Displaying Children’s Artwork at Home: Ideas from My Studio (and The Green Parent Magazine)
A few years ago, I had a small feature in The Green Parent magazine, sharing simple ways to display children’s artwork at home. Back then, my eldest was two and I was pregnant with my second — and our fridge, floors, and drawers were quickly filling with paper creations. Now, with two young children and even more creativity flowing through our home, I’ve found new ways to celebrate their art without feeling overwhelmed.
These ideas are all gentle, flexible, and rooted in the same things that inspire my lampshades — storytelling, seasons, and family life.
1. Glass-less or Opening Frames for a Rotating Gallery
One of the simplest changes I made was attaching a few empty frames (without glass) low down on the wall, so the children could reach them. We used paper tape to attach drawings inside and swap them out when the mood strikes. I love that it gives them ownership — their own little gallery wall.
For something more playful, you could paint decorative frame shapes straight onto the wall with eco paint. Chalky whites on coloured walls can make the space feel like a page from a picture book.
I also recommend opening frames — the kind that hinge open from the front like these ones from Hobbycraft. You can tuck new drawings infront of the one on show, layering them like a sketchbook behind glass. We have three each for the children, and they can update them in their own time. These are one of the things we've tried at home and they've worked beautifully.
We also keep a drawer for overflow — and when it’s full, I quietly sort through, reuse the backs for fresh drawings, and recycle what we can’t keep. It might sound harsh, but otherwise the house would be knee-deep in paper within a week.
2. Make a Yearly Art Photobook
Which brings us to my next suggestion: if you're quietly stashing art in drawers like I do, consider turning the highlights into a printed photobook. Sites like Photobox or Mixbook let you upload photos and turn them into slim, beautiful keepsakes.
Try making one each year — it’s a lovely way to preserve their work without needing extra wall space. These books are also lovely to keep on a shelf or give as gifts to grandparents.
3. Chalkboard Walls
Chalkboard paint is brilliant if you want something interactive. A full wall can become a living canvas, shifting with seasons or moods. Rust-Oleum also make a clear chalkboard paint that you can paint over any colour of your choosing, keeping your home looking cohesive if the standard chalkboard paint colours don't work for you.
We’ve done this in our home and it’s brought a lot of joy — a collaborative drawing space that evolves daily and blends seamlessly with the room design.
4. Clipboards and Wooden Hangers
Clipboards are a tidy, low-effort way to create a neat rotating display. They look clean in grown-up spaces, but still let kids add their newest work easily. You can also use wooden trouser hangers — the kind with metal clips — which add a nice texture and work really well in a hallway or kitchen.
5. A Family Gallery Wall
In a hallway or kitchen, try a small gallery space with one frame per family member. Inside, you can rotate recent favourites — a seasonal scene, a school project, or just a scribble they’re proud of. It changes slowly over time, and there’s something lovely about seeing your family grow in paper form.
If you’d like more slow-living inspiration or behind-the-scenes studio updates, you can sign up to my newsletter — or have a peek at my handmade lampshades, which are often inspired by adventures with my children.
You can also find The Green Parent Magazine here if you'd like to explore more family-friendly ideas from other eco-friendly creative folk.
