek!

• Embrace asymmetry  It can be scary but an asymmetrical arrangement can look really cool. Give it a try! When everything is too lined up and perfect, it can look stiff and formal. See how I arranged my frames in the photo at the top? It's not symmetrical but it works.

• Put your collage wall in a passage way  This is purely one of Genevieve's tips and I think it's a great one. She recommends a hallway or stairwell for a photo collage because it will create flow from one room to another. 

Now for the giveaway. I have two $50 Walmart gift cards that you can use to try out your own canvas prints and mounted photos.

THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

$50 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway (2 Winners)

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Like Lula Louise on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Bloglovin.

2. Leave a comment on this post telling me about the photo collage wall you want to create or your favorite piece of wall decor.

TWO ADDITIONAL WAYS TO ENTER: 

1. Tweet about this giveaway and leave an additional comment telling me you did so.

2. Blog about this giveaway and leave an additional comment telling me you did so.

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You must have a USA shipping address to be eligible for entry. Remember, don't leave comments anonymously. I'll need to be able to reach you!

CONTEST CLOSES Midnight Pacific Time, Friday, March 29, 2013. I will announce the 2 winners Monday, April 1, 2013.

But wait there's more! HP is currently running a contest where you can win a $1,000 grand prize photo wall makeover by interior designer Genevieve Gorder, or one of 75 other photo wall makeover prizes each worth $250. Check it out at hp.com/go/wakeupyourwalls.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”