The Only Blog Chic Craft I’ll Likely Ever Do, The PhotoBar!

So, we live an apartment and are totally comfortable renting right now because a) hello stupid expensive city b) I am so grateful someone else takes care of plumbing issues and property taxes and stuff that homeowners have to do (begrudgingly of course).

I realized a couple weeks ago I do not have nearly enough photos on the wall, and a hallway with lots of blank space.  I didn’t want to poke a million holes in the wall, but then realized the short hallway was about the length of a large bathtub.  Then PhotoBar was born!

I measured the hall and discovered the cheap shower rod at Ikea would span the length just dandy. Cost: About $8. Note: be sure you’re looking at a suspension shower rod if you don’t want holes in the wall.

I grabbed some fishing wire from Target, which was about $5.  I had a few old picture frames lying around, so I tested those first to see if it would hold. It did, and the heavens sang.

I then ran to Target and grabbed a few more frames.  Another interesting note: The cheaper and lighter the picture frames, the better.  I used the Target Room Essentials Style ones, that are basically just a square of black plastic with a clear plastic cover.  The 8”x10” was around $4, and the 5”x7” were about $2.

Here’s the only marginally difficult task in this whole project: 

Using the fishing wire, I threaded it through the hanger on the back of each frame so I had two lose ends at the top. I kept all the strings really long so I could adjust them and art direct the photos to look random but appeasing. (Please excuse the very dirty back of this frame.)

At first, I tried to tie the photos up while the bar was already in the hallway.  It fell and I swore a lot.

Instead, I measured how much room I had in the hallway, from where the shower bar was to the top of my doorway (i.e. the lowest point I wanted the frames to fall).

I laid the shower bar and picture frames on the floor, using my measurements as a guide to arrange them.  Then I tied them to the bar on the floor where they could not come crashing down and scare the cats.

Next, I found some leftover fabric from a previous project, and made a simple valance.  Note: When I say “valance,” I actually mean “measured piece of fabric with a hem on either end.”  If I made the normal sleeve at the top for the bar, the strings wouldn’t be able to hang down from the middle.  If you want to secure the fabric, I recommend velcro buttons instead.  

Then, with a steady chair, I picked up the entire bar with all the photos attached and slowly wedged it into place in the hallway.  I spent entirely too long arranging the photos, and then popped the valance over the top to dress up the shower bar a bit.

That’s it!  I love it because I can easily change out photos and valance as well.  Note: my fabric is a bit too short because I used leftovers.  That’s just how I roll.

PS - Props to my good friend MJ for the use of her sewing machine.  Me and my hallway are 100% more photo-y thanks to you.

PPS - Taking pictures of fishing wire is hard, y’all.