The topic of family photos comes up periodically in the pages of Southern Accents. You may have noticed that you rarely see family photos in the houses we feature—most often it's a single photo or two on an end table or nightstand. Many designers advise not having family photos in public rooms, such as the living room. ("Family on Display" is actually one of our "Seven Deadly Design Sins," but this point is referring more to painted portraits, which can come off as imposting and elitist.) As for photographs, the sin, so to speak, is that if they are not skillfully displayed, they tend to add clutter and detract from the design of the room.

I personally like to see pictures of the family when I visit people's houses--and who doesn't like to show off their children and grandchildren? For me, as a guest, photos help me get to know the family better and are often a conversation starter. Pictures can say a lot and are part of the fun of seeing someone else's home. 

I'm sure there are devotees of each opinion, as well as a happy medium.

Though they're not ubiquitious in our pages, if you flip through past issues, you will find examples of personal photos displayed in both private and public spaces. Here are some examples, along with some helpful designer advice should you decide to display yours.

Bedroom designed by Jackye Lanham; photo by Tria Giovan

• Lars Bolander says that a grouping of photographs in the same type of frame can help create a collected look even if you only have a few things. 

Room designed by Fiona Newell Weeks; photographed by Antoine Bootz

Room designed by Mimi Williams; photo by Lauren Rubinstein

• Jane Smith says, "Pieces maintain their collective impact when grouped in a dedicated space rather than spread over several rooms or tucked behind closed cabinet doors." 

Designed by Betsy Brown; photographed by Robbie Caponetto

• Josie McCarthy says, "Groups of family photos work well in a hallway, back stair hall, or dressing room. I prefer black-and-white photos, matted in white and framed in black or muted gold. In framing color prints, I use gold." She also recommends hanging them only on one side of the hallway: "It is impossible to look at both sides of the hall." Read more of Josie's advice on framing and hanging art here.