5 Reasons to Make that Outdated Gallery Wall a Family Photo Wall

I'm just kidding. Gallery walls aren't out. Though someone on the internet probably thinks so. Not me. Here's 5 reasons why: 

1. I want the items I choose to decorate with to mean something. This makes it easier for me to leave it alone when my brain is itching for a change. I have tangible reasons to remind myself of why it is the way it is, and that it's ok to leave it alone. The urge to redecorate shall pass. My choices were deliberate and good,  even if today my brain suddenly does a 180 and tries to get me to rip it out NOW because it is terrible. It's not.

2. We have a small house. I want the items that are here, even the decorative items, to pack in as much meaning as possible. I want them to be story starters. A gallery wall of interesting photos of family members,  portraits, places they may have been. Where your great grandmother came from seems to me like a great way to use your wall space.

3. Family stories build resiliency in kids. Hearing stories about how your family celebrated good times & made it through bad ones teaches your kids that they will both enjoy good times in their lives & be able to get through hard times. Now that's integrating parenting into home decor.

4. Create a flexible gallery wall using picture ledges. For those times I absolutely cannot resist changing something. This is a great way to scratch that impulsive ADHD decorating itch without fucking your whole house up for a week. Bonus, it's easy to switch out kids art & photos as your family creates new memories. Extra bonus if you buy a couple of those frames that store extra kids art in the back. 

5. A family history wall can be whatever family you choose. It can be framed feathers you found on a family walk. It can be a plane ticket from that really special trip. It can be a photo of your best friend who is like a sister. Resiliency does not mean pain. The beauty of being an adult is you are allowed to create your own family.