Quite a while ago I promised to turn the camera around and show more of our media room. This space has been slow to come together. It’s the room where our family watches TV, tucked upstairs where we don’t often entertain, so decorating it wasn’t my top priority when other projects demanded attention. Comfort was key, and with our lovely sectional, it certainly delivers.
Still, I wanted the room to feel more personal—filled with items that matter to our family. Because we use this space regularly, it made sense to give it a little more attention and warmth.
In our previous home we had abundant wall space—large stairwells and big rooms that accommodated lots of framed family photos. When we moved, we brought countless frames with us. In this smaller house, however, wall space is limited and many walls are taken up by windows. I love the light the windows bring, but they also left little room for hanging photos, so many frames remained tucked away.
Eventually we decided the one blank wall in the media room was the ideal spot for a family gallery wall. After a fresh coat of paint (Polished Grey by Glidden), we were ready. Pulling everything out of closets felt overwhelming at first, but it was also a joy to rediscover old photos. We had a random mix of frames, and instead of trying to force them to match, we embraced their eclectic nature—no repainting or reworking the frames. That’s a challenge for me; I often want things to be perfect and can get stuck when they aren’t. But this time we leaned into imperfection, and it worked.
There are moments when updating or investing in new pieces makes sense, but I have a soft spot for projects that make use of what we already own. When everything matches too perfectly, a room can lose its textured, lived-in feel. I love the quirky, collected look a mismatched gallery can create. Gallery walls are especially suited for this approach: they become an evolving display of memories gathered over years.
We chose a selection of framed photos and arranged them in a casual, haphazard layout. Old memories beside new ones—perfectly imperfect. There wasn’t a rigid plan, just a simple desire to gather favorite moments so they’re easy to see and remember. The result is cozy, personal, and full of meaning.
I love being able to use what I already have to make a room feel meaningful—don’t you?
See my other gallery walls in the stairway (with tips for creating an eclectic gallery wall), the family room, the kids’ bathroom, and my son’s room.
Announcements!
1) Today is our first Home Love Stories BLOCK PARTY with the theme #AroundTheTable. Share your dining area and see others’ by visiting the Home Love Stories site and searching “#aroundthetable” to find participants.
2) My first book, Love the Home You Have, is still 50% off for e-book pre-orders (releases March 31st). It’s a great deal if you’ve been thinking about it.
3) If you have a moment, I’d appreciate your support in the BHG Blogger Awards. Voting is open—please visit the awards page, navigate to the decorating blogs section, and consider selecting The Inspired Room. Thank you so much!