You know that blank wall by your front door, the one that just sort of stares at you every time you walk in? I finally did something about mine with a vintage memory collage template, and honestly, it took me a whole hour maybe less. The premise is simple: you take old photos, random notes, little trinkets you have stuffed in a drawer, and you turn them into a single piece of wall art. No need for a big frame or a complicated gallery wall. Just one cohesive layout that makes your entryway feel like you, not a catalog.
Picking the Right Frame for Your Entryway Decor Project
Before you start printing anything, find the frame. This is the backbone of your entrywaydecor project. I used a 16×20 inch frame with a removable back and a deep rabbit, the kind you can swap out art in easily. Honestly, the deeper the better because some of my keepsakes have a little thickness to them.
Not gonna lie, I grabbed mine from a thrift store for like eight bucks. The matting was hideous (it was that weird fabric stuff from the 80s) but I tossed that out anyway. Here is the thing, you do not need a custom frame. A standard off the shelf size works fine as long as you cut your paper to match. Look for something with a clean border, maybe a dark wood or a simple black profile. It helps the DIYwallart pop without competing with the old stuff inside it.
Gathering Your Vintage Keepsakes Without Overthinking It
Ok so now comes the fun part. Digging through boxes. Or in my case, that one shoebox I keep shoving under the bed. You want a mix of flat items and things with a little depth. Think old ticket stubs, a pressed flower from a trip you took years ago, handwritten recipe cards from your grandmother.
Here is what I used and it worked beautifully:
- Two black and white film strips (the kind from a real camera, not digital).
- A faded Polaroid of my dog looking miserable in the snow.
- An actual matchbox from an old hotel. Weird, I know.
- A torn page from a vintage book.
- One vinyl record sleeve detail cut into a small strip.
Why a matchbox? No clue. But it works. The key is to gather more than you think you need. You can always edit things out later. And do not throw away something just because it is bent or faded. That wear is the whole point of the vintagekeepsake look anyway.
Arranging Your Memory Collage Template Pieces Like a Pro
This is where most people mess up. They just throw things at the page and hope it sticks. Do not do that. Instead, start with the largest piece in the center or slightly off center. For me it was a 5×7 print of a street scene from my hometown. From there I built outward in layers.
I laid everything out on my kitchen floor first. No adhesive. No pressure. Just sliding pieces around until they clicked. It felt ridiculous for a few minutes. But then the film strip fit perfectly across the bottom of the photo and it all just, well, worked. If you are using a memorycollage template, you can also just trace the spot where each item goes so you do not forget the spacing. I used a pencil lightly on the backing paper. No one sees it anyway.
One tip. Don’t center everything. Let some items hang off the edge of the frame a little. It makes the whole thing feel collected, not curated. That is the difference between real vintage charm and something that looks like a store bought craft kit.
Customizing with Film Strips, Vinyl Details, and Found Objects
Alright, here is where your DIYwallart gets weird in the best way. Film strips are perfect because they read instantly as nostalgic. But what about that one broken record you never threw out? I cut a small arc from the edge of a vinyl sleeve and tucked it behind a photo. The black plastic with the groove lines looks incredible against a soft cream background.
Another thing nobody talks about. Postage stamps. You really think of them? I found a few old international stamps from the 70s and they added a pop of color and scale that I did not know I needed. If you have a ticket stub from a concert or a museum, clip the corner and layer it over a photo corner. It adds that layered depth that makes people stop and look closely.
Look, you do not have to use everything. Some items are better left in the box. But if you have a matchbox or a vintage button with a shank on the back, you can actually glue that sucker right onto the matboard. It sticks out of the glass a tiny bit. Some people hate that. I love it. It makes the vintagekeepsake feel tactile, like you can almost touch the memory.
Printing and Trimming for a Clean Finished Look
You have your layout sorted. Now you need to commit. Print your photos on matte paper if you can. Glossy reflects the light weirdly in a hallway and honestly it cheapens the whole thing. I printed at my local drugstore photo kiosk, the one that always looks like it is about to break, and the colors came out slightly muted. Perfect for the vibe.
Cut everything with a sharp blade and a metal ruler. Scissors work but they leave wobbly edges. Not a deal breaker, but if you want it to look intentional, use a straight edge. Some people distress the edges of their photos with sandpaper. I did not do that here because my photos were already faded. But if your prints look too new, rub them on the pavement a couple times (yes, seriously. I have done it and it works).
Now, glue it down. I used a glue stick. Not spray adhesive, not mod podge, just a regular purple glue stick. Why? Because if you mess up you can peel the paper off the backing without ruining it. Sprays soak through and make things ripply. Keep it simple. Press firmly and let it dry under a heavy book for ten minutes.
Hanging Your Home Entryway Wall Art at the Right Height
This step matters more than you think. If you hang your homeentryway art too high, it floats above the eye line and nobody sees the details. Too low and it gets bumped by bags and grocery runs. Standard gallery height is 57 inches to the center of the piece. That is the rule. But here is the thing, in an entryway people are often standing or just passing through so you can go a little higher. Like 60 inches to center.
I hung mine between the light switch and the coat hooks. It creates kind of a pause point. You walk in, toss your keys down, and your eyes land on that matchbox or that film strip. It is a quiet moment. That is what good entrywaydecor does. It does not scream. It welcomes.
One last thing. Do not use a wire hanger for a heavy frame. Use D rings and a picture hanger that goes into a stud or uses a drywall anchor. I learned that the hard way when my first frame came crashing down at 2 AM. My cat was not pleased. Neither was the frame.
Making It Your Own Without Overcomplicating It
You do not have to follow any rules here. The template is a guide, not a prison. Swap out a photo for a handwritten letter. Replace a vinyl detail with a piece of lace from an old dress. The whole point of this project is that it reflects your specific life, not some aesthetic you found online.
Some people add small labels in neat handwriting next to each item. I tried that once and it looked like a museum exhibit. Not for me. But if you like that look, go for it. You could also paint the inside of your frame a soft color before you start. I left mine raw white but a dusty sage green would slap honestly. I might try that next time.
Anyway, grab your frame and that pile of stuff you have been meaning to organize. Lay it all out on the floor. Move things around until it feels right and then commit to it. Print cut glue hang. That is the whole process. No perfectionism required.
Got a weird keepsake you are planning to use? I would love hearing what it is. Drop a comment or tag me if you try this. Happy crafting.
#memorycollage #entrywaydecor #vintagekeepsake #DIYwallart #homeentryway