Lately, I’ve been feeling an extra dose of nostalgia. I have been combing through pictures of friends and family from as far back as 30 years ago, and I can’t help but think the very cliché thought that “time flies when you’re having fun.”

I also can’t help but think of how I’d like to be able to see some of these faces more often, and I know that printing and displaying pictures can help.

What I’ve found is that the most successful displays of family photos feel uncluttered and exude simplicity. They also complement existing décor in such a way that the photos become wall art in and of themselves.

Consider some of these ideas:

• Go digital. My dad has been converting our old family photos to digital versions for the past several years. You can use an at-home scanner, just remember that the higher the resolution, the better the quality, seeing that high resolution will allow you to blow the photos up bigger. If you don’t have a scanner, there are many scanning services that can do it for you.

• Stretch it over canvas. Many photo centers can print your photos directly onto canvas. However, for a similar look on a budget, transfer your photo to fabric first, using craft store photo paper. Then, stretch it over a blank canvas and staple it in place.

• Color coordinate. Group like-colors together, such as different shades of blue or green. You could even convert your photos to black and white before printing for a modern look.

• Match frames. Even if you have very different photos, giving the frames a consistent look will make the arrangement cohesive. If you can’t find enough frames of the same color, paint them — and extend the thought to the matting. Keep it consistent. keep the colors the same and play with the designs and sizes.

Have a comment or question for Joanne? Email thefixisinhawaii@gmail.com.

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