We all love watching our children express their artistic side. But over time the mountains of paintings, drawings and crafts can get overwhelming.
As parents, we can tell ourselves that nobody really needs a dozen stick-figure family portraits, but that doesn’t make us feel any less guilty for tossing these priceless “masterpieces” in the trash.
Maybe your art collection is stacked in a pile on your desk. Plastered all over the refrigerator. Stashed away in a closet.
The good news is, there’s a clutter-free way to curate your home gallery. Here’s how.
- Hang artwork in matching frames. Putting children’s artwork in matching frames gives your collection a more polished look than taping up loose papers. To tackle this project on a budget, collect any old frames you might have lying around, or purchase some inexpensive ones at a craft or thrift store. Then, choose a color of your liking and spray paint them for a uniform look.
- Construct an art wall. An art wall gives you a designated place to hang pictures while saving time, money and space. There are several easy ways to create your display. You can string up twine or picture wire, then hang the artwork with clothespins. Or, mount a series of clipboards to the wall. Either approach will let you easily rotate in their newest artistic expressions.
- Make a themed display. Whether the latest obsession is dinosaurs or unicorns, your kids’ interests can change rapidly. So hang pictures based on what they’re into at the moment. Creating themed displays can help you thin down their art collection, while letting them show off the things they love most.
- Create a collage. Show a large sampling of their artwork in one place with a collage. Work with your child to select your favorite pieces of art. Then, cut them into smaller squares and mount the images in a collage frame. This one takes a little more time and effort, but the result is a piece you’ll enjoy for years to come.
- Try a digital frame. Want to reduce your paper collection? Buy a digital frame to show an endless display of your child’s artwork – without having to find room on the wall. All you need to do is scan or take a picture of each drawing, then upload them to your computer. This will let you archive their artwork forever.
Want more tips? Read our guide to storing family photos and other printed keepsakes.
As your child grows, artwork plays an important role developing creativity and self-expression. But remember that you don’t need to keep every single drawing, finger painting or sticker page. Using the tips above can help you decide which pictures to keep and make part of your home for years to come.
At Erie Insurance, we know there’s more to your home than the pictures on the wall. The true value in life is found in spending time with the little hands that created them.
With home insurance from ERIE, you can always rest assured knowing what you value is safe and secure. Contact your local ERIE agent to protect your home and all the memories it holds.
This story originally published in 2019.
