By Tata Rossi 2 days ago, Photography Tips
It’s nice to look at your old photos and recall old events, travels, and memories with your loved ones. However, it can be difficult to come up with ways to properly store and show them instead of putting them in boxes and leave unopened for years.
For those who want not only to preserve old photos but also to make an attractive decor or a memorable gift out of them, I’ve compiled a list of creative things to do with old pictures.
There are lots of creative things to do with old pictures and they are ideal for DIY projects. Check DIY photo album ideas to arrange your pictures in a nice way. You can also make an interesting photo collage on your wall, make 3D displays of images, create a travel map, etc. Here are some nice ideas for you.
To implement this idea, you need old photos of buildings, interesting landscapes, or winter compositions. Place them in glass containers or tabletop lamps.
Then backlight them with electric lights and the lamp will glow.
If you have 30 images, then you can easily create a nice magnetic photo calendar.
Number your photos with a marker and use cards or strips to write notes and place them behind your pictures. If your images are severely damaged, you may first need to fix them in photo restoration software.
Another variation of a lamp for decorating a room is 3D paper models of buildings. To create such models, you need images of buildings, beautiful locations, and historical landmarks. Follow professional architecture photography tips to take such photos. To make the composition look even more impressive, light it with candles.
Old images of buildings can also be used to decorate a lamp. You can either place them on a lampshade or create something like a round display with photos.
To create personalized photo pillow cases, get your pictures printed on fabric. In the same way, you can decorate any textiles in the house, for example, make a photo quilt.
The main thing is to be accurate with measurements. For instance, when you print your photos to create a pillowcase, make them of the same size as your pillow is.
If you have one empty wall, decorate it with a family tree with old images. You can draw it yourself or pick ready-made family tree pictures and decorative elements to match the color scheme of the room.
It will not only attract attention but also introduce guests to the history of your family. Besides, such a tree offers a tangible representation of their lineage, enabling future generations to appreciate and learn about their family's roots. Moreover, a photo family tree serves as a beautiful keepsake, fostering a sense of identity, belonging, and pride within the family. It can spark conversations, storytelling, and the sharing of cherished memories, strengthening family bonds across generations.
One of the most interesting creative things to do with old pictures is to make a tablecloth from them. Use your pictures, select the first photographs ever taken, or take black&white copies of images you like and glue them together.
To make the decor look organic, add frames with photos, collages, or displays to the interior.
Photo wall clocks are another way to show your family photos in an interesting way. They will be a great decoration for your room and can save you some money compared to buying a large wall clock.
Besides photo frames, to create such a clock, you can use small shelves to place pictures on them. This option is practical because you can replace photos with wooden numbers or other deco element later.
Turn one wall into a chalkboard to draw your own photo frames on it. To do this, you just need to choose a paint or chalkboard vinyl paper and get pieces of chalk.
It’s a very interesting way to display your pictures and add some meaning to them. Also, it’s nice that you can change it whenever you want.
Use photos, threads, and spring clips to decorate the wall and display old pictures at the same time. First of all, you need to convert negatives to digital photos and print them.
The geometric design is nice and you have full freedom for experiments. You can make a similar shape, or create something completely different such as a chevron pattern, etc.
Moreover, you can use old pictures to decorate clothes. Place the photo on the fabric and create an original look for family holidays.
If you have many old photos, you don’t need to buy extra decorations for your house. Just decide on an interesting photo wall idea and create a gorgeous picture.
The wall can fit tens of images. You can even create personalized photo wallpaper to add an original vibe to your studio or apartment.
This is one of the ideas for old pictures that attracts with its unique style. Washi tape frames pasted in unusual geometric shapes will result in original wall art.
Besides, the washi tape set won’t leave any marks on the wall so everything will look neat.
You can jazz up a family celebration using a photo display.
Use a wooden frame, clothespins, and decor that matches your style. The cozy, rustic style is great for displaying your memories.
A vintage window photo frame is perfect for a wall in the living room. Reusing or assigning various objects like picture frames is helpful as those frames sold in stores frequently lack individuality and style that you get when you make your own photo frame.
What I like the most is that when you look at the view through this vintage window frame, you feel as if it’s right outside your window.
This idea will appeal to those who carefully store pictures from all vacations. Print them in one of the best photo printing services and arrange them in the shapes of the countries that you have been to.
Adding them to your old map, you can gradually create a true work of art by completing your wish list.
Use cardboard frames to create art projects with old photos. Thus your photos will look neater. Besides, you can create interesting compositions by placing pictures in one large frame.
I love the flexibility of the photo mobile. You can hang old family pictures in an unusual way, add different shapes, and cutouts to match your interior.
If you have an old photo with your friends, turn it into a greeting card. There are a lot of options here.
You can use special services for creating photo cards or make the little Polaroid camera with your pictures.
You can use vintage ornaments in various ways and they are simple to create. You can hang them on a Christmas tree, wooden branch, or on the necks of old glass bottles. Also, consider making unusual tags and hanging them on the "branches" of your family tree.
Another idea is to make a beautiful composition by adding memorable items and deco elements to an old photo. To create such ornaments for a gift, you can use both your own pictures and the most iconic photos.
Consider decorating sweets with old photos as memory or treat for a party. Place images into lollipops, decorate cakes, or add them to candy stickers.
Such treats are ideal for engagement parties, place cards, or birthday photography.
If you have a small copy of a photo, why not turn it in decoration for a photo locket? This is one of those ideas for old pictures that allows creating items with a personalized touch.
Those striving for a genuine natural feel, can transfer an old photo to wood slices. Such compositions will become memorable gifts for your relatives and friends. Also, if you place them on a wall or shelf, they will be the centerpiece of your interior.
If you need to enhance old photos, use free Photoshop and Lightroom tools. They help improve the color scheme or add vintage touches. Besides, you can always order old damaged photo restoration services and use the help of professional retouchers.
