Budget-Friendly Family Photo Gallery Hall

Jeff has been asking me to create a family photo gallery hall since we moved in over two years ago, and I finally got my act together just in time for Christmas. Actually, I surprised him with the frames on the big day, but opted to let him be involved in selecting the pictures we would put in them. And since this hallway recently received a major glow up, I knew it was the perfect spot for a wall of family photos. 

I had planned to hang this family photo gallery on the opposite wall, but after living with the frames there for a few days, it felt cramped and crowded. So, I switched them to this wall. It was meant to be. They have room to breathe now, and there’s enough space to add more photos if we want.

Click through to read about all the details of our budget-friendly family photo gallery hall. 

*This post contains affiliate links, which provide a small commission to me on every purchase made, but does not affect the cost to you.

I recently saw that Framebridge now offers custom, pre-curated gallery walls. I thought about gifting one to Jeff…until I saw the price tag. Granted, the quality justifies the cost, but they start at $850 and that’s just not realistic for most people (including us). So, I set out to create my own version that looked high end but didn’t break the bank. 

Family Photo Gallery Hall Frames

All of the frames were purchased at Michael’s, which kept this project budget-friendly. Ever since they acquired Aaron Brothers, their frame game has leveled up, and now they carry beautiful options that look much more expensive than they are. My favorite find was the wood and gold frame. It’s gorgeous! Yes, we framed pictures of our dogs. 

I also chose a thin gold frame (not available online), modern black frame, and chunkier gold leaf frame with a double mat. They all play so well together without matching, and I love how it looks. I hung them symmetrically, which I almost never do with gallery walls, but it felt right here. 

Frame Sizes

The sizes of the frames and pictures I used are:

• Top Middle | 12×12 frame with 8×10 picture opening
• Center Middle | 12×15 frame with 5×7 picture opening
• Bottom Middle | 13×16 frame with 5×7 picture opening
• Left and Right Top | 12×15.5 frame with 8×10 picture opening
• Left and Right Bottom | 16×20 frame with 8×10 picture opening

I’m already planning to add a few more framed pictures here once we can travel again. For now though, I love how our family picture gallery hall turned out. It doesn’t feel empty and cold anymore, and it’s really fun to walk by and be transported, even for a half a second, to some of the memories we’ve made over the years. 

The Budget-Friendly Part

The total cost for the frames was around $135 (after using a Michael’s coupon), and printing pictures was around $20. So all in, I spent less than $160. One day, perhaps I will invest in heirloom-quality framed pictures of my family. But for the season of life we’re in, this was the perfect option for creating a budget-friendly family photo gallery hall. 

Little by little, this house is becoming our home. If I could go back and give myself advice on the first day we moved in, when everything felt foreign and unsettling, I would tell myself to hang family photos right away. They’re familiar and grounding, especially in times of transition or uncertainty. And with so many beautiful, affordable framing options available, there’s no reason not to do it. I’m just glad I didn’t wait any longer. 

*All sources for the items in this hallway can be found within THIS POST.