Are there 'rules' to help me display pictures?

[JennnyFlo]

I have approx 50 framed pictures (this includes a few bits of original artwork work; prints; and some small framed family photos). Also several largish mirrors.

It's just me so no one else to please, yet I just can't seem to decide how to group (if to group) them. In my previous house I had little on display as I was presenting a minimalist look for the purposes of selling. Now I'd like my pictures on display, not secreted away in a cupboard as I have plenty of wall space.

Just can't fathom out how to display them. Are them some 'rules' I can follow?

Watching with interest, as I too would like to know! I would guess you would start with the things you like most, putting them in the places you will see them the most?

Mirrors opposite good views, or where you need light? These are just guesses though!

Well, do you want them all in the one room or hallway, or to spread them out throughout the house? Do you want to separate the paintings and prints from the family photos?

Pinterest is your friend here where you will find that there are no rules and it’s absolutely up to you. I do love a gallery wall because once you get past about half a dozen assorted pictures they always look good and you can keep adding. I’m building one in my bathroom at the moment and keep adding to it.

I also have some picture shelves where you can move stuff around.

Before you start invest in some poly filler and a tester pot of your wall colour so you can quickly fill and recover any mistakes you make. Makes having a go much easier.

Also watching with interest.

Photos of Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions could be good inspiration for hanging eclectic pictures.

With 50 to hang maybe consider investing in a picture hanging tool like this?
www.architecturaldigest.com/story/helpful-picture-hanging-tool

are they all on one theme, or share similarities?

We struggled when we moved as we had lower ceilings and less wall space, so we've regrouped pics - a largish (20 or so) collection by one artist are on picture shelves in one room, they can be displayed overlapping on those and still look quite charming. Then we have pictures grouped by either theme (location, colour, sentimental attachment) in different rooms based on who they mean most to (our home offices), the rooms they work best in (colours) and how public we want them to be (sentiment)

stairwells are normally great for picture walls because you can have height as well as width. If they have a thing on common (frame style, frame or pic colour, size, subject) they will nearly always look great. If its a small group make sure its an odd number, and lay pics out on the floor first so you can get the spacing and what goes well how you prefer it before you move them to the wall